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The editor as reporter

Washington Monthly, Sept, 2003 by Charles Peters

Brady Kiesling represents a good side of the foreign service: the high quality of the people it attracts. A less happy side, how their abilities are often wasted on triviality, was told by Bill Keller, the new executive editor of The New York Times, in an article that appeared in the November 1979 issue of this magazine. A few years ago, I was selecting the best articles about government that had appeared in the Monthly. One I chose was Keller's foreign service piece. It will be posted on our Web site during this month.

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Another article Keller wrote for the Monthly told a truth about Washington that still holds today. Titled "Lowest Common Denominator Lobbying" (May 1983), it describes how Washington lobbyists am prisoners of the worst elements of the group they represent, the loudmouths who can make trouble for them at the group's next convention unless they toe the extremist line. Sometimes the lobbyists become willing prisoners. Faced with a shortage of contributions from their members, they will stir up the crazies with messages like: "Bulletin to Members: We are faced with a great danger of another attack by the liberals. Help stop Hillary. Send your contribution today."

The editor as reporter

Washington Monthly, Sept, 2003 by Charles Peters

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