Parting the Waters covers a lot of territory, from Jackie Robinson to Jesse Jackson. Everyone who was anyone, from Everett Dirksen to Clyde McPhatter, pops up, along with dozens of more obscure folk who were also part of this epic story. Branch refreshes the familiar by dint of sheer thoroughness. He also uncovers a good deal about the inner workings of the Eisenhower and Kennedy Administrations; we learn, among other things, how bad blood developed between Bobby Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson (largely because Jack let Bobby handle the dirty work and take the blame-not that Bobby seemed to mind).
