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Throw the Book at Him
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Obama’s Imbroglios
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My Rahm Reunion
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The Current Crisis
J. Gordon Coogler Award Rescinded, Shawcross Forgiven
In tribute to a rare, honorable public intellectual.
WASHINGTON — Followers of this column have noticed that something is amiss. They have looked to it every week for months with increased frustration. Many have gone back to the March, April, May, and June issues of The American Spectator and pored over every page, but all was for naught. They have not been able to find a trace of the J. Gordon Coogler Award for the Worst Book of the Year, and they know that there were many promising candidates in 2010 for this hallowed recognition. The New York Review of Books was full of them. Ever since the J. Gordon Coogler Award Committee began sponsoring the award back in 1975, it almost seems that the Review has been serving as a referral service to assist our learned judges in their laborious work. Though this was by indirection: the Review’s editors exalt those books they find admirable and even heroic, and the Coogler Committee has its short list of trash.
Well, dear readers, you were right in your premonitions that something had gone wrong. Here is the problem. In February 1980 we awarded “The Worst Book of the Year Award” to the British writer William Shawcross for his Sideshow: Kissinger, Nixon, and the Destruction of Cambodia. The late and gifted Peter Rodman reviewed the book in The American Spectator and took issue with its narrative and methodology, for instance the maps were off according to his calculations; and yes, the New York Review of Books had done cartwheels over Sideshow. We had our worst book of the year. Our problem arose because over the years Shawcross has become increasingly sound, an admirer of George W. Bush (though with qualifications), a friend of America, a proponent of America’s special relationship with the UK, and even a defender of Israel. Some members of the Coogler board began to suspect that we should strip Shawcross of his 1980 award, cruel as that might sound.
Actually even when we gave him the award he did not act like the ordinary knavish Liberal. We sent him Rodman’s review and he responded to it, politely but for the most part negatively; and Rodman answered, not so politely but intelligently. The exchange took place in our July 1981 issue. But that was not all. Shawcross published the whole exchange in the paperback edition of his book. He relished the debate! He encouraged his readers to witness the exchange. I should have known then that this fellow Shawcross was not your normal run-of-the-mill intellectual antagonist. He believed even in the 1980s in the give and take of ideas. It is very rare. Most intellectuals run and hide.
Moreover, he has not flinched from standing up for those that defend Western values. On Israel he recently wrote the country “is an imperfect society (like any other), but it has extraordinary social, scientific, and scholastic achievements. Despite living under endless threats, it is far closer to the liberal ideal of a free society than any other in the Middle East. But it gets scant credit.” In his book on the Iraq war, Allies: The U.S., Britain, Europe, and the War in Iraq, he concluded, “Hatred of America is a powerful and a very destructive force in the world today. Some of that hatred is caused by America’s mistakes, though that is not true of the rage of the Islamic nihilists, a minority that nothing can assuage. I believe that the bottom line is this: For all its faults, American commitment and American sacrifice are essential to the world. As in the 20th century, so in the 21st, only America has the power and the optimism to defend the international community against what really are the forces of darkness.”
Thus speaks Shawcross today, and he has uttered such good sense for years across a whole range of vital issues. Not only that, but he writes commendable prose. What am I to do? Members of the Coogler Committee want their handsome award back. Let bygones be bygones. I am off to London and shall very gingerly bring the matter up with Shawcross. “Where is your award, and may I have it back?” I shall say. Probably he has it in an honored spot in his London home, perhaps on a mantle piece, possibly on display with other literary and humanitarian awards that he has won along the way. I shall offer him a replacement. How about a portrait of President Barack Obama, coming down from the heavens, with copies of Shawcross’s later books in his hands. Mr. Shawcross, all things are negotiable. We just want our award back. The year 2011 is the year the J. Gordon Coogler Award Committee flip-flopped.
About the Author
R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. is the founder and editor in chief of The American Spectator. He is the author of The Death of Liberalism, published by Thomas Nelson Inc. His previous books include the New York Times bestseller Boy Clinton: the Political Biography; The Impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton; The Liberal Crack-Up; The Conservative Crack-Up; Public Nuisances; The Future that Doesn’t Work: Social Democracy’s Failure in Britain; Madame Hillary: The Dark Road to the White House; The Clinton Crack-Up; and After the Hangover: The Conservatives’ Road to Recovery.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (36) | Leave a comment
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Alan Brooks| 6.30.11 @ 6:52AM
What was left out concerning Cambodia was the LBJ administration's role in bungling the overall war-- which did contribute to the sideshow of Cambodia in the early '70s.
LBJ got a pass because he was JFK's veep and signed the Civil Rights Act in '64.
Alan Brooks| 6.30.11 @ 6:56AM
... oh yes, and the Great Society: we started with the Great Society, but the outcome was the Celebrity Culture Society of today.
