Politics and Prose

Carla Cohen, after losing her job with the Carter administration, decided to create an independent bookstore in Washington, D.C., despite having no previous experience with running a business.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/11/AR2010101102811.html?hpid=dynamiclead|title=Carla Cohen dies; co-founder of D.C. bookstore Politics and Prose|author=Brown, Emma|date=October 11, 2010|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 13, 2012|archive-date=February 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219111222/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/11/AR2010101102811.html?hpid=dynamiclead|url-status=live}} She partnered with Barbara Meade, whom she found through the classifieds, and who, with her previous experience of managing a bookstore, became a co-owner early on. Cohen decided to name the store Politics and Prose because it was "Washington-sounding" and not pretentious, and the two co-owners founded the store in 1984.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/12/books/12cohen.html|title=Carla Cohen, Owner of Washington Bookstore, Dies at 74|author=Parker, Ashley|date=October 11, 2010|newspaper=New York Times|access-date=July 13, 2012|archive-date=October 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012045601/http://www.nytimes.com//2010//10//12//books//12cohen.html|url-status=live}} Meade worried that the name was a put-off, and the store struggled at first to attract authors to speak at its events and relied on local journalists to publicize the location.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/10/AR2010121006110.html|title=Politics and Prose continues search for new owner|author=Douglas, Danielle|date=December 13, 2010|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 13, 2012|archive-date=August 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808090731/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/10/AR2010121006110.html|url-status=live}} The store's original location in the Forest Hills neighborhood was across the street from its current spot, and in 1989, Politics and Prose moved to their present larger location after finding success. The store merged with a nearby children's bookstore, the Cheshire Cat, and incorporated its staff in 1990.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A53131-2004Apr29?language=printer|title=The Inside Scoop|author=Berg, Scott|date=April 30, 2004|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 13, 2012|archive-date=September 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924165850/https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A53131-2004Apr29/?language=printer|url-status=dead}}

File:Politics and Prose 2.jpg

Business continued to be successful during the late 1990s as other independent bookstores fell by the wayside and companies such as Barnes & Noble expanded.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB111136822501884789|title=Succession Plot At Bookstore Took A Surprise Twist|author=Trachtenberg, Jeffrey A.|date=March 21, 2005|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=July 13, 2012|archive-date=April 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404214438/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB111136822501884789|url-status=live}} Cohen and Meade decided to sell the store to Danny Gainsburg, who was selling his T-shirt business so he would be able to afford the cost of the store. The co-owners made an agreement with Gainsburg that he would gain control of the store if he could function amicably with the rest of the staff. Cohen and Meade set him up in a part-time position to see how he would interact with the employees and sold him an equity stake in the business without informing the other staff members. Gainsburg was pressured to leave by the staff after he kissed an employee on her birthday. The three co-owners agreed that Gainsburg should resign, and Gainsburg received his initial investment plus a premium. Gainsburg said to the Wall Street Journal, "We all started with good motives, but there was lots of naiveté on all sides." In 2006, a year after the botched sale attempt, Cohen and Meade both decided to hold onto the store as sole co-owners for at least three to five more years and met with an outside consultant to devise an eventual exit strategy.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB114609150089736915|title=A Year Later, Bookstore Owners Drop Plans to Sell Their Business|author=Trachtenberg, Jeffrey A.|date=April 29, 2006|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=July 14, 2012|archive-date=April 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404012039/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB114609150089736915|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/general/2010/06/10/response-to-sale-of-politics-and-prose/|title=Response to Sale of Politics and Prose: Preserving a Local Literary Icon|author=Petty, Erin|date=June 10, 2010|newspaper=Washington City Paper|access-date=July 14, 2012|archive-date=June 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612120745/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/general/2010/06/10/response-to-sale-of-politics-and-prose/|url-status=live}}

File:Bradley Graham.jpg

In June 2010, Cohen and Meade announced their intention to sell the store. Cohen became seriously ill around this time, and it contributed to the timing of their decision to sell.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/09/AR2010060903413.html|title=With sale of D.C.'s Politics and Prose, a bookstore's legacy is up for grabs|author=Rosenwald, Michael S.|date=June 10, 2010|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 14, 2012|archive-date=August 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820193522/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/09/AR2010060903413.html|url-status=live}} Journalist Jim Lehrer wrote of the impending sale, "...putting Politics and Prose up for sale is like putting the Washington Monument up for sale." There was considerable speculation in the media about possible buyers for the store.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/23/us/23prose.html?pagewanted=all|title=Bookstore in Capital Seeks Its Next Chapter|author=Hagey, Keach|date=June 22, 2010|newspaper=New York Times|access-date=July 14, 2012|archive-date=June 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628035116/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/23/us/23prose.html?pagewanted=all|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/onmedia/1210/Foer_Goldberg_among_Politics__Prose_suitors.html|title=Foer, Goldberg among Politics & Prose suitors|author=Hagey, Keach|date=December 13, 2010|publisher=Politico|access-date=July 14, 2012|archive-date=December 20, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220050443/http://www.politico.com/blogs/onmedia/1210/Foer_Goldberg_among_Politics__Prose_suitors.html|url-status=live}} There were reportedly over 50 inquiries by October into the possible purchase of the store from Meade and Cohen's husband, David, who inherited her stake in the store after her death from cancer.{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/39974/politics-and-proses-social-network/full/|title=Politics and Prose's Social Network|author=Anderson, Tom|date=October 29, 2010|newspaper=Washington City Paper|access-date=July 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119171641/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/39974/politics-and-proses-social-network/full/|archive-date=January 19, 2011|url-status=dead}}

