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Crime in America, Observations on Its Nature, Causes, Prevention and Control By Ramsey Clark Simon & Schuster, 346 pp., $6.95 In navigating the sea of platitudes which unceasingly fluctuates through Ramsey Clark’s chapters, insomniac readers can take their bearings only by the distinctive clichés which mark most pages. To wit (all on p. 15): “Crime reflects the character of a people. . . . All those qualities in life that make us what we are determine our capacity to commit crime. . . . Crime is not just sordid happenings—it is human behavior. People commit crime.” After three hundred-odd pages of this, the former Attorney General ends with some mind-blowing conclusions (all on p. 346): “Agencies of criminal justice must be fair and effective. [Clark puts it squarely on the line.] Our laws must provide moral leadership. . . . We must strive … to achieve needed reforms, to offer fulfillment, human dignity and reverence for life. [No apple pie, though.] Guided by reason America will soar on wings of humane concern. Passion is the vital spring to human action. Fertilized by ideas, passion alone has the power to activate millions. . . .” A fertilized spring, I shall soar on my wings of humane concern as soon as activated.

Well, metaphors obviously are not Clark’s forte. And Crime in America does not disclose what is. If an ambitious politician has to write a campaign book, and is possessed of Clark’s shortcomings, he might do better to hire a ghostwriter. To do so would disclose humility (all too well earned here) and an awareness of inadequacy —the beginning of wisdom. The ghostwriter might decently veil the politician’s actual mind, a service to him, and even more to the reader. To be allowed to glance at Mr. Clark’s mind plain is to be distressed, and embarrassed for him, as though by an act of indecent exposure.

EH

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Ernest van den Haag

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Crime in America, Observations on Its Nature, Causes, Prevention and Control By Ramsey Clark Simon & Schuster, 346 pp., $6.95 In navigating the sea of platitudes which unceasingly fluctuates through Ramsey Clark’s chapters, insomniac readers can take their bearings only by the distinctive clichés which mark most pages. To wit (all on p. 15): “Crime reflects the character of a people. . . . All those qualities in life that make us what we are determine our capacity to commit crime. . . . Crime is not just sordid happenings—it is human behavior. People commit crime.” After three hundred-odd pages of this, the former Attorney General ends with some mind-blowing conclusions (all on p. 346): “Agencies of criminal justice must be fair and effective. [Clark puts it squarely on the line.] Our laws must provide moral leadership. . . . We must strive … to achieve needed reforms, to offer fulfillment, human dignity and reverence for life. [No apple pie, though.] Guided by reason America will soar on wings of humane concern. Passion is the vital spring to human action. Fertilized by ideas, passion alone has the power to activate millions. . . .” A fertilized spring, I shall soar on my wings of humane concern as soon as activated.

Well, metaphors obviously are not Clark’s forte. And Crime in America does not disclose what is. If an ambitious politician has to write a campaign book, and is possessed of Clark’s shortcomings, he might do better to hire a ghostwriter. To do so would disclose humility (all too well earned here) and an awareness of inadequacy —the beginning of wisdom. The ghostwriter might decently veil the politician’s actual mind, a service to him, and even more to the reader. To be allowed to glance at Mr. Clark’s mind plain is to be distressed, and embarrassed for him, as though by an act of indecent exposure.