Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist, presidential scholar and one of this term's Montgomery fellows David Maraniss almost missed his big break into journalism -- all because of a hot dog stand.
Hours before a scheduled interview with the Trenton Times, the young Maraniss misplaced his entire portfolio of newspaper clippings while enjoying one of Nathan's favorites at Coney Island.
Maraniss was left to convince his future employers that he was qualified for a news writer position, but without any proof.
Promising to be the "best reporter they'd seen in six months," Maraniss won over the editors, and thus began his tenure as one of nation's foremost research journalists as well as a top scholar on President Clinton.
As a third generation newspaperman, Maraniss learned early that reporting was not a skill that needed to be garnered in the lofty confines of an elite institution. While attending the University of Wisconsin, Maraniss said he spent more of his time writing and playing chess than pursuing serious academic endeavors.
"I cannot say that school was a major influence on my life," Maraniss.
After graduating from college, Maraniss found himself covering high school sports for a local newspaper.
Upon a job hunting expedition to the East Coast, Maraniss -- who would go on to author a bestselling biography of President Clinton -- received his first big break at the Trenton Times.
Out to make good on his guarantee of being the "best reporter they'd seen," Maraniss covered everything the greater Trenton area had to offer. From jail breakouts to the City Hall burning down, a busy news year gave him the chance to refine his reporting skills.
In fact, the small Trenton paper led to Maraniss' first Washington connection, albeit 20 years too early. While covering the Princeton University beat, Maraniss worked closely with then-Princeton undergraduate and former White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry.
By 1976, Maraniss' strong research skills and clear writing style had propelled him through the ranks at the Trenton Times. His promotion to chief correspondent for the '76 presidential elections gave Maraniss his first exposure to national politics.
The following year, Maraniss was offered a position with The Washington Post, a result of his impressive political coverage in Trenton.
At The Post, Maraniss slowly made the transition from a day-to-day news writer to a more research-orientated reporter.
Although he started his 21-year career at The Post covering Maryland state politics, he quickly moved on to define his own flexibility in choosing what topics to write about and from which angle.
"I've spent my whole life trying to figure out how to do things my own way," Maraniss said. "I've never wanted to have events dictate what I'm doing."
In that spirit, Maraniss embarked on a series of long term projects -- or series stories -- for The Post.
In 1984, he began covering presidential hopeful Gary Hart. Three years later, Maraniss broke the news of Hart's career-ending extramarital affair with Donna Rice.
Maraniss embarked on a yearlong project on Jesse Jackson. He researched Jackson's background as a political figure as he traveled the country with him. The resulting articles aimed to present Jackson's story "from a cultural and sociological perspective of black politics in America."
But it was not until 1991 -- when Maraniss was given the choice of covering any one of the presidential candidates for the 1992 elections -- that he came in contact with Clinton. Maraniss began tracking the campaign of the young Arkansas governor and followed his election into office.
"My instincts said he would win," Maraniss said of choice to report on Clinton.
From a reporter's point of view, Maraniss noted that Clinton was never the easiest of subject matter.
"Clinton has always been frustrating for me... frustrating and exciting. For a journalist, he's very hard to pin down," he said.
Though Maraniss was quick to focus in on Clinton's extremely contradictory nature, he pointed out that he is also "very predictable."
Maraniss illustrated Clinton's long term pattern of loss and recovery, which has been at the heart of his survival throughout the impeachment process.
"I could see [that cycle] so clearly in his career that I could predict what would happen in his political life," Maraniss said.
It came as no surprise to Maraniss that Clinton did not resign from office during his impeachment trial -- such a move would be incongruous with his "entire life cycle."
Maraniss viewed Hillary Rodham Clinton in a similar light, and noted that had she left Clinton in the months following the affair, it "would be like leaving herself."
As for Clinton's legacy, Maraniss said that his most lasting effect would be his example of how a progressively minded Democrat could capture the political center from the Republicans. His legacy, Maraniss noted, is visible in leaders of other countries who have modeled themselves after Clinton, such as Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair.
As for Clinton's successor, Maraniss was reluctant to make a prediction, but pointed out that Vice President Al Gore is the obvious front runner.
"But if Gore trips, he's in trouble," Maraniss said. He noted that Bill Bradley has an "aura" of a cleaner politician, and will be able to gain points if Gore's campaign finance controversy is not resolved.
Maraniss also gave Dan Quayle a surprising nod as a possible 2000 contender.
"He's a lot like Nixon in '68. He's spent time working conservative grassroots efforts," Maraniss said.
