Electing Jimmy Carter: The Campaign of 1976

by Patrick Anderson

In May of 1976, fresh from writing a best-selling political novel, Patrick Anderson signed on as Jimmy Carter’s chief speechwriter. Now, in this remarkable memoir, he brings Carter to life as never before. Behind the Georgian’s famous smile we discover a complex politician who was variously inspiring and petty, naïve and calculating, stubborn and elusive, humble and proud, sardonic and compassionate―and ultimately an enigma even to those closest to him.

Rarely if ever has a skilled novelist and journalist had such access to a future president, then chosen to write about him with such relentless honesty. Electing Jimmy Carter is the most revealing portrait of Carter yet to appear, and it is also one of the funniest, most perceptive accounts of an American presidential campaign ever written.

The cast of characters includes not only Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, and top aides Hamilton Jordan and Jody Powell, but such supporting actors as Warren Beatty, Norman Mailer, Jerry Brown, Bella Abzug, Hugh Hefner, Sam Donaldson, Walter Mondale, and Billy Carter. Fast paced and dramatic, Electing Jimmy Carter reads like a novel, but one that happens to be true.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1994

About the author

Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Patrick Anderson is the weekly thriller reviewer for The Washington Post. He is also the author of nine novels and three previous works of nonfiction and was at one time a speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter, Vice President Al Gore, and others. In addition to the Post, he has reviewed books and written articles for The New York Times Book Review, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The New York Times Magazine, Esquire, Playboy, The Washingtonian, and other publications.

Source: Random House