Professor Ross Fitzgerald » Blog Archive » Book launch: Alan (The Red Fox) Reid

Home » Books

Book launch: Alan (The Red Fox) Reid

31 May 2010 2,785 views 2 Comments

A PHALANX of press gallery veterans is expected to turn out next week to the launch of Ross Fitzgerald and Stephen Holt’s biography of Alan “The Red Fox” Reid. The doyen of the Canberra press gallery during the Menzies era, Reid set new boundaries in political journalism, becoming a player as much as a reporter. He organised the photo that led to Menzies coining the phrase “36 faceless men” to describe the 36 Labor delegates who dictated the party’s policies to the exclusion of party leadership in 1963. His standing was such that prime minister Bob Hawke flew in to pay his respects to an ailing Reid days before his death. Hawke will attend the launch, hosted by former NSW premier Bob Carr. Laurie Oakes has penned the foreword. Other heavyweights attending include Alan Jones, Sam Lipski and Max Suich.

The Australian, May 31, 2010

2 Comments »

William Stacey said:

In 1991 I read ” Busy In The Fog” & I said to myself this bloke’s an alcoholic from the way he writes & as it has turned out over time my thoughts have been confirmed with the release of your latest book, ” My Name Is Ross.”

Several of my friends have suggested to me to read it but as yet I haven’t got around to it being that I’m busy living my 27 years of ” My Name Is Bill”, & all the usual & unusual adventures that come with it.

I also like reading your columns, so as one old timer used to say ” Give my regards to Broadway”.

I’ve read reviews of both books & will get around to reading them eventually.

Being 72 & having a cursory interest in politics it was always interesting to read what “The Red Fox” as Alan Reid was known as had to say about politics when he was alive & only ” The Little Digger” as Laurie Oakes is known, as comes anywhere near the reputation of Reid, the rest of the hounds have become sycophantic yes men & women of their preferred political bent rather than being objective journalists.

Good luck with both books. Peoples lives & stories are always fascinating to hear & read of.

Cheers Billyboy.

# 31 May 2010 at 1:10 pm