Another excerpt from that valedictory interview with the Washington Post’s Len Downie, this one on his plans to write fiction in retirement:
West Lafayette, Ind.: Why write a novel? Are you perpetuating the “every journalist has a manuscript hidden in a desk drawer” myth? Not that it’s a bad thing.
Leonard Downie Jr.: It was, in fact, hidden in my desk drawer for a while until I had spare time over several years to work on it as a hobby, instead of, say,playing golf, which I’m terrible at. I wrote it because I enjoyed it and believe readers will enjoy the story of a young women investigative reporter who goes after corruption in Washington and finds something bigger and worse that changes everything. It’s entitled The Rules of the Game and will be published by Knopf next January. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to mention it.
Steven Colbert: Take us back to the Spring of 2006, and your keynote address at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner:
But, listen, let’s review the rules. Here’s how it works. The President makes decisions. He’s the decider. The press secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the press type those decisions down. Make, announce, type. Just put ’em through a spell check and go home. Get to know your family again. Make love to your wife. Write that novel you got kicking around in your head. You know, the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration? You know, fiction!
Like he said, Knopf. 2009.
