Joining us now on book tv was representative tom cole a republican from oklahoma. Congressman kobe have asked you this question before, you have always had a large reading list. What is on your current reading list . I have just finished the splendid and the vial by erik larson. A wonderful of churchill and his family. Really in the worst year of the war. Right after he becomes prime minister, may 10 of 1940, really the day of the german invasion in the low countries of france. And basically what it was like to stand alone consulting germany until june of 41, the russians are in the war. And then by december of 41 United States is in the work. Its an extraordinary book. Until wonderful read by a guy i considered the greatest person of the 20th century. The supreme ordeal of a long and brilliant career. Then ive also been reading, i just picked up grade story by the name of Jean Edward Smith great, great biographer. Ive read his biographies of granton eisenhower. Eisenhower is by far the best eisenhower biography ever written and there been some good ones. He died in 2019. Right now just got into it may have been his best book was on fdr, something called the parkman prize which they choose the best book of the year. Back in 2007. Its been around a while. Its been sitting on my bookshelf. I just had not gotten to it. It is quite a read, six or 700 page read. We lost smith last year about a year ago september actually. Almost precisely a year ago. I happen to just think about that and pulled out the book. And ordered his last book which ive not read yet on the liberation of paris which was published in 2019. Kind of have been doug that. Earlier this summer i got on by accident a binge biographies of ambassadors. And eric larson also wrote a great biography of a guy named william dodd who is the American Ambassador in germany. In the 1930s. It was quite an eclectic and their experience of being not see germany as it was consolidating power in what was going to be truly a dark period in World History was becoming evident. And then, i read at the same time a book called in the cauldron which is a tale of the American Ambassador for tokyo. Heres our basset or for ten years pretty thing from 1931 until 41. So all of his ultimately fruitless efforts to head off war between the United States and japan and of course what it was like being in japan during a fascist and military regime. Doug a lot of that. And then i guess one last thing, one of my favorite political scientists of all times. I usually read historians. This guy is a different kind of political scientists in my view. Richard fenno just died this year. It was very famous for writing histories on congress or studies of congress from the district level up. Rather than the washington level. He would travel into the district the various congressman and senators are states of senators. I read a couple of his books. I thought i have not read enough of this guy and i read a couple of his books, the congressional representation which i think was his last book it was published in 2013. In an earlier book called congressional travels. Again its a granular view of congress. I know a lot of members of congress he writes about in these things. It is just fascinating the reminder of how often what people do in washington is reflection of who they represen represent. What their interests are with their understanding of the world is. Weve got to lose that dimension. Sometimes we study politicians we forget they have another part of them which is not in washington d. C. A lot of reading this summer. Now congressman, there seems to be a theme among the history books that you are reading. That is world war ii. Well just happened to be there. Note deliberate design. Like everybody else im always fascinated by it. There been other books too, pals book the indian world of George Washington native american that really fascinated me as well. World war ii is the conflict and shaper of the 20th century. And really, the postworld war ii era obviously you have to understand a wart leading into it what came out of its understanding time in which we live. And really, the rise of the United States of a great power before the second world war. But it became the superpower after that. Anderson at the country went through and how it changed who we are, how we think, how we act globally i think is really an indispensable grounding you have to have if you want to be effective and in the current time. Is eric larson one of those writers or historians that if he writes a book you read it . Yes parties and absolute superb writer. Sometimes its almost like reading a novel. The descriptions, and yet its all footnoted. He has a real talent. And again, seizing on something to look at it more closely. We have had a lot of really fine biographies of winston churchill, Robert Andrews most recent one is probably the best. But this idea of lets take out, i came over the authors name doubts actually on churchill in the 1920s, a single pivotal year when he was working as colonial secretary anil paris shrink the middle east and so i like what he does. I like how he does things i like how he writes hes always worth reading whatever the topic is. The year