From the Left; A Life in the Crossfire

xiii, [5], 267, [3] pages. Illustrations (some in color). Index. Inscribed and signed by the author on the title page. Inscription reads For Roxanne--From The Left! Bill Press. William H. Press (born April 8, 1940) is an American talk radio host, liberal Pundit, and author. He was chairman of the California Democratic Party from 1993 to 1996, and is a regular CNN political contributor. His weekly column is syndicated by Tribune Content Agency. Press started his broadcasting career in Los Angeles for TV stations KABC-TV and KCOP-TV. He has worked as a political commentator for CNN and MSNBC. He is best known for co-hosting CNN's Spin Room opposite Tucker Carlson, and Crossfire and MSNBC's Buchanan and Press. In this book, Bill Press shows his gradual transformation from the far right to the far left, starting with two years of studies in Europe and a providential escape to California. From Sacramento he made his way to Southern California television and talk radio as a political commentator and liberal talk-show host. Jumping to Washington and national cable TV, Press co-hosted Crossfire and the Spin Room on CNN, and Buchanan and Press on MSNBC. A member of the White House Press Corps, and a columnist for Tribune Media Services and The Hill, Press was an early supporter of Bernie Sanders, and hosted two of the senator's first peresidential-strargy sessions in his living room. Derived from a Kirkus review: A politically liberal radio and TV host reflects on his unconventional career path. Born in 1940, Press grew up in Delaware City. He has happy memories of his childhood and adolescence, but with the benefit of hindsight inflected by progressivism, he observes that life in his hometown was good "as long as you were white." His first encounter with politics came through his grandfather and father, both of whom served as mayor of their town. He wanted a career in public service. After a few years "protesting the war in Vietnam, counseling runaways in the Haight-Ashbury.and working for Gene McCarthy," he went to Sacramento to begin his career as a staffer for Democratic state senator Peter Behr. Press then spent the next decade as an environmental activist and then as a key player in Jerry Brown's 1976 presidential campaign. By 1980, the author had turned his attention to media work, which led to TV and radio jobs at stations in Los Angeles and, later, to the position-as the liberal co-host of CNN's Crossfire-that brought him to national attention. Throughout the book, the author tends toward frequent name-dropping while expressing an unapologetically leftist perspective. Yet at the same time, he speaks with respect and affection of many of his right-leaning colleagues such as Pat Buchanan, Tucker Carlson, and John McCain. In an age where the debate between left and right has become "ugly and personal" and blighted by negativity, his ability to remain optimistic about politics and disagree with the opposition in a civil manner is a welcome relief. A lively and refreshing memoir. First Edition [Stated], First Printing [Stated].…