The Washington Monthly Archives The Washington Monthly • 42 Years,
418 Issues,
7,592 Articles,
27,230pp

Selling Out With a Smirk: Lessons from David Letterman, Susan Sontag, and David Byrne
The most fashionable form of irony these days is also the least threatening.
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Issues of the 1960s = 1 Year, 6 Issues, 58 Articles-
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Issues of 1969 = 6 Issues, 58 Articles
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Issues of the 1970s = 10 Years, 108 Issues, 1,398 Articles-
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Issues of 1970 = 9 Issues, 95 Articles
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Issues of 1971 = 11 Issues, 109 Articles
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Issues of 1972 = 12 Issues, 124 Articles
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Issues of 1973 = 11 Issues, 124 Articles
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Issues of 1974 = 11 Issues, 119 Articles
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Issues of 1975 = 10 Issues, 113 Articles
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Issues of 1976 = 11 Issues, 120 Articles
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Issues of 1977 = 11 Issues, 149 Articles
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Issues of 1978 = 11 Issues, 226 Articles
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Issues of 1979 = 11 Issues, 219 Articles
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Issues of the 1980s = 10 Years, 110 Issues, 2,280 Articles-
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Issues of 1980 = 11 Issues, 225 Articles
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Issues of 1981 = 11 Issues, 232 Articles
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Issues of 1982 = 11 Issues, 247 Articles
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Issues of 1983 = 11 Issues, 225 Articles
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Issues of 1984 = 11 Issues, 234 Articles
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Issues of 1985 = 11 Issues, 222 Articles
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Issues of 1986 = 11 Issues, 206 Articles-
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January 1986 Issue = 19 Articles- Letters, pp. 1-5
- Tilting at Windmills by Charles Peters, pp. 6-11
- Mutually Assured Corruption: The Justice Department and Anne Burford's EFA by Daniel Benjamin, pp. 12-21
- Who's Who, pp. 22-23
- Political Puzzle, p. 24
- The Other AIDS Crisis: Who Pays for the Treatment?, pp. 25-31
- Memo of the Month, p. 32
- Prime Time Pablum by S.L. Harrison, pp. 33-39
- Criminals by Any Other Name by Russell Mokhiber, pp. 40-42
- Monthly Journalism Award, pp. 43-45
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Fear and Loathing in Silicon Valley by Gregg Easterbrook, pp. 46-49 - 2 Reviews- The Big Score by Michael S. Malone
- The High Cost of High Tech by Lenny Siegel and John Markoff
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Star Wars: Revenge of the Nerds by Paul Barrett, pp. 50-52 - 1 Review- Star Warriors by William J. Broad
- Tidbits and Outrages, p. 53
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Political Booknotes (6 Reviews) -
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Review The Reagan Detour, by Richard Reeves by Michael Kinsley, pp. 54-55 - 1 Review- The Reagan Detour by Richard Reeves
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Review Between Washington and Jerusalem, by Wolf Blitzer by David Ignatius, p. 56 - 1 Review- Between Washington and Jerusalem by Wolf Blitzer
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Review Amusing Ourselves to Death, by Neil Postman by David W. Stowe, p. 57 - 1 Review- Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman
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Review American Pictures, by Jacob Holdt by Paul Bass, p. 58 - 1 Review- American Pictures by Jacob Holdt
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Review The Untapped Power of the Press, by Lewis W. W... by Jonathan Alter, pp. 58-59 - 1 Review- The Untapped Power of the Press by Lewis W. Wolfson
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Review The Making of a Public Man, by Sol Linowitz by Vance McMahan, pp. 60-62 - 1 Review- The Making of a Public Man by Sol Linowitz
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February 1986 Issue = 18 Articles- Letters, pp. 1-5
- Tilting at Windmills by Charles Peters, pp. 6-11
- Banking on Unreal Estate: The Appraisal Scam by Kenneth Weiss, pp. 12-17
- Who's Who, p. 18
- An American Hero: Dr. David Boyd and Emergency Medical Care by Paul Glastris, pp. 19-27
- Political Puzzle, p. 28
- The Stupidity of "Intelligence" by Stansfield Turner, pp. 29-32
- Monthly Journalism Award, p. 33
- Grenada: Scenes from an Invasion by Richard Gabriel, pp. 34-41
- Memo of the Month, p. 42
- Missed Moorings: American Novelists Lose Touch by Nicholas Lemann, pp. 43-50
- Tidbits and Outrages, p. 51
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Political Booknotes (6 Reviews) -