times correspondent came out about congress and year to back. When the book comes out about congress you almost automatically pick it up . I do. I happen to know karl very well. I think its one of the smartest reporters out there. Im confirmation bias which is on the Supreme Court wars that we have seen in recent years is a brilliant book. A few went under sims on the struggles that shape capitol hill, not any better guy than karl holford also finished Jonathan Carls book. Its not congress. Se, because he is a white house correspondent. But front row in the trunk show did interesting read. I know karl, i have been interviewed by him, been on a podcast once or twice. Insomnia like that writes a book they think is really knowledgeable and professional. You want to hear what they have to say. Theyre talking to a lot of people in many cases you cant talk to her dont have the occasion to talk to. They bring a lot of insights into the political field and into congress. How much sharing of book ideas you do undo sort of a Favorite Book of the month we publish regularly on her websit website. Weve a lot of inquiries about that. As i have a party for republican at christmas is a really nice affair. There always get a Christmas Present its a most always a book. Quite often if im in a conversation with somebody and i know theyve got a particular interest or what have you all send them a book. I member years ago Adam Kinsinger from illinois was a young man he is one of the brightest guys in congress. I was a young veteran. And was elected in the class of 2010. His hair back there was very short. Almost like a crewcut. He was still in the reserves, still flies. He reminded me of a picture id seen of Donald Rumsfeld at about the same age, square jaw, goodlooking guy. And so i just bought rumsfelds bottom jet autobiography from him i said youre from illinois hes from illinois, youve got a crewcut hes got a crewcut you should get to know each other. Occasional send a book to somebody because it struck me as something that might interest them. Im particular, adam is one of a really thoughtful thinkers in congress on both sides of the aisle on National Security issues and military matters. Again with the combat zones we knew it he talks about i thought he be very interested in a guy like rumsfeld who had also served and in both the youngest and oldest secretary of defense in american history. I dont if you saw this but mr. Rumsfeld wrote his most recent book is on his years at the ford white house. I havent i will have to get that. We just finished chris whipples book the gatekeepers on the chiefs of staff. Of course he figures very prominently. I will be interested in having a more thorough view. I asked have a picture of ford that i keep around because i knew and campaigned with him on a number of occasions. Was a big admirer of his. Think of salute cannon biography with time and chance on gerald ford. So it will be interesting to give rumsfeld a close up look at president ford. Tom cole, republican of oklahomas always thanks for joining us on book tv. Hey i enjoyed it very much peter thanks for having me. You can watch this and all of our what are you reading interviews booktv. Org. Using the search bar the top of the page. On her weekly Author Interview program after words, the Washington Post mary jordan discussed her new book on alani at trump are here she talks about the relationship between the president and the first lady. He admires her because she is everything he is not. She is cool. When she gets angry she does not scream or do something impulsive preach she just walks away. He loves her cool. And she admires him. She admires what he is able to do, she admires his connection to people. They are both very distrustful of most people. But the same things and most ways of both value image. They both value beautiful things, wealthy things, they both like a lot of the same things. I think they actually have a lot more in common than people thin think. They are really tight units, family, trump, trump, trump and for her interfamily its her mother, father and darren. Very tight group and very few others penetrate. The relationship is certainly hit rocks at different times. Its been up and down they been together for 22 years. Ive a lot in the book about this. But she was furious after the revelations of his infidelity. Embarrassed to no end. She was reading about Stormy Daniels in mcdougall, and in hollywood but she has an extraordinary capacity to kind of figure out where is my next best move . Some of his known her for a long time would say she always thanks that way. She doesnt do anything in a hurry. And did she get more from walking away from trump are staying with him . Thats how she thanks grace back to watch the rest of this program and to find more episodes of after words, visit our website booktv. Org. And click on the after words tab near the top of the page. donald trump junior offers his thoughts on what he calls liberal privilege, the full Television Schedule is online at booktv. Org or on your program guide. Thank you all for turning in for our event tonight. Tonight we had the pleasure of hosting eddie cole and actually farmer, who will be disgusting doctol