What are you reading this summer?

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Rep. Mike Pence

Congressman, R-Indiana

“The Soul of Battle,” by Victor Davis Hanson

“John Quincy Adams,” by Samuel Flagg Bemis

“The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt,” by Edmund Morris

Peter Beinart

Editor-at-large, The New Republic. Author, “The Good Fight : Why Liberals-And Only Liberals-Can Win the War on Terror and Make American Great Again”

“The Irony of American History,” by Reinhold Niebuhr

“The Swamp,” by Michael Grunwald

“A Margin of Hope,” by Irving Howe

“Assassin’s Gate,” by George Packer

Edward J. Fuelner

President, The Heritage Foundation

“America: The Last Best Hope,” by Bill Bennett.

Like David McCullough’s “1776” last summer, I know that Bennett will not only refresh my memory, but also re-inspire me with the achievements of so many great Americans.

“A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France and the Birth of America,” by Stacy Schiff. The story of Franklin’s role behind-the-scenes in making America possible is indeed an intriguing one, which every American should know.

Strobe Talbott

President, The Brookings Institution

Anthony Appiah’s “Cosmopolitanism.”

The new Alan Furst period-piece thriller, “The Foreign Correspondent.”

Anne Taylor Fleming’s “As If Love Were Enough.”

Paul Kennedy’s “The Parliament of Man.”

Finally, Anthony Pagden’s “Perpetual Enmity,” a sweeping and masterly interpretation of history as the interaction between the East and the West.

Sen. John Cornyn

U.S. Senator, R-Texas

“One Hundred Years of Solitude,” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

“Gettysburg,” by Stephen Sears

Michael Petruzzello

Managing Partner, Qorvis Communications, LLC.

“Confessions of an Economic Hit Man,” by John Perkins. A friend recommended “Confessions” after a piquant conversation we had about America’s current role in the game of global politics. Perkins is supposed to provide a unique historical look on American attitudes toward the rest of the world. I always welcome new perspectives.

“Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman,” by Yvon Chouinard. One of my employees, who almost went to work for Patagonia, gave me this book. Chouinard’s business model is remarkable, and I think it’s appropriate for any businessperson to seek out fresh examples of how to stay true to what’s at the heart of your business — namely, your people. I only wish D.C. was nearer to better waves.

Anthony Williams

Mayor, Washington,D.C.

I will be reading Robert Caro’s series on Lyndon B. Johnson over the summer.

Sen. Bill Frist

U.S. Senator, R-Tenn., Senate Majority Leader

“The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln,” by Sean Wilentz.

Steve Scully

Senior Executive Producer and Political Editor, C-SPAN

“Mayflower,” by Nathaniel Philbrick … because it sounds like a great read, and I love history.

“Fight Club Politics,” by Juliet Eilperin … because I saw her on C-SPAN 2’s BookTV and it made me go out and by the book (but it’s been sitting next to my bed for the last month … will finish it this month).

“The DaVinci Code,” by Dan Brown … because I am probably the only adult left who hasn’t read it.

Donald A. Ritchie

Senate Historical Office

Author, “Reporting from Washington: The History of the Washington Press Corps”

I’m currently reading “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer,” by Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin, a reexamination of the man who directed the development of the atomic bomb before he was hounded out of government service during the McCarthy era.

On a lighter vein, I’ll be reading Tim Dorsey’s “Topedo Juice,” the latest in his series of over-the-top, hilariously funny Florida novels that feature Serge A. Storm, a manic local historian; and Ian Rankin’s latest Inspector Rebus mystery, “Fleshmarket Alley,” set in modern Edinburgh, which appeals to my Scottish roots.

Tim Russert

Host, “Meet the Press” (NBC)

“Manhunt,” by James L. Swanson

Ed Meese

Ronald Reagan Distinguished Fellow in Public Policy and Chairman of the Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, the Heritage Foundation

“Manhunt,” by James L. Swanson

“Endgame: The Blueprint for Victory in the War on Terror,” by Thomas McInerney and Paul Vallely.

“Getting America Right,” by Edwin J. Feulner and Doug Wilson.

“1776,” by David McCullough.

Any one of McCullough’s books are worthwhile, but “1776” is particularly good.

