Two women I know have recently written terrific books that could easily have never seen the light of day. By complete serendipity, each is a former colleague and friend. Isabel Wilkerson and I were both reporters for the New York…

There is no set pattern to the lives led by former presidents, but there is arguably a pattern to the way they relate to the press. It goes roughly like this: either 1) they avoid reporters, and are happy to…