''Politics Lost: How American Democracy Was Trivialized By People Who Think You're Stupid'', reprinted in 2007 as ''Politics Lost: From RFK to W: How Politicians Have Become Less Courageous and More Interested in Keeping Power than in Doing What's Right for America'', is a 2006 book by journalist
Joe Klein
Joe Klein (born September 7, 1946) is an American political commentator and author. He is best known for his work as a columnist for ''Time'' magazine and his novel ''Primary Colors'', an anonymously written roman à clef portraying Bill Clinton' ...
on the loss of spontaneity and authenticity in
American politics
The politics of the United States function within a framework of a constitutional federal republic and presidential system, with three distinct branches that Separation of powers, share powers. These are: the United States Congress, U.S. Congre ...
. The book begins by recounting
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis Kennedy (November 20, 1925June 6, 1968), also known by his initials RFK and by the nickname Bobby, was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 64th United States Attorney General from January 1961 to September 1964, ...
's 1968
speech on the assassination of
Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist, one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968 ...
, which Klein says "marked the end of an era" before polling and consultants took over public life;
[Klein, Joe.]
Pssst! Who's behind the decline of politics? Consultants.
''Time'', April 9, 2006. Retrieved November 17, 2007. he then covers all of the
U.S. presidential elections from 1976 to 2004.
References
External links
''After Words'' interview with Klein on ''Politics Lost'', April 29, 2006
Books about politics of the United States
2006 non-fiction books
Doubleday (publisher) books
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