Who is Art Buchwald from Necessary Losses and what is their importance?

Art Buchwald was a well-known political humorist. Viorst uses Art Buchwald's story of his childhood as an example of a motherless boy who, because he was bounced around and left in different foster homes throughout his childhood, experienced confusion, and withdrawal from any involvement with people. He also experienced a sense of shame that affected him throughout his life. Buchwald was first placed with all three of his siblings, and later he and his sister were separated from the others, then two more foster homes, then a year with his father — Buchwald had no sense of stability or security whatsoever.