Book Review: Never Give in

I had been working on this for awhile and hoped to have it completed next week. Given the events of today, Sen. Specter's announcement that he will switch parties, it seemed prudent to stay up way too late finishing it, but the review is not as detailed as it would have been if I had taken more time with it.

Book Review: Never Give In: Battling Cancer in the Senate, by Arlen Specter and Frank Scaturro. NY: St. Martin’s Press, 2008

Specter’s previous autobiography, Passion for Truth is more general in nature; this book focuses on his health and experience as a cancer patient.

The dedication puts in a plug for the National Institutes of Health.

Specter acknowledges the standards, spouse, kids, and doctors. He also includes, among others, Judge Marjorie Rendell, President Bush, and Fran Drescher (who played The Nanny on tv). As for methodology, Specter reminisced with Scaturro who worked with the recorded converations.

In the preface he briefly recounts his medical history, a mistaken diagnosis of ALS in 1979, brain tumors, and heart surgery. He also talks about his work.

Chapter 1 introduces one of the themes of the book, the influence of stress on health. Much of the chapter is devoted to his 2004 primary battle with Pat Toomey. He was the only sitting senator to have a primary that year (9). Specter served in the Air Force from 1951-1953 (7). One note on Toomey’s support (13):

The Club for Growth was so closely coordinated with Toomey’s personal campaign organization that I called it the “club for Toomey,” a virtual wholly owned subsidiary of his campaign.

His description of his opponent (15):

Personally, Toomey was a bright, articulate, well-groomed, youthful candidate (age forty-two on primary day) who was earnest in his delivery if a tad humorless.

A few pages (17-18) discuss his childhood in Kansas, and his friendship with Bob Dole. As is customary in autobiographies, he praises his wife (20):

My wife, Joan, typically accompanied me on weekend campaign travels. A beautiful, stately woman of tremendous poise, she is a distinguished personage in her own right – a former four-term city councilwoman presently involved in development (fund-raising) for the Constitution Center in Philadelphia. She dresses as if she just stepped out of Vogue, and the crowds love to see her. When she is around, I have someone to speak with between campaign stops, and she always has constructive comments about my speeches.

On the same and the following page he describes his sons and grandchildren. The difficulties of combining political and family life are mentioned (21) when he and Joan have to take their sons to the polls with them after getting a call that both should come to vote together and it is too late to get a sitter. We find out his childhood nickname is Boozy Boy (22) and that his sisters have been very influential in his life. He also notes that his chief of staff was one of the first women to hold that job (24). One interesting note is his chief of staff knowing how to hold Amtrak trains for five minutes if Specter was running late (23). She had learned when working for Jacob Javits of New York. Joe Biden who had been in the senate for eight years when Specter was first elected, wanted to know how the newer colleague had more influence with the trains than he did.

Chapter two focuses on his work on the Judiciary Committee and controversies over his assumed chairmanship. The first part covers his general election, including a note that the primary cost him $15 million, and rumors that Chris Matthews might run against him. Joe Hoeffel, the Democratic candidate, warrants only two pages (34-35). Specter sums up his views on Iraq (35):

With the benefit if improved (if not quite twenty-twenty) hindsight, my view was that had we known there were no WMDs in Iraq, we should not have gone in to remove Saddam’s regime from power. Having done so, however, we could not leave that country in chaos.

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He also writes about his views on Roe v Wade and press coverage of his Roe stance (38-41). He notes that Fox news reporter Brian Williams and Rush Limbaugh support him (41), as do David Vitter and Larry Craig (46), among others. One item of trivia, Specter’s burial plot is in Bensalem.

Chapter 3 continues the saga of the Judiciary chairmanship and his diagnosis with Hodgkins. Judiciary business, including hearings on Alberto Gonzales (62-74) and asbestos (73-74) take up most of the chapter. The second part concerns Hodgkins disease. Initially doctors missed it but a specialist he consults gives the correct diagnosis. He mentions using acupuncture in the past (74-75). Because of health problems he misses the State of the Union speech for the first time, making a note that the media “rarely missed something if it made you look bad” (77). One understatement (80):

While there are lots of deterrents to a career in elective politics, an underestimated benefit is the access to better health care.

He also mentions that his wife is very health-oriented and a gourmet cook who once ran a cooking school (84).

Chapter 4 is an expanded medical history: the ALS misdiagnosis (87-8), brain tumor (88-93), and heart surgery (95-97). He takes aim at the doctors who missed the signs of Hodgkins (43-44). One bit of honesty (94-95):

I frankly acknowledge that it may be easy for a U.S. senator to tell people without a prestigious position or wealth to seek the best professional help possible. Even in this day and age, socioeconomic status too often remains a barrier to doing so, but there are many generous doctors and hospitals giving excellent medical treatment without limiting services to patients with big bucks or fancy titles.

Specter takes a swipe at reporter Marc Howard whom he claims tried to sneak into his hospital room (100). On the positive side he gives a lengthy description of his squash routine and the health benefits of it (102-106).

Chapter 5 provides this intriguing note on the first page (108-109):

Granted, my next potential election was five years and nine months away, and a reelection campaign at age eighty was speculative in any event, but that is where my mind drifted.

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Another surprising note (109):

NIH physicians area available for consultation by all Americans at all times with a simple phone call.

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He mentions his work on the bankruptcy bill (114) but much of the chapter his taken up with personal matters, praise for his son Shanin (111), his family’s faith (119), a lengthy description of his chemo routine (123-129), his father’s life story (129-131), and his wife’s attitude towards his illness (133). On political matters he discusses his good relationship with Ed Rendell (116-117) and his sometimes less positive relationship with the press (118).

Chapter 6 goes back to senate work, starting with other senators' personal and health challenges (134-137). Several pages are devoted to partisanship and the use of the filibuster in judicial appointments (139-145, 160-171). Another section of the chapter (146-159) is on his cancer treatment. In the “too much information” category Specter mentions someone's suggestion he shave his head for a sex symbol look (146) and a note that the cancer treatment decreased his libido (150). He again mentions his wife’s use of alternative medicine (153). He and Joe Biden are on opposite sides of the asbestos issue (165-167, 169-170). He also discusses reporter Judith Miller’s jail term and his support for investigative reporting (171-172).

Chapter 7 is on his work with an Appropriations subcommittee, specifically with the NIH. There is a note on his work for funding for avian flu research (174). Actress Fran Drescher shows up giving testimony on her cancer battle (177-178). Stem cell research is also discussed (181-189), with mention of then Sen. Rick Santorum.

Chapter 8 focuses at first on the Judiciary Committee and Supreme Court resignations and potential replacement candidates, particularly John Roberts (190-204). Specter’s chemo ends (205) and he is able to undertake some travel, including a trip to Guantanamo (208). The focus returns to Judiciary and the confirmation hearings for John Roberts (210-220). Specter mentions Biden, noting that Biden spoke for 20 of his allotted 30 minutes (217).

Chapter 9 stays with Supreme Court vacancies, specifically the Alito confirmation hearings (222-238). The rest of chapter is on his improving spirits after finishing chemo.

“Concluding Thoughts” discusses the wider effect of his illness and the people who have told him how encouraged they were by his success at fighting Hodgkins, and some general advice he has for those facing health challenges.

He ends the book with a few pages on the National Institutes of Health.

There are notes and an index.