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Review Heavy Losses, by James Coates and Michael Kilian by Barton Gellman, pp. 52-54 - 1 Review- Heavy Losses by James Coates and Michael Kilian
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Review Politics, by Edward Koch and William Rauch by Jeffrey Toobin, p. 55 - 1 Review- Politics by Edward Koch and William Rauch
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Review Some American Men, by Gloria Emerson by Amy E. Schwartz, pp. 55-56 - 1 Review- Some American Men by Gloria Emerson
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Review Village Journey, by Thomas R. Berger by Kitry Krause, p. 57 - 1 Review- Village Journey by Thomas R. Berger
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Review Lost Children, by Polly Toynbee by Suzanne Fields, p. 58 - 1 Review- Lost Children by Polly Toynbee
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Review The Divorce Revolution, by Lenore J. Weitzman by Deborah Fallows, pp. 59-62 - 1 Review- The Divorce Revolution by Lenore J. Weitzman
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March 1986 Issue = 17 Articles- Letters, pp. 1-5
- Tilting at Windmills by Charles Peters, pp. 6-11
- Executions Aren't News by Jason DeParle, pp. 12-21
- Who's Afraid of the FEC? by Colleen O'Connor, pp. 22-26
- Tidbits and Outrages, p. 27
- The Man Who Would Be Speaker by Steven Waldman, pp. 28-37
- Selling Out With a Smirk: Lessons from David Letterman, Susan Sontag, and David Byrne by William McGowan, pp. 38-41
- Memo of the Month, p. 42
- Tunnels to Nowhere by Harrison Rainie, pp. 43-49
- Who's Who, p. 50
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Take the Money and Run, pp. 51-54 - 1 Review- Greed and Glory on Wall Street by Ken Auletta
- Monthly Journalism Award, p. 55
- Political Puzzle, p. 56
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Political Booknotes (3 Reviews) -
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Review Mirror of Language, by Kenji Hakuta by James Fallows, p. 57 - 1 Review- Mirror of Language by Kenji Hakuta
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Review The Dream of Deliverance in American Politics,... by Nicholas Lemann, p. 58 - 1 Review- The Dream of Deliverance in American Politics by Mona Harrington
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Review Witnesses at the Creation, by Richard B. Morris by James David Barber, pp. 59-62 - 1 Review- Witnesses at the Creation by Richard B. Morris
- Cover by Vint Lawrence
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April 1986 Issue = 18 Articles- Letters, pp. 1-5
- Tilting at Windmills by Charles Peters, pp. 6-10
- The Mortgaged Generation: Why the Young Can't Afford a House by Phillip Longman, pp. 11-14
- Monthly Journalism Award, pp. 15-19
- Memo of the Month, p. 20
- Hammers and Nails in Mt. Winans by Kitry Krause, pp. 21-26
- From Ouagadougou to Cape Canaveral: Why the Bad News Doesn't Travel Up by Charles Peters, pp. 27-31
- Who's Who, p. 32
- Whatever Happened to No-Fault? by Jeffrey O'Connell and Peter Spiro, pp. 33-37
- Let Me Say This About That.... by Alex Heard, pp. 38-46
- Regulations That Work by David Bollier and Joan Claybrook, pp. 47-54
- Tidbits and Outrages, p. 55
- Political Puzzle, p. 56
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Political Booknotes (4 Reviews) -
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Review Home Front, by Patti Davis and Maureen Strange... by Sam Donaldson, p. 57 - 1 Review- Home Front by Patti Davis and Maureen Strange Foster
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Review Conflicts and Contradictions, by Meron Benvenisti by Trudy Rubin, p. 57 - 1 Review- Conflicts and Contradictions by Meron Benvenisti
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Review Chicago Divided, by Paul Kleppner by Matthew Cooper, p. 58 - 1 Review- Chicago Divided by Paul Kleppner
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Review The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood by Amy E. Schwartz, p. 59 - 1 Review- The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
- The 16th Annual Political Book Award, pp. 60-62
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May 1986 Issue = 18 Articles- Letters, pp. 1-5
- Tilting at Windmills by Charles Peters, pp. 6-11
- Who's Who, p. 12
- Better Red than Steinbrenner by Jonathan Rowe, pp. 13-19
- Memo of the Month, p. 20
- The Wrong Way to Court Ethnics by Thomas Massey, pp. 21-26
- Tidbits and Outrages, p. 27
- Hello Sweetheart, Get Me Mergers and Acquisitions: The Rise of Steven Rattner by Philip Weiss, pp. 28-41
- Political Puzzle, p. 42
- Should We Worry About the Deficit? by John Palmer and Stephanie Gould, pp. 43-44
- Monthly Journalism Award, pp. 45-46
- A Former Journalism School Dean Asks, Is It Worth It? by Carolyn Lewis, pp. 47-54
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Political Booknotes (6 Reviews) -
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Review Brothers in Arms, by William Broyles, Jr. by Gregg Easterbrook, p. 55 - 1 Review- Brothers in Arms by William Broyles, Jr.
