No Way to Pick A President

Jules Witcover, a nationally syndicated columnist for TheBaltimore Sun, has been covering Washington politics for almost half a century. He is the author of ten books, including the best-seller Marathon, about the 1976 Carter/Ford race. He is also the co-author of four works with Jack Germond.

• Introduction: Then and Now 1. Me for President 2. The Era of the Hired Gun 3. Television Raises the States 4. Main Street to Madison Avenue 5. Sour Mother's Milk 6. Anything Goes 7. The 800-Pound Gorilla 8. Watchdogs and Laptops 9. A Process Gone Berzerk 10. Coronations, Not Conventions 11. Rolling the Dice 12. The Grand Facade 13. Moments of Truth 14. An Accident Waiting to Happen 15. Whither the Parties? 16. Time for an overhaul Bibliography Index

"Praise for the hardcover edition of No Way to Pick aPresident(0374223033):.""Provacative.Witcover blasts virtually everyone and everything associated with presidential elections." -- Washington Post Book World"An angry uncompromising survey of the steady debasement of the political coin." -- David Broder, Washington Post"Vintage Witcover, which means strong reporting, sharp analysis, and well turned anecdotes, revealing interviews, and an abiding love of the game, warts and all. Witcover is a great political reporter." -- Paul Taylor, The Washington Monthly"If you're despairing about the country's politics, this volume will provide intellectual ballast to your feelings." -- Matthew Cooper, New York Times Book Review