lately, there have been a spat of " oral history " books done one the first 1/2 of the 20th century. I'll give you a list, if you're interested.
I have detested the Kennedys, since I was a teenager. I've read EVERYTHING about them, that I can. I've done the same thing with the Clintons. For some reason or other, I tend to read about those I hate and not much about the recent American political figures I like.
The term " THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST ", used for the Kennedy & Johnson administrations was hyperbole at the very least...outright propaganda !
Yeah I know what you mean. I'm a radical individualist yet somehow totalitarian states like Nazi Germany and The Soviet Union draw me in ..... to read about that is. My grandparents were all born in the 1890s and my parents in the '20s so I grew up with certain types of stories on a regular basis that made me want to learn more about what happened before my time. While I am addicted to the news and current events the whole era of my times repulses me in a way - I guess it has something to do with aesthetics - the goofy custumes of the "beautiful" people in the '60s and the god awful fashion of the '70s - to me it looks like the smart set of those decades were dressed in circus clown outfits - and actually believed they looked good! Then there's today's body modification trends and scroungy attire - no sense of dignity. Sorry I got side tracted. I'ld be glad to hear of any book recommendations that you have to offer - doesn't matter what political stripe it is either. Do you like Studs Turkle?
The term " THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST ", used for the Kennedy & Johnson administrations was hyperbole at the very least...outright propaganda !
Having a natural contrarian nature I have developed a keen eye for propaganda and most history is writen by the winners i.e. court historians. I suppose regimes need legitamacy to retain the support of the people and the people by nature seem to need myths and heroes so I suppose the lies serve everyone's interests in the long run.