Word: bookings
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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Caro began work on his Texas-size biography of L.B.J. 14 years ago. The choice of subject was a natural progression from his first marathon, The Power Broker (1974), a 1,200-page study of New York City master builder Robert Moses. The Power Broker is an obligatory book for understanding modern urban politics. In turning to L.B.J., Caro shifted his focus from how New York City works to what makes the nation run. The answer is not surprising. As Franklin Roosevelt's factotum Tommy ("the Cork") Corcoran responded when Caro asked how the young L.B.J. gained power, "Money...
Caro's first Johnson volume, The Path to Power, was published in 1982 and proved Corcoran wrong. In comprehensive and forceful detail, it followed Johnson from the lonely Texas hill country, out from under the humiliating shadow of his failed father. The book ended with his unexpected defeat in a 1941 race for the U.S. Senate. The Path remained a best seller for three months and won the National Book Critics Circle Award for nonfiction...
Last week another eminent employee was cleaning out his desk. Robert Bernstein, who in 23 years as head of Random House helped build it into the largest trade-book publisher in the U.S., abruptly announced his resignation. It was only three years ago that he said, "I want to be a publisher until I'm carried out." Bernstein, 66, insists he had no falling out with Newhouse. But to industry insiders the decision seemed all the more sudden because no replacement was named for the high-powered position...
Hall's one concession to talk-show tradition is to perform an opening monologue. His topical jokes are lame compared with Carson's or Jay Leno's, but he exposes himself in a way those cool satirists never do. Talking about Ralph Abernathy's book, in which the former civil rights leader made allegations about the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s sexual escapades, Hall barely disguised his anger. "He's just jealous," said Hall. "Probably hasn't been with three women in his life . . . Martin's still my hero. Right...
Hall bridles at the criticisms his show has received. "One critic accused me of fawning over second-rate talent. How dare he! In the ghetto the game is respect. If I book you, I'm committed to you. I'm an entertainer, not a tough interviewer. My philosophy is to leave my ego at the door and get the best out of my guests." Yet Hall concedes that his interviewing skills need work. He is currently being coached by New York City-based media consultant Virginia Sherwood. Among her tips: ask more follow-up questions and avoid overusing words like...