Politics, Journalism, and The Way Things Were

Martin Tolchin spent 40 years at The New York Times, equally divided between New York and Washington. In New York he was City Hall Bureau Chief and a political and investigative reporter. In Washington he reported on Congress and the White House. He then founded two publications, as Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of The Hill, and Senior Publisher & Editor of Politico, and served on the jury of the Pulitzer Prizes for Journalism. Mr. Tolchin then was appointed a Senior Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Mr. Tolchin was born Sept. 20, 1928 in Brooklyn, N.Y. His father, a furrier, and mother, a housekeeper, were Russian immigrants. He was educated at the Bronx H.S. of Science, Idaho State College, the University of Utah and New York Law School, where he received an L.L.B. With his wife Susan, a professor of government at George Mason University, he wrote eight books, one of which, To the Victor: Political Patronage from the Clubhouse to the White House, has been cited in five U.S. Supreme Court decisions. They had two children, Charles and Karen. Mr. Tolchin lives in Washington, D.C.

• 1.The Evolution of Journalism and How I Got My Start 2. From Idaho State to The New York Times 3. Finally, I’m a Reporter 4. Washington, Here I Come 5. A Broader Canvass 6. The Hill and Politico 7. Life after Journalism and Life Lessons 8. A New Day in Journalism

“Martin Tolchin’s memoir not only describes a very interesting life but also reminds us of how essential a free press remains for the preservation and advancement of our democracy in a time when our governing authorities are describing the press as ‘the enemy of the people,’ a phrase reminiscent of what Hitler and Stalin believed.” --Robert Dallek, Author most recently of Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Political Life “This superb memoir traces the evolution of journalism and its impact on politics and history.” --Bill Kovach, Former Washington Bureau Chief of The New York Times “Tolchin’s memoir is written with the same clarity and elegance that characterized his news stories. Readers will delight in this opportunity to get to know the person behind the reporting!” --Lauren A. Wright, Princeton University and author of Star Power“Martin Tolchin is a witness to history, not just as a Washington reporter for The New York Times over several decades, but also as a veteran journalist who transitioned from that pinnacle of traditional media to the innovative new media news outlets of The Hill and Politico. A superb writer with a journalist’s keen eye for the details that bring a story to life, Tolchin has created a compelling read of great interest to Political Science and Communication scholars -- and their students.” --Stephen J. Farnsworth, University of Mary Washington and author of Presidential Communication and Character