We've come a long way, Baby!
lydia | 6.30.11 @ 1:34PM
I am a 28 years old doctor, mature and beautiful.and now I am seeking a good man who can give me real love , so i got a username Andromeda2002 on--s'e'ek'c'ou'ga'r.c óm--.it is the first and best club for y'ounger women and old'er men, or older women and y'ounger men,to int'eract with each other. Maybe you wanna ch'eck 'it out or tell your friends!
One can only hope The Jimmuh is working on another one. We know his past awards were well deserved and will never be recalled.
Alan Brooks| 6.30.11 @ 11:58PM
You and Dee See make the rest of us appear almost normal.
Randall Hoven | 6.30.11 @ 7:21AM
I believe the Coogler is awarded for a particular book, not the author's lifetime works. So if the book stank, the award should stand. If you are now saying that the book itself was not Coogler-worthy, then you, the Coogler and the Spectator are forever tarnished in my eyes.
Alan Brooks| 6.30.11 @ 7:43AM
Don't take it too seriously, Randall. It's very esoteric, a razz, a rotten-tomato book award from decades ago. It's market niche, and has little effect on your immortal soul.
Lighten up.
Truth to Power| 6.30.11 @ 9:22AM
You really are ridiculously dense.
PaulyD| 6.30.11 @ 9:43AM
Randall,
I agree. The award should stand. Some other way should be found to recognize Shawcross for his good sense.
Mike Hawk| 6.30.11 @ 8:00AM
One can only hope The Jimmuh is working on another one. We know his past awards were well deserved and will never be recalled.
WickedDickie--Virginia| 6.30.11 @ 8:55AM
Say it isn't so. Here I've been laboring for years (on and off) over a weighty tome regarding the changes in our country during my 77 year tenure. My goal was to achieve a Coogler. I figgered I'd have a lock on it. A Pulitzer is out 'cause I'm not a lefty. What's a fellow to do?
Charles Martel| 7.5.11 @ 1:59AM
If you're not a Lefty, then your chances for a Coogler were probably pretty slim too. Cooglers, like the man said, are awarded for highly praised tripe.
+++
The Bishop| 6.30.11 @ 8:57AM
It takes a big committee to admit it was wrong. Very commendable.
Cromulent| 6.30.11 @ 9:26AM
Perhaps there are other Cooglers that should be reconsidered. There ought to be a list of Coogler recipients somewhere on this site.
Did McCain's daughter get a Coogler? I picked her book up at the store once just to page thru it momentarily. The odor jumped off the pages and I had to sit down.
Charles Martel| 7.5.11 @ 2:00AM
I too believe that a list of past Coogler recipients would embiggen the Spectator website.
+++
Hal G. P. Colebatch| 6.30.11 @ 10:22AM
This leaves open the question of the current award. Nicholson Baker's "Human Smoke" is to bad writing what Tolkien is to fantasy, what Rudoph Nureyev is to ballet, what Bobby Fischer is to chess, what Muhammed Ali is to boxing. There is no competition.
Paul McGrath| 6.30.11 @ 11:42AM
You're the man, Mr. Tyrell. You're the man. Good call.
Clint| 6.30.11 @ 12:09PM
My Replacement Candidate Is:
Soak Your Ex-Husband: Al E. Moany
Michael L. Hauschild| 6.30.11 @ 12:23PM
Good Lord, the country is going to hell in a handbasket, there is a Marxist in the WH, the economy is crashing about our heads and you people are worried about some affront made to a liberal three decades ago?
R Martin| 6.30.11 @ 12:49PM
Fortunately Mr. Tyrrell, Jr. is able to multitask. I suspect he is hoping that, by his example, the Nobel Prize Committee will take notice and consider similar action.
Michael L. Hauschild| 6.30.11 @ 1:01PM
Multi-tasking is fine; I question his priorities.
KennesawJack| 6.30.11 @ 9:17PM
Commendable observation R. Pollyanish, but commendable.
Clint| 6.30.11 @ 12:48PM
Then Read,
Obama's Keynesian Debt by Bill Zardeux
Ken (Old Texican)| 6.30.11 @ 1:03PM
Emmett,
our country is on the verge of CIVIL WAR, and you choose to flitter about like a moth writing meaningless articles?
Sir, sometimes I am stunned at your frivolity.....and that of your "author-contributors".
