c-span: what was it like serving with chief justice warren berger? >> guest: well, there of course are all sorts of aspects. he is a very likable man and he was judged by others sometimes is being a little pompous and more regal but he was a good residing officer and a very gracious public person. he handled public affairs very well. and the internal deliberations, i think he was less confident than either of his two successors. i will be frank with you, he did many fine things but i don't think he handled the conferences as well as either bill rehnquist or john roberts did. i don't think he was as accurate in the assignment of opinions as he might have been. at times, he assigned opinions to members of the court who didn't actually have the votes of four other colleagues on every issue in the case. so he was less than perfect on his work as a presiding officer in conference, but i think he was an excellent presiding officer in the public proceedings. i think he was very fair to both sides and when there was the necessity for more time to make argume

>> well actually i was at "national geographic" agostino rider and warren berger called me up one day and said we are looking for somebody who is young, cheap and good to edit a book about the supreme court and a a and i set up okay. it was later i found out those order of the adjective was wrong and it was probably cheap and good but it worked out for me. >> here is claire cushman's new book, "courtwatchers," eyewitness accounts in supreme court history, rowman & littlefield are the publishers. .. >> he previously authored reagan's revolution the untold story of the campaign that started it all. that was the first book detaining reagan's pivotal 1976 challenge to president ford in the republican primary and also off third rendezvous with destiny. for the 1980 campaign revealing the behind-the-scenes story for the white house. you will not there is a consistency and a craig's book. [laughter] they're both researched although this one was over about 15 months in this is 31 days did you are getting more detailed. we will have some questions then at open it to the audience. there are a l

>> actually i was a "national geographic" magazine writer and warren berger called me up one day and said we are looking for somebody who is young, cheap and good to edit a book about the supreme court and i said oh okay. it was later that i found out they order of those adjectives was wrong and it was probably cheap and good. you worked out for me. >> here is claire cushman's new book, or watchers, eyewitness accounts in the supreme court history, rowman & littlefield are the publishers. .. >> he is also a former consultant to nbc news. among his previous books are the reagans, excuse me. the bushes portraits of a dynasty, reagan more his final triumph over communism and do was i suit -- say not as i do. that book was on "the new york times" bestsellers list eight weeks and "the economist" magazine pronounced to do as i say the ninth biggest political book in selling on the entire plant in 2005. he was executive producer in the face if the ball a documentary based in his book which won the 2004 of liberty festival and steve dannielynn is here today and is the greatest film ever writ