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Review Innovation, by Richard N. Foster by Thomas J. Peters, p. 56 - 1 Review- Innovation by Richard N. Foster
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Review The Vietnamese Gulag, by Doan Van Toai and Dav... by Jeff Stein, p. 57 - 1 Review- The Vietnamese Gulag by Doan Van Toai and David Chanoff
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2 Reviews Mayday, by Michael R. Beschloss by Charles Peters, p. 58 - 2 Reviews- Mayday by Michael R. Beschloss
- Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi
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Review Beyond Entitlement, by Lawrence M. Mead by Walter Shapiro, p. 59 - 1 Review- Beyond Entitlement by Lawrence M. Mead
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Review Origins, by Robert Shapiro by Timothy Appenzeller, pp. 60-62 - 1 Review- Origins by Robert Shapiro
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June 1986 Issue = 20 Articles- Letters, pp. 1-5
- Tilting at Windmills, pp. 6-11
- Who's Who, p. 12
- I Turned Down Tenure by David Helfand, pp. 13-17
- Memo of the Month, p. 18
- There's Nothing Liberal About Rent Control by Blake Fleetwood and Kurt Eichenwald, pp. 19-23
- Paradise Tossed by Alex Gibney, pp. 24-34
- Tidbits and Outrages, p. 35
- For Immediate Release by Steven Waldman, pp. 36-39
- Monthly Journalism Award, p. 40
- Live From Capitol Hill, It's.... by Stephen Hess, pp. 41-43
- Political Puzzle, p. 44
- Cutting Costs, Not Care by Erik Gunn, pp. 45-50
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Did Carter Fail on Human Rights? by Tamar Jacoby, pp. 51-55 - 2 Reviews- Morality, Reason, and Power by Gaddis Smith
- The Uncertain Crusade by Joshua Muravchik
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Political Booknotes (5 Reviews) -
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Review Pavn, by Douglas Eugene Pike by William Broyles, Jr., p. 56 - 1 Review- Pavn by Douglas Eugene Pike
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Review Marketing in an Electronic Age, by Robert D. B... by Thomas J. Peters, pp. 56-57 - 1 Review- Marketing in an Electronic Age by Robert D. Buzzell
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Review When All You'Ve Ever Wanted Isn't Enough, by H... by Emily Yoffe, p. 58 - 1 Review- When All You'Ve Ever Wanted Isn't Enough by Harold S. Kushner
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Review Jesse Jackson and the Politics of Race, by Tho... by Jacob Weisberg, p. 58 - 1 Review- Jesse Jackson and the Politics of Race by Thomas H. Landess and Richard M. Quinn
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Review Manhunt, by Peter Maas by Gregg Easterbrook, pp. 59-62 - 1 Review- Manhunt by Peter Maas
- Cover by Tom Miller
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July 1986 Issue = 18 Articles- Letters, pp. 1-5
- Tilting at Windmills by Charles Peters, pp. 6-10
- NORML's Bad Trip by Amy Cunningham, pp. 11-14
- Monthly Journalism Award, p. 15
- Political Puzzle, p. 16
- Watching the Watchdogs by John Eisendrath, pp. 17-23
- A Dream Deferred by Juan Williams, pp. 24-34
- Memo of the Month, pp. 35-39
- Who's Who, p. 40
- Americans Can Build Good Cars by Kitry Krause, pp. 41-46
- Essentials of Tax Reform by Robert S. McIntyre, pp. 47-50
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The World According to Brzezinski by Paul Warnke, pp. 51-53 - 1 Review- Game Plan by Zbigniew K. Brzezinski
- Tidbits and Outrages, p. 54
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In Search of Arrogance by Thomas J. Peters, pp. 55-58 - 1 Review- The Big Boys by Ralph Nader
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Political Booknotes (3 Reviews) -
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Review The Agency, by John Ranelagh by David Wise, p. 59 - 1 Review- The Agency by John Ranelagh
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Review The Complete Guide to Public Employment, by Ro... by Leonard Reed, p. 60 - 1 Review- The Complete Guide to Public Employment by Ronald L. Krannich and Caryl Rae Krannich
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Review Thinking Back, by C. Vann Woodward by Alan Brinkley, pp. 61-62 - 1 Review- Thinking Back by C. Vann Woodward
- Cover illustration by Vint Lawrence
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September 1986 Issue = 17 Articles- Letters, pp. 1-5
- Tilting at Windmills by Charles Peters, pp. 6-11
- Who's Who, p. 12
- Producer Kidnaps Councilman by John Eisendrath, pp. 13-21
- Political Puzzle, p. 22
- Finally, a Cure for the Homeless by E. Fuller Torrey, M.D., pp. 23-27
- Memo of the Month, p. 28
- Damn You, Connie. You've Ruined Our Foreign Policy by Marci McDonald, pp. 29-40
- Don't Shoot the Ambassador by Tina Rosenberg, pp. 41-44
