Roadside attraction - Book Review

Washington Monthly, Dec, 2002 by Alan Greenblatt

Borglum died just before his greatest achievement was completed, at a cost Taliaferro puts at under $1 million. His death has become part of Rushmore lore--Borglum falling, Moses-like, just short of his goal. Reading Taliaferro's breezy, winning account, though, it's hard not to feel that Borglum's end was fitting. He was always moving on to the next thing; actually bringing projects to completion often became a mere afterthought. Nonetheless, reading about the many accomplishments of this restless, selfish, self-promoting, bigoted man, you can hardly help but wonder whether you're making enough of your own short time on this earth.

ALAN GREENBLATT is a staff writer at Governing.