Sen. John McCain

U.S. Senator, R-Arizona

“Cobra II,” by Michael Gordon

“River of Doubt,” by Candice Millard

“Politics Lost,” by Joe Klein

“One Bullet Away,” by Nathaniel Fick

“Goodbye, Darkness: A Memoir of the Pacific War,” by William Ma chester

Glenn Reynolds

Editor, Instapundit.com
Professor of Law, University of Tennessee

I’ve already read it but I highly recommend Jeremy Lott’s new book, “In Defense of Hypocrisy: Picking Sides in the War on Virtue.” It’s interesting, timely, and superbly well-written.

Kevin Payne

President and CEO, DC United

“The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln by Sean Wilentz”

“Leonardo da Vinci: Flights of the Mind: A Biography” by Charles Nicholl

Jack Olender

President and principal trial lawyer of the malpractice law firm Jack H. Olender and Associates, P.C.

My beach book to take to Rehoboth next week is Ron White’s “I Had The Right To Remain Silent … but I Didn’t Have The Ability.” I don’t particularly care for Blue Collar Comedy, but as a trial lawyer, I couldn’t resist the title.

Sen. Harry Reid

U.S. Senator, D-Nev.

“Washington’s Crossing,” by David Hackett Fischer.

“Time of War: Hitler’s Terrorist Attack on America,” by Pierce O’Donnell.

“The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” by Douglas Brinkley.

Chris Matthews

Host, “Hardball” and “The Chris Matthews Show” (NBC)

“Jack Kennedy: The Education of a Statesman,” by Barbara Leamey.

“Advise and Consent,” by Allen Drury.

Dr. Larry J. Sabato

Director, Center for Politics and University Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia

“America’s Constitution: A Biography,” by Akhil Reed Amar. This is a fascinating resource for anyone who wants to dig deeper into the Constitution.

“What Women Really Want,” by Celinda Lake and Kellyanne Conway. Once again, women will be a highly prized swing vote in this critical midterm election.

“31 Days,” by Barry Werth. An account of the first wild-and-wooly month of the Gerald Ford Presidency. Books on presidential crisis are revealing, not just for history’s sake but for what they can teach about the current occupant of the White House.

Rep. Jim Moran

Congressman, D-Virginia

“The Next Attack: The Failure of the War on Terror and a Strategy for Getting it Right,” by Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon.

“The Assassins’ Gate: America in Iraq,” by George Packer

“Blow the House Down,” by Robert Baer

“Crashing the Gate: Netroots, Grassroots, and the Rise of People-Powered Politics,” by Jerome Armstrong and Markos Moulitsas Zuniga

Candy Crowley

Senior Political Correspondent, CNN

“Everyman,” by Philip Roth. … because I like the way he writes.

“The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History,” by John Barry. … because after I interviewed HHS Secretary Leavitt about bird flu several months ago, he gave me a copy and said “read it.”

“The Historian,” by Elizabeth Kostova. I am cheating on this one and listening to the CD of the unabridged version to and from work. My daughter recommended it.

Sen. George Allen

U.S. Senator, R-Virginia

I am planning to read Bill Bennett’s latest book, “America: The Last Best Hope.” I greatly admire Bennett and consider him to be one of America’s great thinkers.

Sen. James M. Inhofe

U.S. Senator, R-Oklahoma

I will finish the remaining books I have not read by Michael Crichton. I enjoyed not only how well Crichton documented his research on global warming in “State of Fear” but also how well he expressed the Hollywood elitists’ mentality regarding global warming. As an avid pilot and frequent visitor to Africa, I look forward especially to Crichton’s “Airframe” and “Congo.” Finally, I’d like to re-read one of my favorite books on West-Central Africa: Adam Hochschild’s “King Leopold’s Ghost.”

George Stephanopoulos

Host, “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” (ABC)

“Everyman,” by Philip Roth.

“Terrorist,” by John Updike.

“Suite Francaise,” by Irene Nemirovsky.

“A Godly Hero: The Life of Williams Jennings Bryan,” by Michael Kazin.

“The Great Transformation: The Beginnings of our Religious Traditions,” by Karen Armstrong.

Councilmember Jack Evans

D.C. Council Member, Ward 2, Democrat

“Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince,” by J.K. Rowling … because I have to keep up with my kids.

“My Life,” by Bill Clinton … because I haven’t gotten around to reading it since I’ve been so busy.

“John Adams,” by David McCullough … I got it for Christmas but still haven’t read it.

Any if any John Grisham or Tom Clancy books come out, I’ll read those since I’ve read all their others.