- Fumbling on Reform by Malcolm Gladwell, pp. 45-48
- Monthly Journalism Award, p. 49
- Tidbits and Outrages, p. 50
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Building St. Patrick's Cathedral by Mickey Kaus, pp. 51-56 - 1 Review- Family and Nation by Daniel Patrick Moynihan
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Political Booknotes (3 Reviews) -
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Review The Straw Giant, by Arthur T. Hadley by Gregg Easterbrook, p. 57 - 1 Review- The Straw Giant by Arthur T. Hadley
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Review Beyond Appearance, by Robert M. Goldwyn by Amy Schwartz, p. 58 - 1 Review- Beyond Appearance by Robert M. Goldwyn
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Review The Overburdened Economy, by Lloyd Jeffry Dumas by John Kenneth Galbraith, pp. 59-62 - 1 Review- The Overburdened Economy by Lloyd Jeffry Dumas
- Cover by Joe Spencer
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October 1986 Issue = 20 Articles- Letters, pp. 1-3
- Tilting at Windmills by Charles Peters, pp. 4-8
- The Artful Dodgers by Morton Mintz, pp. 9-16
- Has Ms. Undergone a Sex Change? by Susan Milligan, pp. 17-20
- Monthly Journalism Award, p. 21
- Political Puzzle, p. 22
- Have You Driven a Ford Lately? by Gregg Easterbrook, pp. 23-34
- The Hiroshima Hustle by Steven Waldman, pp. 35-40
- The Best Governor in America by Jack Hitt, pp. 41-44
- Who's Who, p. 45
- Memo of the Month, p. 46
- Double Indignity by Esther Schrader, pp. 47-51
- Tidbits and Outrages, p. 52
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Protectionism American Style by Thomas J. Peters, pp. 53-54 - 1 Review- Trade War by Steven Schlossstein
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Reagan and the Tinseltown Mafia by Sam Donaldson, p. 55 - 1 Review- Dark Victory by Dan E. Moldea
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Psychoanalyzing the News by Jonathan Alter, p. 56 - 1 Review- The Media Elite by S. Robert Lichter, Stanley Rothman, and Linda S. Lichter, ...
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The Enemy's War by William E. Colby, pp. 57-58 - 1 Review- The Army and Vietnam by Andrew F. Krepinevich, Jr.
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Political Booknotes (3 Reviews) -
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Review Supercarrier, by George C. Wilson by Scott Shuger, p. 59 - 1 Review- Supercarrier by George C. Wilson
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Review On the Line, by Larry Kahaner by Anna Zornosa, p. 60 - 1 Review- On the Line by Larry Kahaner
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Review Children at Risk, by Paula Hawkins by Emily Yoffe, pp. 60-62 - 1 Review- Children at Risk by Paula Hawkins
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November 1986 Issue = 19 Articles- Letters, pp. 1-5
- Tilting at Windmills by Charles Peters, pp. 6-12
- The Rogers Commission Failed by Richard Cook#2, pp. 13-21
- Political Puzzle, pp. 22-23
- Memo of the Month, p. 24
- How the Courts Protect Contractors Whose Weapons Kill G.I.s by Mark Thompson, pp. 25-28
- Monthly Journalism Award, pp. 29-33
- We Need You by Timothy Noah, pp. 34-41
- Who's Who, p. 42
- The Longest Shot by John Eisendrath, pp. 43-49
- Tidbits and Outrages, p. 50
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America's Bloomsbury by Nicholas Lemann, pp. 51-54 - 1 Review- Prodigal Sons by Alexander Bloom
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Political Booknotes (6 Reviews) -
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Review Trading Secrets, by R. Foster Winans by Joseph Nocera, p. 55 - 1 Review- Trading Secrets by R. Foster Winans
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Review Judicial Jeopardy, by Richard Neely by Paul M. Barrett, pp. 55-57 - 1 Review- Judicial Jeopardy by Richard Neely
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Review The Type E Woman, by Harriet B. Braiker by Suzanne Fields, p. 58 - 1 Review- The Type E Woman by Harriet B. Braiker
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Review Cadillac Desert, by Marc Reisner by John D. Leshy, p. 59 - 1 Review- Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner
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Review The Juror and the General, by M. Patricia Roth by Charles Peters, p. 60 - 1 Review- The Juror and the General by M. Patricia Roth
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Review The Search for Government Efficiency, by Georg... by Leonard Reed, pp. 60-62 - 1 Review- The Search for Government Efficiency by George W. Downs and Patrick D. Larkey
- Cover photo by Stanley Tretick
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December 1986 Issue = 22 Articles- Letters, pp. 1-5
- Tilting at Windmills by Charles Peters, pp. 6-9
