mike royko could as well. >> what kind of power did wilson -- walter lippman have? >> walter litman was the american century school of politics. he was really a great proponent of what we call the mount olympus column where the author analysts sort of comes down from the mountains of ivan leister problems and here's what you should do. it's a very tempting role for thomas to play. interestingly they don't seem to age as well as the storytellers and part of what we are trying to do in this book, we are writing at the time when people are writing obituaries for newspapers every day that opinion writing is proliferating on line like never before. what is unique about these columns and what i think makes the column last in addition to great writing is great storytelling and a reporting column talking to deal not just talking about ideas or typing out your opinion. my favorite litman columnist a column he wrote after the death of amelia earhart. it's a beautiful piece of work, really a meditation about the pioneering spirit and why she felt obligated to fly, pushing hers