Playing With Fire- Book Review

If you are interested in our history in the 1960's and understand our divide and discontent. You should read Playing with Fire by Lawrence O'Donnell. Who happens to host his show on MSNBC, The Last Word. He is very knowledgeable and did work in Washington as an Aide to Senator Moynihan.  I originally thought, Playing with Fire was around the convention in Chicago in 1968. But it is alot more.

In 1968, I was 10 years old. My family were not too much into politics though my Dad was and is a republican die hard. He is a party man, not about country, unfortunately. But, I was too young to pay attention to politics then. I now pay attention, now. Its too bad I didn't pay attention till much later. But, with the conventions coming up and reporters talking and referencing it to now. I thought I would read it. I realized after I started reading. I really don't understand the current history and the politics, shame on me. Playing with Fire opened my eyes to understand the 1960's.

Vietnam, Civil Rights Movement, Conventions- Chicago, Miami, Racial Discrimination, The Southern Dixiecrats,  College Campus sit ins, Johnson, Rockefeller, Nixon, Reagan, Goldwater, Buchanan, Humphrey,  McCarthy, Wallace, MLK Assassination, RFK Assassination, etc, etc. How the presidential race changed history forever.

The book is a interesting take from the author's perspective. Lawrence O'Donnell did his research well. I can tell he did his homework. I didn't  realize the dynamic of Johnson and Humphrey. How Johnson was friendly with and talked to Nixon during the race and helped to stall the Vietnam War for several more years than was necessary. He was influential with democratic losses in 1968. How the anger influenced the election. Nixon was instrumental to ruin Johnson's legacy and had people to interfere with the war with foreign leader in North, and South Vietnam. 

I enjoyed reading, and opened my eyes to the real truth and not gossip of those years. I am ashamed I didn't know the history. The only thing I remember was about Wallace was so bad, and a supremist. I remember thinking how anyone could vote for him. Well, here we are in 2024. Trump is worse than Wallace. 

I was gob smacked how thrilling a ride it was to read, Playing with Fire. I should have known it would be a captivating read. I thought it would be relevant to read before and after the convention to understand the anger and hate in Chicago during the convention in 1968, and the riots in the streets. The book is not just about 1968 but after the Convention and before leading up to the race of and politics of 1968. I recommend it to anyone interested in this time period.