On Her Trail: My Mother, Nancy Dickerson, TV News' First Woman Star

by John Dickerson

A former White House correspondent for Time magazine examines his stormy relationship with his mother, describing his mother's role as a pioneering woman journalist, the lavish political soirees that marked his parents' marriage, and his feelings of ambivalence about his mother's perpetual absence throughout his youth. 75,000 first printing.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Politics, Journalism, History, Biography Memoir

352 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2006

About the author

John Dickerson is a Correspondent for 60 Minutes and CBS News Senior Political analyst. He is also a contributing writer for The Atlantic. He is the former moderator of Face the Nation and Political Director of CBS News as well as a co-host of CBS This Morning. Before writing for The Atlantic, Dickerson was Slate magazine's Chief Political Correspondent. Before that he covered the White House for Time magazine, where he was a correspondent for ten years. Dickerson is a co-host of the Slate Political Gabfest as well as the host of "Whistlestop," a podcast of campaign history.

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sure this book was hard to write and that made it a little hard to read. As some reviewers have noted, Dickerson is writing about his mother and that makes him to close to the subject to be totally objective. However, he knows that and objectivity isn't a goal. Instead, we see his understanding of his mother as a human being develop throughout the book, probably much like it did within him toward the end of her life and after her death. Because of my own conflicted feelings about my mother (who is not famous), I read this book slowly due to the reflection it spawned in me. I'm a hard rater and this is a good book, but not great. The dates can feel a little difficult to follow at times as the author moves from his mother's life to his own. It helps to have some basic knowledge of 60s political figures.

[KOMET · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first became aware of women journalists holding prominent positions in the national news broadcast media as a small child in the early 1970s. Before going to work, my Mom would have the TV turned on to The Today Show, which was hosted by Barbara Walters and Hugh Downs. Barbara Walters was the woman journalist in the national spotlight who made the biggest impression on me then, followed by Stephani Shelton (CBS), Ann Compton (ABC), Sylvia Chase (also with ABC), Lesley Stahl (CBS), and Jessica Savitch (NBC). Nancy Dickerson did not enter my consciousness then, though I may have seen her on TV without taking note of her presence.

On Her Trail helped so much to give me a full and comprehensive view of the arc of Nancy Dickerson's life, both as a pioneering journalist and to a smaller extent --- courtesy of the author, who provided useful and valuable insights throughout the book into the woman he knew while growing up (and by his own admission, not always valuing his mother) and later as a young journalist himself when their relationship became closer, shortly before Dickerson's death --- her self apart from journalism in some of its complexities.

Among Nancy Dickerson's achievements as a pioneering woman journalist were: the first woman TV journalist (with CBS) to cover first-hand a national political convention (the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles) and 2 presidential inaugurations (JFK in 1961 and LBJ in 1965), as well as providing coverage in real time of the March on Washington and President Kennedy's assassination (from the time Kennedy's body and a grieving Mrs. Kennedy returned to Washington -- along with the newly sworn-in President, Lyndon Johnson, and his wife -- aboard Air Force One hours after the tragedy that had taken place in Dallas earlier that day: November 22, 1963) and subsequent state funeral.

John Dickerson provides what is perhaps an apt summation of his mother --- "The full life of Nancy Dickerson can withstand the scrutiny. To look at the frailty, tenderness, nastiness, vanity, generosity, love, pride and humility all in proper proportion still yields a very impressive woman, and a more genuine one. Mom loved image and glamour and insinuation, but she also liked to know a true thing when she could find it. She would understand my need to search for the story because she had that same need. I went looking for my mother's story and found a woman who was compelled to find stories and tell them too."

For anyone who wants to gain a understanding of the struggles experienced by women to gain acceptance and respect as journalists in the U.S. national news broadcast media from the 1950s to the 1970s and beyond, I highly recommend reading On Her Trail and learning about Nancy Dickerson, who was a rather remarkable person.

[Pooch · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The first time I ever heard my mother sound nervous, she'd been dead for two years." --from On Her Trail: my mother, Nancy Dickerson, TV news' first woman star by John Dickerson

While I expected this book to be interesting, I was happily enticed by the delicious first sentence. My expectations climbed as the words teased me to speed my reading. Apart from the bio of his famous mother, John Dickerson writes with great good humor and intoxicating detail.

If you are at all interested in biography, television news business, the early years of television broadcasting, the movers and shakers in DC, and/or wallowing in the words of an outstanding author, this just might be the book for you!

