Joe Klein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joe Klein
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Klein at the 2011 Time 100 Gala
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| Born | September 7, 1946 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation |
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| Education | Hackley School University of Pennsylvania |
| Period | 1969–present |
| Subject | American politics |
| Spouse |
Janet Eklund
(m. 1967–1975)Victoria Kaunitz |
| Children | 4 |
Joe Klein (born September 7, 1946) is an American writer and political expert. He is well-known for writing columns for Time magazine. He also wrote a famous novel called Primary Colors. This book was a roman à clef, meaning it was a story based on real events and people. It was about Bill Clinton's run for president in 1992. Klein is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He has also written for many other well-known publications. These include The New Republic, The New York Times, and Rolling Stone.
Contents
Joe Klein's Early Life and Career
Joe Klein was born in Rockaway Beach, Queens, New York. His father was a printer. Joe graduated from the Hackley School. He then went to the University of Pennsylvania. There, he studied American civilization.
In 1969, Klein started his career as a reporter. He worked for newspapers in Essex County, Massachusetts. By 1972, he was reporting for WGBH-TV in Boston. He also worked as a news editor for The Real Paper. From 1975 to 1980, he was an editor for Rolling Stone magazine. He even appeared briefly in the 1977 movie Billy Jack Goes to Washington.
Klein has written several books. His first book, Woody Guthrie: A Life, came out in 1980. In 1984, he published Payback: Five Marines After Vietnam. He wrote political columns for New York magazine from 1987 to 1992. His reporting on the 1989 New York City mayoral race won him an award. In 1992, he joined Newsweek magazine. His column there, "Public Lives," also won an award. He also worked as a commentator for CBS News from 1992 to 1996.
The Famous Novel Primary Colors
In January 1996, Joe Klein published a novel called Primary Colors. He released the book without putting his name on it. The story was about the 1992 Democratic presidential primary. The book quickly became a huge success. It was number one on the New York Times bestseller list for nine weeks. The author was simply listed as "Anonymous."
Many people tried to guess who wrote the book. Some people, including a professor named Donald Foster, correctly thought it was Klein. They looked at his past writing style to figure it out. At first, Klein denied writing the book. He even said in Newsweek that someone else must have written it. However, on July 17, 1996, Klein finally admitted that he was the author.
Joe Klein's Later Career
In December 1996, Klein started writing for The New Yorker magazine. He wrote a column called "Letter from Washington." He continued to write books as well. In 2000, he published The Running Mate. This book was like a follow-up to Primary Colors. In 2002, he released The Natural: Bill Clinton's Misunderstood Presidency. This book looked at Bill Clinton's time as president.
In 2003, Klein joined Time magazine. He began writing a column called "In the Arena." This column covered national and international news. He also wrote for Time's "Swampland" blog. Sometimes, his columns faced criticism. For example, some people questioned his reporting on certain political topics.
Joe Klein's Political Ideas
In the 1990s, Klein wrote an important article for Newsweek. It was about a political idea called "radical centrism." This idea tries to find common ground between traditional liberal and conservative views. Klein believed this was becoming a major new way of thinking in politics.
In his book The Natural, Klein shared his thoughts on Bill Clinton's presidency. He often wrote about moderate Democratic ideas. These ideas were supported by groups like the Democratic Leadership Council. Klein was generally positive about these "third way" politics. This approach tries to find new solutions that are not strictly left or right.
Personal Life
Joe Klein was married to Janet Eklund from 1967 to 1975. They had two children, Christopher and Terry. As of 2009, Klein lives in New Rochelle, New York. He is married to Victoria Kaunitz, who designs swimwear. They have two children together, Sophie and Teddy.
See also
- Afghanistanism, for his comment on the subject
