Time Present, Time Past: A Memoir

In this wide-ranging memoir, New Jersey Senator Bradley chides his fellow Democrats for becoming captive to special-objective or pressure groups, and also for siding with Republicans during the Reagan era, thereby increasing the tax burden of the middle class while giving the rich more subsidies and tax breaks. Crisscrossing the country, Bradley holds ``walking town meetings,'' impromptu talks with ordinary people, which serve as a springboard as he shuttles from campaign reminiscences to his boyhood in Crystal City, Missouri, his Scotch-Irish and German roots, basketball career and reflections on events in U.S. history. He defends NAFTA, suggests ways to revitalize the labor movement, opposes racial quotas but supports the concept of ``merit-based affirmative action'' (``once an individual makes the qualified pool of applicants, being black is just another positive attribute for admission...''). This speechifying autobiography leaves one with the lingering impression that Bradley, who has announced that he will not run for a fourth Senate term, could be testing the waters for a presidential bid. 100,000 first printing; BOMC selection; Random AudioBook -44920-5; author tour. (Jan.)