- Who's Who, p. 10
- Dialing for Dollars by Paul Glastris, pp. 11-16
- Why We Liked Dick by Lawrence Wright, pp. 17-20
- Down the Toilet by Tyler Bridges, pp. 21-27
- Memo of the Month, p. 28
- The Bad Barrel by Ken Auletta, pp. 29-31
- Political Puzzle, p. 32
- The King of Quotes by Steven Waldman, pp. 33-38
- Monthly Journalism Award, pp. 39-40
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Taking Conservatives Seriously by Jonathan Rowe, pp. 41-44 - 1 Review- The Rise of the Counter-Establishment by Sidney Blumenthal
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What Ed Meese and Thomas Jefferson Have in Common by Lloyd Cutler, pp. 45-48 - 1 Review- A Machine That Would Go of Itself by Michael Kammen
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The Morning After, pp. 49-53 - 3 Reviews- When the War Was Over by Elizabeth Becker
- Bitter Victory by Robert Shaplen
- Portrait of the Enemy by David Chanoff
- Tidbits and Outrages, p. 54
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Political Booknotes (7 Reviews) -
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Review Real Coke, by Thomas Oliver by Joseph Nocera, p. 55 - 1 Review- Real Coke by Thomas Oliver
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Review Pentagon, by Allen Drury by Diane D. Henderson, p. 55 - 1 Review- Pentagon by Allen Drury
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Review Fidel: A Critical Portrait, by Tad Szulc by Georgie Anne Geyer, pp. 56-57 - 1 Review- Fidel: A Critical Portrait by Tad Szulc
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Review Why ERA Failed, by Mary Frances Berry by Kathleen Currie, p. 58 - 1 Review- Why ERA Failed by Mary Frances Berry
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Review United States of America vs. Sex, by Philip No... by Linda Catling, p. 58 - 1 Review- United States of America vs. Sex by Philip Nobile and Eric Nadler
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Review Bureaucratic Responsibility, by John P. Burke by Leonard Reed, p. 59 - 1 Review- Bureaucratic Responsibility by John P. Burke
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Review Sometimes a Shining Moment, by Eliot Wigginton by Susan Ohanian, pp. 60-62 - 1 Review- Sometimes a Shining Moment by Eliot Wigginton
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Issues of 1987 = 11 Issues, 218 Articles
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Issues of 1988 = 11 Issues, 228 Articles
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Issues of 1989 = 11 Issues, 243 Articles
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Issues of the 1990s = 10 Years, 101 Issues, 2,095 Articles-
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Issues of 1990 = 11 Issues, 216 Articles
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Issues of 1991 = 10 Issues, 196 Articles
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Issues of 1992 = 10 Issues, 207 Articles
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Issues of 1993 = 10 Issues, 201 Articles
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Issues of 1994 = 10 Issues, 198 Articles
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Issues of 1995 = 10 Issues, 202 Articles
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Issues of 1996 = 10 Issues, 232 Articles
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Issues of 1997 = 10 Issues, 232 Articles
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Issues of 1998 = 10 Issues, 200 Articles
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Issues of 1999 = 10 Issues, 211 Articles
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Issues of the 2000s = 10 Years, 88 Issues, 1,675 Articles-
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Issues of 2000 = 10 Issues, 212 Articles
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Issues of 2001 = 10 Issues, 220 Articles
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Issues of 2002 = 10 Issues, 219 Articles
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Issues of 2003 = 10 Issues, 204 Articles
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Issues of 2004 = 10 Issues, 179 Articles
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Issues of 2005 = 9 Issues, 125 Articles
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Issues of 2006 = 9 Issues, 145 Articles
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Issues of 2007 = 10 Issues, 166 Articles
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Issues of 2008 = 4 Issues, 94 Articles
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Issues of 2009 = 6 Issues, 111 Articles
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Issues of the 2010s = 1 Year, 5 Issues, 86 Articles-
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Issues of 2010 = 5 Issues, 86 Articles