Really in the worst year of the war, right after he becomes prime ministers in 1940 really the day of the german invasion of low countries of france. And then basically what it was like to stand alone against not see germany until june of 41 the russians are in the war. Its an extraordinary book. It was a wonderful read about a guy that i consider literally the greatest person in the 20th century. And the supreme ordeal of a long and brilliant career. And then ive also been reading, i just picked up a great historian by the name of gene Edwards Smith a great biographer, i read his biography grant and eisenhower, eisenhower biography is by far the best ever written. And there have been some good ones. But he died in 2019. So right now, i just got into what may have been his best book is on fdr something called the parkman prize which american historians use the best book of the year, back in 2007. It is been around for a while, it has been sitting on my bookshelf. I just have not gotten to it. Its six or 700 page read. But we lost smith last year, about a year ago september actually. Its almost precisely a year ago. I happen to, just think about that and pulled out the books. In order to his last book which ive not read yet on the liberation of paris was was published in 2019. Ive kind of been doing that. Earlier this summer i got on by accident binged biographies of ambassadors. Eric larson also for a great biography of a guy name william dodd who was the American Ambassador in germany in the 1930s. And his family which was quite an eclectic and eccentric group. And their experience of being and not see germany as hitler was consolidate power a dark period in World History was becoming evident. And then i read the same time called in the cauldron which is the american the tail of the American Ambassador in tokyo a guy named joseph grew for about ten years was our basset for ten years from 1931 to 41. Olive is ultimately fruitless efforts to head off war between the United States and japan. On then of course what it was like being in japan during the fascist and military regime. Whose guiding the country by ruin. Theres been a lot of that. And then one last thing one of my favorite political finders of all times. I usually read historians this is a different kind of guide my view, Richard Fenno just died this year but was very famous for writing histories on congress or studies of congress on the district level up rather than from the washington level. He would travel into the district of various congressmen and senators or the states ascenders obviously. I had read a couple of his books. I happen to read his obit and thought i have read enough of this guy. I read a couple of his books the challenge of congressional representation which i think was his last book published in 2013. In an earlier book called congressional travels. Again a granular view of congress. I know a lot of the members of congress he writes about in these things. It is just fascinating and its a reminder of what somebody does in washington is really a reflection of who they represent, but their interests are, what their understanding of the world is. We kind of lose that dimension, sometimes only study politician politicians. We forget they have another part of them which is not in washington d. C. It actually shapes what they do in washington. So a lot of reading this summer. Now congressman, there seems to been a theme among the history books youre reading that is world war ii. Well, it just happens to be there. Not by deliberate design. Like everybody else im fascinated by it. There been other books too, collins book about indian world of George Washingtons native american that really fascinated me as well. No question, world war ii is the central conflict in shaper of the 20th century. Really the postworld war ii era. Obviously have to understand a wart leading into it, what came out of it too understand the time in which we live. And really the rise of the United States integrate power before the second world war. It became the second power after that. Understanding what the country went through and how it changed who we are, how we think, how we act globally i think its really kind of an indispensable grounding that you have to have if you want to be effective in the current time. Is eric larson were those writers or historians if he writes a book you read it . Yes. Is it absolutely superb writer. Sometime its like reading a novel. The descriptions, it is all footnoted. He has a real talent for and again seizing on something to look at more closely we have a lot of really find biographies of winston churchill, Robert Andrews most recent is probably the best. Lets pick out a year, i cannot remember the authors name now. It is the same thing, it is on churchill in the 1920s. Single pivotal year when he was working as colonial secretary and help reshape the middle east and ways that echo right down to the boundaries of countries. I like what he does i like how he does things i like how he writes. He is always worth reading whatever the topic is. Now the New York Times correspondent came out with a book about congress a year or two back. One a book comes out about congress, do you almost automatically pick it up . I do. I happen to know karl very well. Hes one of the smartest reporters out there. Confirmation bias which is sort of on the Supreme Court wars that we have seen in recent years, is a brilliant look. If you and to understand