There is a rich literature of political assault. "We love him for the enemies he has made" was the boast of Grover Cleveland's supporters in 1884. Teddy Roosevelt gloried in confrontation with tycoons ("malefactors of great wealth"). F.D.R. had his "economic royalists" to pummel. Harry Truman is still celebrated as a man who liked to "give 'em hell."
Jimmy Carter is writing his chapter. Not being eloquent, robust or profane, Carter is making his critical mark by sheer scope. Within the past few days he has given Russian President Brezhnev the brush-off over the neutron bomb, thumped his own civil...