July 2006 Issue
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A Capitol
Journey: Reflections on the Press, Politics,
and the Making of Public Policy in
Pennsylvania. By
Vincent P. Carocci.
(University Park: Pennsylvania State
University Press, 2005. x, 298p.
Illustrations, index. $39.95.)
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A Capitol Journal is a
narrative of Vincent Carocci's life in which
the author reflects on his more than forty
years of service in journalism, government,
and the private sector. Part autobiography
and part memoir, the author includes
passages about his entire life, but scholars
and journalists will focus mostly on those
sections that deal with Carocci's career in
Pennsylvania government. Elected public
officials frequently write such accounts,
but few staff members of the state
legislature or executive branch have done
so. More impressive is the candor with which
the author addresses his subject matter.
Admittedly, this is not a history, nor is a
balanced product the end result. Carocci's
story is a traditional insider's account of
the events he participated in and witnessed,
but that observation in no way diminishes
his insights and observations. |
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Carocci worked at various times for
the Johnstown Tribune Democrat, the
UPI, and the Philadelphia Inquirer,
and he certainly reflects with great
fondness on the halcyon days before
Watergate when reporters covered the state
capitol. He clearly has a penchant for the
romantic, and for cigar chomping,
hard-driving, hard-drinking, storytelling
reporters of a bygone era He laments what he
sees as the changes in his old profession,
viewing it now as too combative, too
confrontational, and too ideological. |
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Political insiders will take
particular delight in Carocci's recounting
of his days as a Pennsylvania state senate
staffer. Carocci was a Democratic staffer in
the 1970s and early 1980s, and he describes
the internal Democratic Party
reorganizations and in-fighting, providing
keen insights into the operation of the
state legislature and of the colorful
personalities who served in it. Many of
these senators no longer serve, including
Tom Nolan, William Duffield, Craig Lewis,
Joe Ammerman, and Henry Messinger, but the
section on Vince Fumo, who still serves, is
likely to draw special interest. |
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The heart of the book, however, covers
Carocci's observations about six governors.
He assesses the political skills, personal
qualities, and legislative activities of
governors from David Lawrence to Robert P.
Casey. But his service on Governor Casey's
senior staff and his assessment of Casey
will probably be remembered as the book's
most significant contribution. Carocci's
firsthand observations of the late
governor's two terms offer a unique
perspective. |
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Two are worth special mention. Casey's
campaign consultant James Carville, who
eventually ran Bill Clinton's successful
presidential campaign in 1992, resuscitated
his own career by managing Casey's
gubernatorial victory in a hard-fought
campaign over Bill Scranton in 1986. After
the election, Casey continued to consult
with Carville when the governor faced a
variety of political and governance
problems, an advisory role Carville played
that has been little known. Notably,
Carville recommended and Casey carried out a
major staff reorganization, saving the
governor from the internal chaos that was
plaguing his administration. |
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Casey's national stature was
solidified by his strongly held pro-life
views on abortion, which put him at odds
with the leaders of his own party. He asked,
but was refused permission to address the
Democratic National Convention in 1992. The
governor did not particularly like Bill
Clinton and told the New York Times
in April 1992 that the future president was
a "blip," incurring the wrath of the
Clintons. Casey found Clinton, "too smooth,
too cute, too slippery," and the bad blood
continued. Casey remained estranged from
Clinton and refused to campaign for him in
1992 and boycotted a Hillary Clinton
appearance in Lackawanna County in that
campaign. The governor remained a Democrat
to the end, however, and would not endorse
George H. W. Bush. At no time afterwards,
did Casey lift a finger to campaign for
Clinton. According to Carocci, Casey
considered Clinton a "blot" on the
presidency and ranked him just on par with
Richard Nixon. |
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Carocci is an excellent storyteller
and has some insights into Pennsylvania
politics and government not available at the
moment anywhere else. Anyone searching for a
classic insider account, complete with
anecdotes and analysis, will find the book
profitable to read. |
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Franklin & Marshall College |
G. Terry Madonna
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