A Practice Almost Perfect: The Early Days at Arnold, Fortas & Porter

A Practice Almost Perfect describes the inside story of the celebrated law firm Arnold, Fortas & Porter and the three remarkable men who founded it 50 years ago: Thurman Arnold, Yale professor, head of the United States Anti-Trust division, and distinguished federal judge; Abe Fortas, a legal prodigy appointed to the Yale law faculty upon graduation from its law school, who became Under Secretary of the Interior at age 32; and Paul Porter, a journalist and masterful politician who served as publicity chairman for Franklin Delano Roosevelt's fourth term campaign. In A Practice Almost Perfect, Norman Diamond narrates how Arnold, Fortas & Porter, alone among prominent law firms and at its own expense, defended victims of the brutal repression of civil liberties during the scourge of McCarthyism. He describes the firm's work for important clients, including the Kroger Co., Federated Department of Stores, and Samuel Goldwyn Productions, and tells of the hard-fought litigation that paved the way for discount retailing. He also recounts the administration of the estate of the legendary Washington hostess Evalyn Walsh McLean, particularly the facts concerning the legendary Hope diamond, and details the firm's salvation of Playboy magazine. Filled with fascinating anecdotes and historical detail, A Practive Almost Perfect is an important addition to the shelves of legal historians and the general public.

About the Author :
Norman Diamond is a practicing lawyer with Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C.

Review :
Norman Diamond succeeds admirably in this book in recapturing the atmosphere-the intellectual excitement, the vitality, the gaiety, and the camaraderie-that characterized Arnold, Fortas and Porter in the first two decades of its existence. For thoseof us like me who were young lawyers in the firm in those years, it was always springtime. -- Abe Krash, senior partner, Arnold & Porter Many recent major political events require an understanding of the role played by major Washington law firms. A Practice Almost Perfect is a very interesting, readable and humorous account of many such events as seen from the inside by a longtimepartner of such a firm. -- Abe Krash, senior partner, Arnold & Porter William P. Rogers Norman Diamond has written a fascinating book about one of America's great law firms...A participant in the founding of Arnold, Fortas & Porter (now Arnold & Porter), Mr. Diamond tells the story of the firm's early years gracefully and tastefully and reveals much that will be of interest to lawyers and non-lawyers alike. -- Sol M. Linowitz, former Ambassador to the Organization of American States and former senior partner at Coudert Brothers Norman Diamond has written a fascinating book about one of America's great law firms...A participant in the founding of Arnold, Fortas & Porter (now Arnold & Porter), Mr. Diamond tells the story of the firm's early years gracefully and tastefully and reveals much that will be of interest to lawyers and non-lawyers alike. -- Sol M. Linowitz, former Ambassador to the Organization of American States and former senior partner at Coudert Brothers Norman Diamond succeeds admirably in this book in recapturing the atmosphere-the intellectual excitement, the vitality, the gaiety, and the camaraderie-that characterized Arnold, Fortas and Porter in the first two decades of its existence. For those of us like me who were young lawyers in the firm in those years, it was always springtime. -- Abe Krash, senior partner, Arnold & Porter Many recent major political events require an understanding of the role played by major Washington law firms. A Practice Almost Perfect is a very interesting, readable and humorous account of many such events as seen from the inside by a longtime partner of such a firm. -- Abe Krash, senior partner, Arnold & Porter William P. Rogers