Reviewed in Brief

The Republicans, A History of Their Party, by Malcolm Moos. 564 pp. New York: Random House. $5.95

As competent a job of slightly slicked-up history as the average. Full of anecdotes and color, it is entertaining and should serve well for quick practical reference. As interpretative history, however, either of the Republican Party or of the development of political currents oyer the past hundred years, it is what might be expected from an author to whom the right wing of today’s Republicans are “disgruntled dinosaurs.” True Republicanism, in Mr. Moos’ view, despite occasional unfortunate diversions, develops in a straight line from Lincoln via the Progressives to the Keynesian planning and “dynamic conservatism” which are now so happily accepted by the “moderates” of both parties.

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The Republicans, A History of Their Party, by Malcolm Moos. 564 pp. New York: Random House. $5.95

As competent a job of slightly slicked-up history as the average. Full of anecdotes and color, it is entertaining and should serve well for quick practical reference. As interpretative history, however, either of the Republican Party or of the development of political currents oyer the past hundred years, it is what might be expected from an author to whom the right wing of today’s Republicans are “disgruntled dinosaurs.” True Republicanism, in Mr. Moos’ view, despite occasional unfortunate diversions, develops in a straight line from Lincoln via the Progressives to the Keynesian planning and “dynamic conservatism” which are now so happily accepted by the “moderates” of both parties.