I wanted to ask Maraniss about the parallels he sees between the time he describes so vividly in his book and the current moment. Syndicated columnist Drew Pearson was another prominent anti-McCarthy voice, along with Murrey Marder of the Washington Post and Edward R. Murrow — all mentioned in Maraniss’s book. One of the most gripping scenes in Maraniss’s book is future Detroit Mayor Coleman Young’s testimony before the House UnAmerican Activities Committee in the Federal Building in Detroit. I am fighting against un-American activities such as lynchings and denial of the vote. “Race is at the center of American life, then and now,” Maraniss said on the phone.