Write a book that, at its heart, is about news—a thing that is said to be a first draft of history—and by the time your work is done you will want to thank everyone who worked in the business of reporting it across the time, in the places, and at the organizations—most notably newspapers—the book concerned itself with. So, thank you everyone. If in the following acknowledgments I forget a name, forgive me.
Among those who must be thanked for their contributions to my understanding of the man at the center of this work and my understanding of how his story might be crafted, there are four whose assistance was so great that I need to single them out: Michael Daly, Denis Hamill, Mitch Gelman and Ellis Henican. Thank you for your unstinting sharing of your time and your knowledge.
To all the other friends, colleagues, experts, witnesses, and participants in history who also shared their time and energy across the years, beginning in 2015, I am deeply appreciative.
There is a debt of gratitude that cannot be repaid to: James Breslin; Kevin Breslin; Dan Barry; David Black, my agent who was there from the start and helped envision this book; Mickey Brennan, a wonderful photographer; Ed Burns, Sr.; Charlie Carillo; Steve Cerbone; Chiara Coletti; Kevin Convey; Andrew Cuomo; Robert Dembo, who built NBC’s Investigative Unit with me, pushed hard for this book, and is a great friend; Mike Downing; Martin Dunn; Steve Eisenberg; Ronnie Eldridge; Bill Farrell; Ed Faye; Michael Gross, who graciously shared his Mailer–Breslin mayoral campaign memorabilia; Pete Hamill; Ken Jacowitz for his invaluable archival research that included unearthing Breslin’s work from newspaper morgues and libraries across the United States; Robert Johnson; Richard Kluger, whose magisterial work, The Paper, was an invaluable resource; Murray and Gloria Loew for unflagging interest as I slogged on; Stu Marques; Morty Matz, who at 99 years old maintained his sense of wonder; Marie McGovern; Frank McLaughlin; Diane McNulty; Phil Messing, who was always ready with a fact or an anecdote; John Miller, a news reporter of uncanny ability who was always there when I needed him; Bob Nardoza; Dick Oliver; Patrice O’Shaughnessy; Otto Penzler, the publisher who believed in this book and its importance; Michael Regan; my good friend Clem Richardson; Tom Robbins; Sam Roberts, who was my first city editor, sitting right under the big clock in the Daily News newsroom; Barbara Ross; Myron Rushetzky; Howie Sann; Louis Schiro; Charles Sennott; David Starr; Gloria Steinem; Gay Talese; Curtis Taylor; Peg Tyre; Tom Vallely; Dick Wald; Pete Williams; and Tom Wolfe.
Tom Wickersham was a wonderful editor whose suggestions added immensely to this book.
My debt extends to my colleagues from NBC Investigations: Tom Winter, Mark Schone, Jonathan Dienst, Matthew Cole, and Andy Blankstein for their support and encouragement.
In my heart, there is a special place for the never-departed, enigmatic, and often difficult Don Forst, the editor of New York Newsday. Don taught me how to become an editor, manage a newsroom and to edit a newspaper.
Closest to my heart, there are two more people I cannot begin to thank: the woman who gave of her wisdom, her days, nights and countless weekends, and who read the drafts, my wife, Karen Loew, to whom this book is dedicated. And the woman who was always there for her father when his energy or confidence flagged, my daughter, Tati.
And then there is Ted: This book could not have been written without Ted Gerstein, the consummate reporter, who collected, collated, researched, interviewed and shared countless burgers and cups of coffee with me. Ted was a partner on this book, during more than ten years’ worth of Nightline episodes that we produced beginning shortly after September 11, and on the book that came before this one. Ted could not have been there were it not for his wife, Christine Rannazzisi-Gerstein, and her tolerance for the hours he spent locked away on this project, and her faith in him and in us. Thank you so much Chris.