Maybe I should give you and your authors some article "titles" to get your minds out of the mud:
"MUSLIMS JUST KEEP KILLING AMERICANS"
"MUSLIMS JUST KEEP KILLING JEWS...BECAUSE THEY ARE JEWS "
"OBAMA WANTS TO END AMERICAN FREE MARKETS"
"HILLARY HAS A MUSLIM MURDEROR ADVISOR"
"MILLIONS OF AMERICAN UNTIMELY DEATHS"
"YOUR ONLY STORE OF WEALTH...WHEAT, BEANS, AND .22 CARTRIDGES FOR HARVESTING BIRDS AND YOUR NEIGHBOR'S CAT"
"WHEN YOUR COMPANY CLOSES ITS DOORS"
"WHEN ARMED STARVING GANGS COME DOWN YOUR STREET"
"WHEN THE WATER GOES MISSING"
"WHEN THE ELECTRICITY GOES OUT"
"okok, WHEN THE GAS STOPS FLOWING"
"WHEN YOUR ATM CARD GOES OUT"
"WHEN YOUR BANK STOPS ANSWERING THE PHONE"
"WHEN YOUR INTERNET CONNECTION GOES SILENT"
"WHEN YOU GET THE 3 AM KICK DOWN YOUR DOOR"
"THANK GOD YOU LIVE IN TEXAS"
"OH, .....YOU LIVE IN FORTYNINE STATES WHERE YOUR RIGHTS ARE ALREADY GONE?"
Emmett,
move your company to Texas.
Michael L. Hauschild| 6.30.11 @ 1:20PM
I contribute here once in a while, if he used any of my money to fly to England to get back some trinket spawned by intelectual friviality, he has turned himself into the goverment he often refutes.
The AS debt ceiling has been reached.
SpiralArchitect| 6.30.11 @ 1:23PM
RK wrote on (& on & on) about tennis in Paris why can't RET write about something that is not so down right ugly for once.
Taking a break ocasionally is a good thing for everyone.
The American Thinker has been putting up enough hard hitting articles in the last few days to keep everyones blood pressure on the high side. Well, Dim-o-crats aside.
Clint| 6.30.11 @ 1:15PM
Then Read,
Where Is Obama's America Going ? by Helena Handbasket
Smirking Weasel| 6.30.11 @ 3:04PM
"...American committment and American sacrifice are essential to the world."-classic
whinge from a Cowardly Limey. 'I've let my nation fall into multiculti hell but I'm far too big a coward to actually do something about my own nation, so uh, yeah, you easily fooled Americans, you go ahead and bankrupt yourselves and get some of your own killed for no reason at all halfway around the globe so I can repress my self-loathing and fear for just a little while.' What a vile and disgusting coward. Defend your own community, international or whatever, you pathetic little puke. America's had enough of being the sucker Hessian for the globe.
c. j. acworth| 6.30.11 @ 6:32PM
Some of the folks on this thread need to lighten up. When you accuse RET of frivolity over the Coogler when we are "on the verge of civil war" you sound to me like the lefties who cannot for an instant enjoy life because somewhere in the world a teenager is being denied an abortion, or a Muslim is being profiled, or somebody is making a profit. You sound as if you are on the edge of despair. Buck up, son! Obama WILL be thrown out, America is STILL the best thing going and WILL rediscover it's confident place as leader of the free world and a beacon of hope to the rest. Relax and smile for a bit. THEN go sharpen your pitchfork, 'cause there's work to be done.
Michael L. Hauschild| 6.30.11 @ 9:33PM
C. J.,
You "Don't worry be happy" types are the most ignorant people in the world. America will NEVER recover if you putter around with trinkets. The Republicans are going to raise the debt ceiling, the military is being decimated by everyone except the people they are fighting, and you tell me to "buck up?" They are rioting in the streets C. J., for everyone's sake get your head on straight.
c. j. acworth| 7.1.11 @ 5:46AM
And you, sir obviously did not read my post with any comprehension. I most emphaticaly did NOT say "dont't worry, be happy". Did you see the part about the pitchfork? And where in America is there rioting in the streets? I stand by my words and refuse to give in to despair.
Michael L. Hauschild| 7.3.11 @ 5:02PM
Buck up, son! Obama WILL be thrown out, America is STILL the best thing going and WILL rediscover it's confident place as leader of the free world and a beacon of hope to the rest. Relax and smile for a bit. THEN go sharpen your pitchfork, 'cause there's work to be done.
Then? You said THEN? Now, c. j. not later, NOW. By the way I do not despair for my country, I despair because clowns like you do not take this seriously enough to forgo idiotic endeavors that accomplished nothing three decades ago, and accomplish less even now.
Andy Texan | 6.30.11 @ 8:08PM
How do I get my hands on a picture of the Messiah B. Hussein O. coming down from the heavens? Is he holding a copy of the Koran? Wearing angel wings? Halo over his brow? Mounted on the heavenly horse Barack?
weddingdress | 7.1.11 @ 12:34AM
RK wrote on (& on & on) about tennis in Paris why can't RET write about something that is not so down right ugly for once.
Taking a break ocasionally is a good thing for everyone.
The American Thinker has been putting up enough hard hitting articles in the last few days to keep everyones blood pressure on the high side. Well, Dim-o-crats aside.
Dacron Mather| 7.1.11 @ 2:24AM
A Double Coogler with Oakeshott leaf clusters is clearly owed the man who inflicted the Editors last decade of bad books on the reading public :
Hail Regnery, full of grace!