Bestselling authors and veteran political journalists Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes visited the Nixon Library on July 21 to discuss their latest book, Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House. A New York Times bestseller, Fight is the fourth collaboration between Allen and Parnes and their third focused on a presidential campaign.
During the evening, the duo offered an engaging behind-the-scenes look at their writing and reporting process. “Our mutual goal has always been to take readers inside the room,” said Parnes. “How do we show you what went on?” They explained how their complementary styles—Parnes’s attention to detail and Allen’s analytical lens—help them piece together a fuller, more truthful picture of the political landscape.
Interestingly, the pair hadn’t initially planned to cover the 2024 election, but once they committed, the campaign quickly turned into what they described as one of the most unpredictable in recent history. Looking ahead, they shared early thoughts on 2028, noting that with wide-open fields on both sides, the next election cycle is shaping up to be just as wild.
Concluding the Q&A discussion, an intern from the Nixon Foundation’s American Civics Academy asked for advice for aspiring journalists or politicians. Allen responded with the following guidance:
“If you go into politics or journalism, do it because you want to serve others. Do it because you want to actually make things better.”
Their discussion provided not only timely political insights but also a powerful reminder of the importance of public service and honest reporting in shaping American democracy.
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