More on Joe Persico in the Times Union

Two community treasures lost: An appreciation

Paul Grondahl, Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Joe was an acclaimed historian and the author of 12 books. You may have seen him as a "talking head" expert in History Channel documentaries or as a guest on "Face the Nation" and "Morning Joe." His books had reached the best-seller list and "Nuremberg: Infamy on Trial" was made into a TV movie. The Gloversville native was among a troika of the region's most famous authors alongside Albany natives Andy Rooney and Bill Kennedy.

Yet he was always willing to write a blurb, celebrate literary successes of friends and offer pragmatic advice to writers like myself. He called me "young fella" even after I turned 55 this summer. He said there were no shortcuts to success. He had a small sign in a book-lined study at his Guilderland apartment that was a kind of mantra: "The harder I work, the luckier I get."

He worked hard to the end.

More:  http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Two-community-treasures-lost-An-appreciation-5729437.php

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Mourning Joe Persico, One of the Finest Writers in the Region

Joseph E. Persico, acclaimed historian and biographer, dies at 84

Ex-Rockefeller aide's work noted for its humanity

Paul Grondah, Times Union

By Paul Grondahl

Joseph E. Persico of Guilderland, an acclaimed historian and biographer and former chief speechwriter for Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller, who published 12 books, including the autobiography of Gen. Colin Powell for which he was the ghost writer, died Saturday at St. Peter's Hospital after a long illness. He was 84.

Persico, son of glove makers, rose from a blue-collar upbringing in Gloversville. He graduated with a bachelor's degree and a double major in English and political science from the New York State College for Teachers in 1952 (now the University at Albany).

More in the Times Union:  http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Joseph-Persico-acclaimed-historian-biographer-5724215.php

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WWII Historian Joe Persico Publishes New Book

Leading World War II historian and Guilderland resident Joseph Persico has a new book, Roosevelt's Centurions (2013), about the war-time President's relationships with his various commanders and generals.

Persico is also the author of the words that are engraved for posterity on the World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington D. C.:  "Here we mark the price of freedom."

Paul Grondahl of the Times Union has an interview with Persico about the new book: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Revelations-about-Roosevelt-4585140.php

Persico, who ghost-wrote Colin Powell's My American Journey, last visited the Institute in 2004: http://www.albany.edu/writers-inst/webpages4/archives/persicojoseph.html

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