some of the struggles that shape capitol hill, not any better guide than karl, i just finished Jonathan Carls book it is not congress. Se because he is a White House Correspondent for abc news. But a front row in the trump show is an interesting read. I note car ive been interviewed by him and been on a podcast once or twice. Somebody writes a book that i think is really knowledgeable and professional. You want to hear what they have to say. They are talking to a lot of people in many cases you cant talk to her dont have the occasion to talk to. They bring a lot of insights into the political field and into congress. , sharing a book ideas do you do in congress . Quite a bit. I do sort of a Favorite Book of the month that we published regularly on our website. We have a lot of inquiries about that. I also threw a party for republican appropriators every year at christmas usually dinner at the willard. But they always get a Christmas Present that is almost always a book. And quite often a fiveminute conversation with somebody and i know that got a particular interest or what have you i will send them a book. Iran but years ago, Adam Kinsinger is one of our brightest guys in Congress Part i was a young veteran and was elected the class of 2010 and his hair back then was very short. Almost like a crewcut. He is still in the reserves, still flies. He reminded me of a picture of don rumsfeld at about the same age. Square jaw, goodlooking guy. So i bought rumsfelds autobiography and send it over to vicente you are from illinois hes from illinois, you have a crewcut he had a crewcut you guys should get to no one another. So occasionally l just sent a book to somebody because it struck me as something to interest them. In particularly adams is one of our really thoughtful thinkers in congress on both sides of the aisle. Our National Security issues in military matters against hes deployed to combat zones. The guys knows what hes talking about. I thought he be interested in a guy like rumsfeld who it also served and handed both the youngest and the oldest secretary of defense in american history. Item if you saw this but mr. Rumsfeld wrote his most recent book on the white house. I havent i will have to get that. I just finished chris whipples book the gatekeeper, on the chiefs of staff. Of the white house and of course he figured very prominently. Ill be interested in having a more thorough view. I actually have a picture i campaigned with him on a number of occasions. I was a big admirer of his. Time and chance on gerald ford. I would be interesting to give rumsfeld close up look at president ford bird tom call republican thanks for joining us on book tv. Thank you peter thanks for having me. You can watch the somebody reading interviews booktv. Org using the search bar top of the page. Heres a look at some books being published this week for the purpose of lives black lives founder offers her thoughts on building grassroots political movements. Tom finch and president Judicial Watch suggests of the deep state is trying too destroy the Trump Presidency and a republic under assault. And the debt of a rising delight journalists less pain and his daughter in primary researchers also and distracted, argued current teaching methods are at odds with how students learn. And. Com senior staff member and the Washington Post examine the political career of democratic california representative Maxine Roberts and reclaiming her time. And political journalist edmund fossett provides a history of political conservatism from the 19th century until today. Find these titles this coming week wherever books are sold. Watch for many of the authors of the new future book tv on cspan cspan2. Recent book tv interviewed a republican senator mcsally of arizona who reflected on her life and being the first pilot to fly combat missions in the air force pursuant many can relate to this right now and 2020. Many plans are derailed, many people have been because of this pandemic. I took because they did not change the law. It was not fair is against the law even though i graduated higher than others who performed less, i could still not be a Fighter Pilot because i was a girl. I took an assignment to be an Instructor Pilot in texas flying the t37, it is not a glamorous job but it gave me the opportunity. You are turning pedestrians into pilots. Theyre awfully putting you in dangerous situations, puking all over you. But people usually graduating high the class did not take it. I thought it was a chance or me to it keep building my airman ship, keep excelling, growing in my experience as a pilots, and keep the door open. If they change the law and the policy the law was changed at that point but the policy wasnt. I think it was going too happen soon. And be leaning forward in building my experience and thats exactly what happened. The door open those in the right place at the right time with the right experience. Sewing courage the readers what is your t37 . I look back at a not been derailed initially i would not have been in the position to actually have broken the barrier been the first woman to fly in combat. Sometimes you cant see that it detours actually taking you on your path your destiny. That was my experience. To watch the rest of this interview with our website booktv. Org. Search for senator mcsally or the title of her book, dare to fly. Using the box at the top of the page. Good afternoon welcome to the Richard Nixon president ial library