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always read John Dickerson's columns on Slate, so thought I would check out this book. Really interesting from many vantage points - it's the story of a man who follows in his mother's footsteps to become a White House correspondent, the story of a woman struggling to reconcile career and family, the story of an era when a reporter could throw lavish parties for her sources and have them hashing out key policies until daybreak. Nancy Dickerson went on a few dates with JFK before he married, was very close with Lyndon Johnson, and got the inside scoop on the White House many times through charm, initiative, and, well, gumption. If any of that sounds appealing to you, check out this book.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A son's investigation of his Mother's career and life. John Dickerson always appears to be so suave and smooth on TV, but it wasn't always so, and this book reveals as much about him as it does about his famous mother. They didn't always have a great relationship and he admits he actually learned to know her through reading material for this biography. He found there was a lot more going on than he realized. As a ground-breaking female reporter, she couldn't win no matter what she did. She was criticized for using her good looks and femininity too much, but would not have been allowed on the air at all if she hadn't done so.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I vividly remember Nancy Dickerson's afternoon newscasts from my childhood. Her son is a good writer and conveyed all the complexity of her life without much sentimentality. At the same time, the parties she threw for access to information and high ranking elected officials were eye opening. She suffered considerable discrimination trying to work in her career. He's trying to understand his mother and this book made me think he was able to do so.

[JMM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy Dickerson was a pioneering, award-winning television journalist – and mom to John Dickerson, who here presents a clear-eyed portrait of this complex, driven, fascinating woman. I appreciated the author’s ability to present both his mother’s achievements and her flaws openly and with humor, and enjoyed the look behind the screen of 60s-era television news.

[T.R. Heinan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refreshingly candid look at the life of a television pioneer.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning about trial-blazer Nancy Dickerson. Can't think of a better biographer than her son John Dickerson; he has the inside scoop on her personality and her profession. This book also has a 'rest of the story' quality to it--you see familiar historical figures from a new perspective. Any 20th c history buff will really enjoy these stories, such as that possibly history-making late-night call from President Nixon.

[Gina Kilgour · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was thorough without being boring and gave a behind-the-scenes view of Washington reporting from the 60's through the 80's. John very skillfully wrote from a child's point of view and an adult's.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much value for us in learning about the lives of our parents. Not many of the people I know think deeply about the 'why' behind their parents' behavior. Why they were who they were. We often get stuck thinking about our parents as if we were still children and not adults. We remain self-centered and critical of our parents rather than take the time to understand their life circumstances. This includes their marriage, their work, their friends, and their faith.

John Dickerson thought as a child about his mom. But little by little, as he began to live life with all its challenges, did he begin to appreciate his mom. Then one day, he had the opportunity to go through her office files. It opened his eyes to the wonder and accomplishments of the woman he called his mother.

Nancy Dickerson was a first for women in the national and international news business. She did it all and knew everyone. She crashed through the glass ceilings of organizations and society. And she did it all because she believed she was meant to do it. And her core value was simply try, try, try. She always did her best and it always showed. She interviewed and called Presidents of the United States her friends. She was respected, hated, and loved. She was simply amazing.

Dickerson tells his story and his mom's story with great skill. The tempo, the clarity, the transparency, it is all there.

When you finish this book you will be rewarded with what's possible. For you, your children, and your grandchildren. Just try it.

[Clint · Rating 4 out of 5]

News woman Nancy Dickerson fascinated me from my childhood. I always thought she was beautiful and polished, even though I wasn’t sure what that meant. I was so fascinated, I read her autobiography as a young college student after I’d begun my own journalism career. That book included a photo of their stately home and her with her youngest son, the author of this book. I thought that child must have a wonderful life with her as his mother. Turn out, not so much. The now-“Face The Nation” host recounts his search for his mother, who was on the downslope of her career when he was born. He recounts the good times as a young child, the bad times as his parents broke up and the worse times when he and his mother couldn’t see eye to eye. His search for her, after her death, allows him to see the strengths she had in her early career and her vulnerabilities that were always there beneath the surface. What he found helps put his famous mother in perspective— pioneer female broadcaster, loving but work-addicted mother and “hard tryer” in all things.

[Stefanni Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a fan of John Dickerson. I like the way he thinks. I like his incisive questions. So when I found this book in a resale shop, I happily paid $2 to take it home with me. I remember his mother Nancy Dickerson. At our home while I was growing up, we always watched the evening news and I felt that journalists were as exciting as the people they interviewed! So to read John’s account of his mother’s career on CBS and NBC was a delight. Stories of the Kennedys, Johnsons, and Bushes during her time as a journalist in Washington were a delight. She sacrificed for her career, as many do. I am glad to know her story.

[Nancy]

I had never heard of Nancy Dickerson until John Dickerson became the host of Face the Nation severs years ago. He was introduced as the son of Nancy Dickerson. It intrigued me, but I didn’t follow up on it until I ran across his memoir/biography of his relationship with his mother. It is a fascinating portrait of an ambitious woman who was not afraid to work hard in a man’s world. Recommended. As a side note, since Nancy Dickerson became famous for covering the Johnson Administration, I’m reading Lady Bird Johnson:Hiding in Plain Sight next.

[Elizabeth Swift · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listening to how much Nancy had to struggle with to live her dream was inspiring. The way she had to move her family to the back burner was very sad, but she was more of a reporter than mother. She tried to do her best at everything she did, but, as is always the way with multi-taking, some things had to suffer. I was glad that John found a way back to his mother and that he wrote this along the way. You'll be glad you read this!

