The Kingdom and the Power
Encyclopedia
The Kingdom and the Power: Behind the Scenes at The New York Times: The Institution That Influences the World was a 1969 book by Gay Talese
about the inner workings of The New York Times
, the newspaper where Talese had worked for 12 years. The book is credited with starting the trend of "media books" as noted by Portfolio at the New York University
School of Journalism, books that "portraying the inner-workings of a media establishment, turning the tables on the people who write and report the news, and making them the subject."
Talese had already begun regularly contributing to Esquire
and had received particular acclaim for his 1962 article "Joe Louis: The King as a Middle-aged Man" about boxer Joe Louis
. In 1966 he wrote "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold
", a profile of the singer, one of his best regarded works. This year he also wrote an article on Clifton Daniel
the managing editor of his former employer The New York Times. Talese believed there was a bigger story about the paper, and began researching and writing The Kingdom and the Power. The results were first published in Harper's Magazine
s January and February issues in 1969, and published by World Publishing later that year.
in 1963, Talese saw this center as shifting to New York City under Arthur Ochs "Punch" Sulzberger
beginning in 1963.
The title of the book indicated the thrust of Talese's thesis. The Kingdom was The New York Times newsroom, and the Power was the influence the paper wielded, particularly in its interpretation of the paper's famous motto "All the News That's Fit to Print". Talese looked at the personalities driving Times news coverage such as managing editor Clifton Daniel
, executive editor James Reston
, rising star A. M. Rosenthal
and Punch Sulzberger. Time
found Talese's portrayal of the highly-respected Reston as particularly critical. Talese described Reston as a "Times-man in the old sense, a man emotionally committed to the institution as a way of life, a religion, a cult."
Talese, however, defended his choice of subject matter. Telling Time, "I consider the New York Times news. Fascinating news. It has been sitting in judgment of America for more than a century and it, too, should be looked at in detail with the same objectivity."
The book won a Christopher Award
and has continued to receive acclaim. Its model of journalism about journalism has become increasingly common, to the point that reporting about newspapers is no longer considered unusual. In 2006, Roger Ailes
, president of the Fox News Channel
, said The Kingdom and The Power was one of the best five books about journalism ever written.
Gay Talese
Gay Talese is an American author. He wrote for The New York Times in the early 1960s and helped to define literary journalism...
about the inner workings of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, the newspaper where Talese had worked for 12 years. The book is credited with starting the trend of "media books" as noted by Portfolio at the New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
School of Journalism, books that "portraying the inner-workings of a media establishment, turning the tables on the people who write and report the news, and making them the subject."
Background
Talese came to The New York Times in 1953 fresh out of college as an entry-level copyboy. After spending two years in the military, Talese became a sports reporter, statehouse reporter, obituarist and a general news reporter before quitting The New York Times in 1965.Talese had already begun regularly contributing to Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
and had received particular acclaim for his 1962 article "Joe Louis: The King as a Middle-aged Man" about boxer Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
. In 1966 he wrote "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold
Frank Sinatra Has a Cold
"Frank Sinatra Has a Cold" is a profile of Frank Sinatra written by Gay Talese for the April 1966 issue of Esquire. The article is one of the most famous pieces of magazine journalism and is often considered not only the greatest profile ever written of Frank Sinatra but one of the greatest...
", a profile of the singer, one of his best regarded works. This year he also wrote an article on Clifton Daniel
Clifton Daniel
Elbert Clifton Daniel Jr. was managing editor of the New York Times from 1964 to 1969. Before assuming the top editorial job at the paper, he served as the paper's London and Moscow bureau chief....
the managing editor of his former employer The New York Times. Talese believed there was a bigger story about the paper, and began researching and writing The Kingdom and the Power. The results were first published in Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts, with a generally left-wing perspective. It is the second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. . The current editor is Ellen Rosenbush, who replaced Roger Hodge in January 2010...
s January and February issues in 1969, and published by World Publishing later that year.
Summary
While Talese's book outlined the history of the paper back to Adolph Ochs's 1896 takeover of the then-failing paper, the focus was on The Times between 1945 and the 1960s. The Washington bureau of The Times sometimes was seen as the center of the paper's power, but after the death of publisher Orvil DryfoosOrvil Dryfoos
Orvil Eugene Dryfoos was the publisher of The New York Times from 1961 to his death in 1963. Dryfoos entered The Times family via his marriage to Marian Sulzberger, daughter of then-publisher Arthur Hays Sulzberger....
in 1963, Talese saw this center as shifting to New York City under Arthur Ochs "Punch" Sulzberger
Arthur Ochs Sulzberger
Arthur Ochs "Punch" Sulzberger, Sr. to a prominent media and publishing family, is himself an American publisher and businessman. He succeeded his father, Arthur Hays Sulzberger, and maternal grandfather as publisher and chairman of the New York Times in 1963, passing the positions to his son...
beginning in 1963.
The title of the book indicated the thrust of Talese's thesis. The Kingdom was The New York Times newsroom, and the Power was the influence the paper wielded, particularly in its interpretation of the paper's famous motto "All the News That's Fit to Print". Talese looked at the personalities driving Times news coverage such as managing editor Clifton Daniel
Clifton Daniel
Elbert Clifton Daniel Jr. was managing editor of the New York Times from 1964 to 1969. Before assuming the top editorial job at the paper, he served as the paper's London and Moscow bureau chief....
, executive editor James Reston
James Reston
James Barrett Reston , nicknamed "Scotty," was an American journalist whose career spanned the mid 1930s to the early 1990s. He was associated for many years with the New York Times.-Life:...
, rising star A. M. Rosenthal
A. M. Rosenthal
Abraham Michael "A.M." Rosenthal , born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, was a New York Times executive editor and columnist and New York Daily News columnist . He joined the New York Times in 1943 and worked for the Times for 56 years - from 1943 to 1999...
and Punch Sulzberger. Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
found Talese's portrayal of the highly-respected Reston as particularly critical. Talese described Reston as a "Times-man in the old sense, a man emotionally committed to the institution as a way of life, a religion, a cult."
Legacy
The book became Talese's first bestseller. But the inner-workings of an American newsroom was seen as an odd choice for a book. One critic wrote that "Talese adopts a viewpoint that is extraordinarily inbred. He ranges through the minds and psyches of his protagonists, but we almost never step outside the confines of the offices on 229 West 43 Street" where the Times was headquartered.Talese, however, defended his choice of subject matter. Telling Time, "I consider the New York Times news. Fascinating news. It has been sitting in judgment of America for more than a century and it, too, should be looked at in detail with the same objectivity."
The book won a Christopher Award
Christopher Award
The Christopher Award is presented to the producers, directors, and writers of books, motion pictures and television specials that "affirm the highest values of the human spirit"...
and has continued to receive acclaim. Its model of journalism about journalism has become increasingly common, to the point that reporting about newspapers is no longer considered unusual. In 2006, Roger Ailes
Roger Ailes
Roger Eugene Ailes is president of Fox News Channel, chairman of the Fox Television Stations Group. Ailes was a media consultant for Republican presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W...
, president of the Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
, said The Kingdom and The Power was one of the best five books about journalism ever written.