Face To Face

FACE TO FACE is fiction which will sweep you along in a swelling wave of suspense rarely encountered in a novel. Its story focuses on a behind-the-scenes political struggle to produce a Presidential television debate...and how this affects the lives and the morals of the men and women surrounding the candidates.

And although this is a novel you will realize that no writer, however brilliant, could have given this book the inside authenticity it has unless that writer had been one of the key men in the 1960 Presidential campaign. Edward A Rogers, the author, was Richard Nixon's television advisor during the former Vice-President's bid for the White House.

FACE TO FACE will introduce you to a variety of fascinating people: campaign managers, politically ambitious network executives, girls from Washington, television "advance" men, the political volunteers, the real pros, the candidates themselves and their wives.

Its central character is Charles Dale, television advisor to Andrew Conger, his party's nominee for the office of President. Woven into the exciting story of the impending face-to-face debate is the story of Dale's disrupted marriage and interrupted career; his affair with another woman; his moving relationship with candidate Conger and with Murray Smith, television advisor to the opposition candidate. As the day of the first great debate draws closer, as the momentum of the campaign mounts to an unbelievable intensity, Dale and Smith develop a deep friendship which finally transcends political beliefs.

Here then is fiction which has drama and believable people. In the minds of thoughtful readers it will also raise many disturbing questions about the use to which television is being put in our democratic process. Has a candidate's image become more important than his qualities of leadership? Is it really wise that the television tube become the ultimate weapon in the battle for the most powerful office in the world?

Everyone who saw the Presidential debates on TV in 1960 should be fascinated by FACE TO FACE.