HEARD AND OVERHEARD:
Words Wise (and Otherwise) with Politicians, Statesmen, and Real People
by James W. Symington
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Pub Date Aug 17 2015 | Archive Date Sep 30 2015
Description
Politician, diplomat, lawyer, musician, author, James W. Symington is all these and more, a man dedicated to public service who served our country when public service was seen as a noble profession. His new book, HEARD AND OVERHEARD: Words Wise (and Otherwise) with Politicians, Statesmen, and Real People, published jointly by Posterity Press Inc. and New Academia Publishing, is a medley of vignettes—some about Symington’s life, most about important moments in modern American history—told from his vantage points as a congressman, diplomat and right-hand man to one ambassador, an Attorney General and a President of the United States. It is illustrated with forty black and white photographs, some published for the first time.
Foreword Magazine said the book is "....Funny, poignant, and enlightening....Whether read quickly or leisurely, these remembrances captivate and entertain."
George H.W. Bush, 41st President of the United States, said, "Jimmy Symington is a one man institution, and one of the better ones at that. How wonderful that he has now given us this splendid memoir. It is impossible to imagine Washington, D.C., without Jimmy Symington; and now that he has given us this memoir-for-the-ages, we won't have to imagine Washington without him. A splendid and delightful read, by a splendid guy."
Linda Byrd Johnson Robb, Wife of Charles Robb and daughter of President Lyndon Johnson, and Charles S. Robb, Former Governor and Two Term Senator from Virginia also praised the book, saying “As a storyteller, Jim Symington is a worthy challenger to his fellow Missourian, Mark Twain. Jim may be the wittiest blueblood who ever served in public office. He is the quintessential aristocrat, yet overcame the handicap of his pedigreed birth with music and mirth. He is a wordsmith par excellence, and readers will delight in his puckish tidbits from the fast lane. His vignettes on "protocol" are nothing short of fantastic. "Heard and Overheard" is a keeper.”
James W. Symington was administrative assistant to Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and director of the President’s Committee on Juvenile Delinquency. In 1968, he was named Chief of Protocol by President Johnson. He served four terms in Congress and later co-founded the law firm Smathers, Symington & Herlong. He and his wife Sylvia, parents of two grown children and grandparents of five, live in Washington, D.C., and Middleburg, Virginia.
Advance Praise
"....Funny, poignant, and enlightening....Whether read quickly or leisurely, these remembrances captivate and entertain."
—Foreword Reviews
"Jimmy Symington is a one-man institution, and one of the better ones at that…. It is impossible to imagine Washington, D.C., without Jimmy Symington; and now that he has given us this memoir-for-the-ages, we won't have to imagine Washington without him. A splendid and delightful read, by a splendid guy."
—President George H. W. Bush
July 8, 2015
“James Symington is living proof that through compassion, humor, music and insightful intelligence one can come to a better understanding of people across political, ideological and economic spectra. He is even able to penetrate Churchill’s famous description of Russia as “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” His acute vignettes reveal the characteristics and idiosyncrasies of both “friend” and “foe” alike. His prodigious memory of simple details surrounding his many exploits and adventures is phenomenal and his perspective as an insider with almost unprecedented longevity is a treasure for all to enjoy.”
—Professor Vladimir Tolstoy
“Jimmy’s stories bring back a Washington that was not only constructive, but fun. He writes as well as he sings, and he's a wonderful singer!”
—Peter Duchin
Band leader and pianist
“As Chief of Protocol, Congressman, lawyer and entertainer, Jim Symington has had a rare behind-the-scenes look at the most colorful characters on the world stage. He and his pianist wife Sylvia have built bridges and fostered relationships worldwide. Intriguing and often humorous stories of his experiences abound in this book. Don’t miss a page!”
—Judge William H. Webster
FBI Director (former)
CIA Director (former)
“Jim Symington bears witness to landmark historical events, relating them compassionately and often hilariously. He was in the thick of the civil rights battles with Bob Kennedy, and quietly left the Johnson Administration to serve the cause of peace in Vietnam. He remembers when Congressmen could construct solutions that we shared—rather than grind on the differences that divided us. What a gentleman. What a statesman!”
—Christopher J. Dodd, Former U.S. Senator,
Chairman
& CEO, Motion Picture Association of America
“Jim may be the wittiest blueblood who ever served public office. He is the quintessential aristocrat, yet overcame the handicap of his pedigreed birth with music and mirth. He is a wordsmith par excellence, and readers will delight in his puckish tidbits from the fast lane. His vignettes on "protocol" are nothing short of fantastic. "Heard and Overheard" is a keeper.”
—Linda Byrd Johnson Robb, daughter of President Lyndon Johnson and
Charles S. Robb, Former Governor of Virginia and US Senator
“Jim Symington’s pitch-perfect voice is always on key, whether waxing anecdotal in this collection, or singing with his glorious wife Sylvia…. In elected offices and appointed posts, Jim personified the brightest and best of his remarkable generation, and now he speaks for them eloquently—sometimes hilariously—in this lovely book.”
—William Dunlap, Artist
“Heard and Overheard is an engrossing read, with a nice mix of funny anecdotes, and serious reflections on topics such as religion and civil rights. His portraits of contemporaries, high and low in social standing, and the colorful LBJ in particular, contribute significantly to the history of our times.”
—Ambassador Brandon Grove
President Emeritus,
American Academy of Diplomacy
“This is a wonderful memoir-anthology of episodes and conversations by a connoisseur/ participant. The author makes full use of his political, diplomatic, and social experience. He organizes his material with an unusual mix of sober narrative enlivened by witty—some hilarious—anecdotes. The breadth and scope are impressive and make for a very enjoyable read.”
—Thomas L. Hughes
Former assistant secretary of state;
Former president,
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9780991504701 |
| PRICE | $36.00 (USD) |
