Renowned journalist and Ronald Reagan biographer Lou Cannon has joined the State Net Capitol Journal as a regular columnist. Cannon, who has previously served as an advisor and occasional contributor for the publication, will draw on his more than 40 years as an award-winning journalist to offer his unique insight and analysis of some of the most important political issues of the day.
"Lou Cannon's vast experience covering both state and national politics makes him a perfect fit for us," says State Net Capitol Journal Editor Rich Ehisen. "The Capitol Journal is dedicated to consistently bringing our readers across all 50 states the most thoughtful, relevant and timely information possible. Lou working with us on a regular basis greatly enhances our ability to fulfill that mission and we are all thrilled to have him."
Cannon said he is also looking forward to solidifying his editorial contribution to the State Net Capitol Journal. "I look forward to playing a bigger role in such an outstanding publication that provides useful analysis and snapshots of state politics and government," he said.
A newspaper reporter at heart, Cannon spent 26 years at the Washington Post, where he won numerous awards and earned the unofficial title of "reporter's reporter" from his colleagues. He is also generally regarded to be the foremost biographer of President Ronald Reagan. Cannon has written five books about Reagan, including the acclaimed President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime, a Book of the Month Club main selection when originally published by Simon and Schuster in 1991. The late John Chancellor called President Reagan "indispensable," saying that it presented "the real Reagan, without the makeup or the handlers, seen through the eyes of the keenest Reagan-watcher of them all." George F. Will also noted that Cannon has been "Reagan's best biographer."
Cannon's next book, written with his eldest son, Carl M. Cannon, a prize-winning White House correspondent for National Journal, will break new Reagan ground. The book, scheduled for publication early in February 2008 by PublicAffairs, is called: Reagan's Disciple: George W. Bush's Troubled Quest for a Presidential Legacy. Early reviews have praised the book for its "detailed reporting, fluid style and mature judgment," as well as its ability to "avoid the hysterical, foaming-at-the-mouth tone that assessments of Bush often inspire."
Cannon's first column for the State Net Capitol Journal will run on January 14, 2008. It will appear monthly throughout the year.
About State Net
State Net (www.statenet.com) has helped organizations track legislative and regulatory developments for more than 30 years. Headquartered in Sacramento, State Net monitors every bill in the 50 states, District of Columbia and Congress along with all state agency regulations. The company delivers online services, issue-based consultation and analysis that enables the nation's leading organizations to effectively respond to opportunities and risks in the states. The State Net Capitol Journal, published weekly, delivers in-depth coverage of public policy issues from all 50 states. Featuring analysis of emerging trends, state budgets, governors, legislatures and elections, SNCJ readers gain an intelligent overview of the states and issues each week.