James J. Kilpatrick, originally from Oklahoma and a Charleston resident since 1989, reflects on a remarkable career spanning politics, language, and a lifelong devotion to writing. Self-described as a “poor man’s Bill Safire,” Kilpatrick recalls never doubting his calling as a writer, beginning at just six years old when a poem about Charles Lindbergh earned him a dime from a children’s magazine. Starting his journalism career in Richmond in 1941, he later became a prominent political columnist in Washington, authoring A Conservative View three times a week from 1964 to 1993, describing the experience as thrilling for being “in the heat of it all.” He continues to write a weekly column on the use and abuse of the English language. Kilpatrick also discusses his largely autobiographical book The Foxes’ Union, shares letters written to his granddaughter that grew unexpectedly popular, and reads from his book Fine Print. Additionally, he reflects on the creation of his coffee table books, highlighting another facet of his wide-ranging literary life.
Patti Just, host of the Writers' Circle of South Carolina, talks with authors and poets from across the state and country whose work highlights South Carolina’s rich history, diverse culture, and people.
