Dueling Memoirs: Bill Clinton vs. U.S. Grant

Dan Rather compared Bill Clinton’s “My Life” with the “Personal Memoir’s of U.S. Grant”.

I’m reminded of the time at the US Army War College when a Lieutenant Colonel stood up and said that it was not possible to write responsible position papers within the strict (usually 500 to 1,000 word) limits assigned to us. My immediate thought was: “she will be sorry she said that”. She got an answer along these lines: “U.S. Grant could write clear and concise operations orders while in combat and without the aid of a word processor. Why don’t you read a copy of his memoirs and see how its done.” Good advice. I try following it. Even with a word processor and my wife as an editor for my major pieces, it’s difficult.