[Maj · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling mix of a biography and autobiography set in the world of news reporting and high society.
I got lost a couple of times, re: timeline and actual dates, and I guess I would have welcomed additional examples of the stories Nancy covered, but other than that I found this book to be a page-turner.

[William Orr · Rating 4 out of 5]

You would think (wouldn’t you?) that to be a beautiful woman would be helpful, career-wise. Not always. And to be smart? Pretty women have to be careful there, too. How about having a rich father and a famous mother? All that glistens….

The best part of this book is the writer. He shows himself to be an awful teenager but then works hard to reconcile his relationship with his mother. One reviewer said you’ll hate him by page 40, but love them both by the end. I was rather impressed by how human they both were, and how the world can seemingly bless you and curse you at the same time.

I just like the man, and all his work.

[Marion Vermazen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would stay three and a half stars. It is an interesting book. The discrimination and challenges she had to deal with are eye opening.

[Mercurialgem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this read and would highly recommend.

[Bertha Rachinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

So interesting to read about one of the first major network news reporters, Nancy Dickerson.

[Jeanmansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched, entertaining, balanced, personal, incredibly well written story of Nancy Dickerson’s life told by her youngest son in some times objective and sometimes highly personal ways. Filled with great insight and inside stories. His compassion and maturity come through on every page. As does his objectivity. Highly recommend this!

[Julie Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I loved the most about this book...

1. I enjoy John Dickerson's writing style and humor and so the narrative was a bit like listening to him tell the story of his mother's life.

2. Getting to see history through Nancy's life, her struggles and her success alongside presidents and other leaders was insightful.

3. I liked his approach of presenting Nancy's good, bad, ugly but in a loving way - I appreciated how his perspective changed and grew. It made me think about how my kids see my now and will see my later.

4. Loved getting inside the life of a woman breaking the glass into a new arena.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is so easy to think that women have made almost no progress in the last 40 years. Reading John Dickerson's biography of his mother, Nancy Dickerson, and her determined breakthrough as a woman in TV journalism, was, for me, a revelation. Women have come a very long way since the mid-1960s, and pioneers like Nancy Dickerson broke the ice. But the biography is about more than her career; it is the memoir of a son who came to appreciate his mother and her humanity. It is also the story of how political campaigns and Presidents were covered in the Sixties and 1970s. I found it well worth reading because it reshaped my understanding of political reporting in that era. John Dickerson brings a light touch to the subject, and at times, his turn of phrase perfectly evokes the mood and impact of the moment: Returning home from camp at age 8 in 1976, the year of America's bicentennial, he found his room tricked out in patriotic red, white, and blue, and he describes it as if his room were "running for office". If you are interested in media and current events, this book will capture and hold your attention. Recommend.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A son lovingly looks at the life of his mother, a pioneering woman television journalist; the book is part "mommy dearest" due to the fraught relationship between mother and son while he was growing up, and part coming to terms with his the life of his mother, who sought to have it all in an era when women either had a career or stayed home to care for a household and raise children. The book chronicles the author's journey to understanding his mother and admiring her accomplishments as well as his regret that she did not live long enough for her to enjoy life with her grandchildren and to exchange ideas for a longer period of time and witness his growth and accomplishments while following in her footsteps as a journalist in the modern era.

[Mark Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was intrigued by the subject, a behind-the-scenes look into the life of a TV news pioneer with whom I was unfamiliar. I found the professional look more interesting than than personal look (and there's a lot on her personal life and her relationship with her son, the author, who is the current (very good) host of Face the Nation). She had an amazing job covering the Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon White Houses and it was interesting to learn about it.

At just over 300 pages, it's a reasonable read, though I found it to be a little bit of a slow one at times. Regardless, I still found it to be a good read.

[Mandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great trivia about LBJ and JFK (the latter complained his promiscuity was only to cure headaches that would otherwise ensue if he didn't get laid), and definitely worthwhile to know more about the gender dynamics in that era's broadcasts, but the writing itself leaves a lot to be desired. John Dickerson is best in twitter, but I think this book also is worse for him trying to tackle a topic that he is both too close and too far away from, making his insights mostly tepid, and really not all that insightful.

[Darleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book really brought me back to when I was a kid and saw Nancy Dickerson reporting news mid-morning. I was entranced by her broach. This telling of her life by her son reveals the stresses and tensions any famous career woman of the 60s endured. Some of the bitterness he naturally feels still comes through in the pages here, which I didn't really need to read.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic read and a glimpse into how women really struggled in the news business. Still do. Written by John Dickerson about his remarkable, driven, flawed mother, Nancy Dickerson. Poignant, funny, sad. She had access to President Lyndon B. Johnson like no other reporter. Can you imagine any reporter being allowed to conduct an interview in a president's bedroom?

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Kindle book I've read past the first few pages & I devoured it. Very accessible & engaging book about a towering figure in news for us boomer women by her son, in the same business in a new time. He gets to know her and shares his journey with us.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about the challenges that token women face in "getting to the top" - I plan to recommend it in my freshman seminar class on Gender and Leadership.