How to Read a Presidential Candidate

Aug 30, 2024

Carlos Lozada, a New York Times Opinion columnist and co-host of a weekly podcast, dives into the depths of political memoirs to uncover the hidden truths of presidential candidates. He discusses how personal anecdotes and omissions in these narratives offer insights into their true selves. The conversation also explores the discomfort of fictional portrayals of real political figures, with authors like Curtis Sittenfeld analyzing the complexities behind public personas and the impact of identity in politics. Discover how fiction and memoirs intertwine in understanding leadership today.

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ANECDOTE

Obama's Image Management

Obama aimed to be seen carrying items off planes, emulating JFK.
This reveals his meticulous image management, according to Carlos Lozada.

ANECDOTE

Pence's Omission

Mike Pence omitted key parts of Trump's Jan 6th speech in his memoir.
Pence downplayed Trump’s election denial claims, revealing his continued support.

ADVICE

Read Trump's Books

Read Donald Trump's books to understand his presidency.
His writings foreshadowed his actions and worldview.

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During election season, voters hope to glimpse the true selves of presidential candidates. And sometimes, revealing details hide in plain sight. On this week’s On the Media, one reporter sifts through political memoirs for truths about politicians and the people they lead. Plus, in vivid detail, a novelist imagines the private lives of former presidents.

[01:00] Host Brooke Gladstone speaks with Carlos Lozada, New York Times Opinion columnist and a co-host of the weekly “Matter of Opinion” podcast. Lozada explains how he mines political memoirs for deeper understanding of our political figures by examining what they include and what they omit.

[16:43] Brooke speaks with Vinson Cunningham, author of the novel Great Expectations. Cunningham, who is now a theater critic at The New Yorker, worked on the 2008 Obama campaign and later in the White House. Great Expectations is inspired by that time in his life and the difficult-to-read candidate for the presidency.

[35:05] Brooke interviews novelist Curtis Sittenfeld about her exploration of the minds of political figures through fiction, first in American Wife (inspired by Laura Bush) and next in Rodham, which considers what Hilary Clinton’s life would have looked like if she had never married Bill. They discuss the questions that led Sittenfeld to write those novels and why fiction based on real people makes readers so uncomfortable — especially the sex scenes.

This show originally aired on our May 3, 2024 program, How to Read a President, with Carlos Lozada, Vinson Cunningham, and Curtis Sittenfeld.