Right From the Beginning: Good read pending political views

Right From the Beginning has a special place for a few reasons. First, I was a big Buchanan supporter in high school and secondly it was the first autobiography I ever read outside of school (that would be 1992). Pat Buchanan's self-told story might disappoint those interested in reading about Watergate, Richard Nixon and his days in the Reagan Administration. Though there are pictures of Buchanan from those times, the book covers his childhood through his acceptance of a job to work with the former vice-president on his comeback bid.

The book opens with Buchanan talking about the ruminations that took place amongst friends and colleagues about a bid for the 1988 Republican nomination (ironically enough then vice-president George H. W. Bush is cited as a reference, praising the book written by his future challenger).

Buchanan goes over the reasons why he opts out of a bid but reading it with hindsight it is apparent that the book is a prelude to a future run...and indication that Buchanan was going to make a bid in 1992, likely regardless of which party controlled the White House. Also keep in mind it was written prior to the 1988 election and that until then, no sitting vice-president had been directly elected to the presidency since Martin van Buren in 1836....a fact Buchanan was probably aware of.

The book lays out his positions on the issues of the day (as it is dated, his take on handling the Soviets is interesting...and his shift in positions over time is worth noting...Buchanan has an almost internationalist flair in his rhetoric) and talks about his life growing up in DC, his family and his time in undergrad at Georgetown and later in Columbia's journalism school.

It reads almost like a confessional (i.e. getting stuff out there). I would wager no less than 5% of the book is about the numerous times he was arrested for fights and public drunkeness. And the book also chronicles the many times he obviously operated a vehicle while intoxicated.

If anything the book reveals why he did not run in 1988...he had to get the baggage out there in advance of a later run for the presidency.

If you're interested in the old ways of the Catholic Church and what Washington, DC looked like before "self-rule", then this book is worth picking up. If you're a Buchanan fan, then it is a must read. In the book he hints that he will later write an autobiography on his Nixon and Reagan days, though to my knowledge no such book has been put out there (maybe statute of limitations ?).

The book drops a lot of names of unimportant people and at times is hard to keep track of everyone...especially as he shifts references to his brothers and sisters actual names with nicknames.

His writing style is exactly the same in this book as it is in his columns, so those who enjoy reading his editorials will enjoy reading this book, with one of the cleverest titles I've ever come across.