"Now, at long last, Donald A. Ritchie has given us a definitive, balanced biography of Pearson." -- Jon Marshall, American Journalism

"An entertaining and mostly admiring life of the legendary columnist." -- Kirkus

"Donald Ritchie's deeply research biography of crusading columnist Drew Pearson resurrects one of the most important investigative journalists of the twentieth century. It is a fascinating tale of back room intrigue in the corridors of power in Washington, D.C., with lessons that resonate today. This important contribution to political and journalistic history is essential for understanding how politics and the press worked in post-war America." -- Mark Feldstein, author of Poisoning the Press: Richard Nixon, Jack Anderson, and the Rise of Washington's Scandal Culture

"This is two brilliant biographies in one -- of the shrewdest, most swashbuckling journalists of the mid-Twentieth Century, and of the era and nation that spawned him. It's a must-read for anyone who cares about the Fourth Estate, about American democracy, and about history made readable and relevant." -- Larry Tye, author of Demagogue: The Life and Long Shadow of Senator Joe McCarthy

"Ritchie has written a first-rate biography, one that is fair-minded, engagingly written, insightful, and grounded in Pearson's Papers and, of course, his column. The Columnist reveals much about the adversarial relationship between presidents and the press and about the lengths governments will go to protect secrecy. Readers will learn that Truman -- not Nixon (as some might expect) -- ordered an FBI probe of Pearson's sources...The Columnist deserves a wide audience." -- Dean J. Kotlowski, European Journal of American Studies