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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Above all else, why does the public lose its trust in Eagleton (and by extension, McGovern)?
(a) Eagleton lied.
(b) Eagleton was meant to be a rock for the public to lean on.
(c) McGovern did not act quickly enough in removing Eagleton.
(d) McGovern acted too harshly against Eagleton.

2. What level of recognition is finally granted to Thompson during "September?"
(a) He is finally made a member of the Presidential Press Corps.
(b) He is given an award for his campaign coverage.
(c) He is given an interview with McGovern.
(d) He is allowed to travel with the politicians themselves.

3. Why is McGovern not able to recover from Eagleton's omissions and lies?
(a) Nixon undermined McGovern's efforts to save face.
(b) Eagleton should have revealed his medical history sooner.
(c) McGovern did nothing for the public to put faith in him.
(d) McGovern's next vice-presidential candidate was too divisive.

4. During the flight in "November," to whom is Thompson referring when he discusses "rebellion amongst the docile"?
(a) The journalists.
(b) The constituents.
(c) The politicians.
(d) The speech writers.

5. In "November Continued," what is the reputation of the journalists Thompson travels with?
(a) They are angry speech writers.
(b) They are responsible writers.
(c) They are vitriolic gossip hounds.
(d) They are talentless hacks.

Short Answer Questions

1. After "November," what form does Thompson's writing take for the rest of the book?

2. Whom did Bobby Kennedy refer to as "the most decent man in the Senate?"

3. In general, who flies on Thompson's preferred plane?

4. Who is Ron Ziegler?

5. According to those who approve of professional speech writers, what purpose do the writers serve for the politicians?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Eagleton affect McGovern's campaign run?

2. In "November Concluded," what stories did Thompson tell about one of the female journalists?

3. In "August," why does Thompson discuss a demonstration he witnessed during a previous campaign?

4. In what ways is Thompson introducing new readers to the world of politics?

5. How does Thompson describe the varying roles of and attitudes toward professional speech writers?

6. What does Thompson mean when he says American politics are based on "perception and reality?"

7. Why did Ron Ziegler become Nixon's PR man?

8. How is Thompson's honesty a trademark of his writing?

9. What are Thompson's feelings about Nixon?

10. Describe the confrontation between Mankiewicz and Thompson.

(see the answer keys)

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