It was announced on March 28, 2011 that two former employees of The Washington Post, Lissa Muscatine, and her husband, Bradley Graham, had purchased the store from Meade and David Cohen.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/politics-and-prose-has-found-a-buyer/2011/03/28/AFbNlpoB_story.html|title=Politics and Prose has found a buyer|author=Rosenwald, Michael S.|date=March 28, 2011|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 14, 2012|archive-date=June 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606075516/http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/politics-and-prose-has-found-a-buyer/2011/03/28/AFbNlpoB_story.html|url-status=live}} The store was reportedly sold for $2 million, although price was not the main factor in the selection of new owners. Meade fully retired from work in the store on December 31, 2012.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/55435-barbara-meade-retires-from-p-p.html|title=Barbara Meade Retires from P&P|date=January 10, 2013|magazine=Publishers Weekly|access-date=January 13, 2013|archive-date=January 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119092637/http://publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/55435-barbara-meade-retires-from-p-p.html|url-status=live}} Graham and Muscatine have added literary classes and trips since purchasing the store.{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/local-news/politics-prose-bookstore-is-considering-opening-a-second-location.php|title=Politics & Prose Bookstore Is Considering Opening a Second Location|author=Joynt, Carol Ross|date=September 16, 2013|publisher=The Washingtonian|access-date=October 6, 2013|archive-date=September 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920144258/http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/local-news/politics-prose-bookstore-is-considering-opening-a-second-location.php|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/politics-and-prose-will-open-satellite-stores-in-busboys-and-poets-restaurants/2014/11/05/037950d4-6522-11e4-836c-83bc4f26eb67_story.html|title=Politics and Prose will open satellite stores in Busboys and Poets restaurants|author=Charles, Ron|date=November 6, 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=December 22, 2016|archive-date=December 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223064903/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/politics-and-prose-will-open-satellite-stores-in-busboys-and-poets-restaurants/2014/11/05/037950d4-6522-11e4-836c-83bc4f26eb67_story.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Roberts |first=Roxanne |date=2014-06-15 |title=Hillary Clinton and Lissa Muscatine: From first lady and speechwriter to author and bookseller |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/hillary-clinton-and-lissa-muscatine-from-first-lady-and-speechwriter-to-author-and-bookseller/2014/06/15/c820ec18-f3ed-11e3-bf76-447a5df6411f_story.html |access-date=2025-04-19 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}

The new co-owners, Graham and Muscatine, began to look at opening branch locations soon after purchasing the store. They considered an expansion of Politics & Prose into a Georgetown location but decided against it.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/politics-and-prose-owners-mulling-expansion-to-georgetown/2013/09/18/d2c88224-1fa5-11e3-94a2-6c66b668ea55_story.html|title=Politics & Prose owners mulling expansion to Georgetown|author=O'Connell, Jonathan|date=September 18, 2013|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 6, 2013|archive-date=June 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610200544/http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/politics-and-prose-owners-mulling-expansion-to-georgetown/2013/09/18/d2c88224-1fa5-11e3-94a2-6c66b668ea55_story.html|url-status=live}} In 2014, Politics and Prose announced that it would be operating satellite stores inside Busboys and Poets stores throughout the city called "Politics and Prose @ Busboys and Poets". In May 2017, Politics & Prose announced that they would be opening a new branch at Union Market in the fall of 2017.{{cite web | url= http://wtop.com/business-finance/2017/05/politics-prose-opening-union-market-location/ | title= Politics and Prose opening Union Market location | author= Clabaugh, Jeff | date= May 30, 2017 | work= WTOP | access-date= May 30, 2017 | archive-date= May 30, 2017 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170530193905/http://wtop.com/business-finance/2017/05/politics-prose-opening-union-market-location/ | url-status= live }} Politics & Prose announced plans for a third location to open in October 2017 at The Wharf, a new development at the Southwest Waterfront.{{cite web | url= http://wtop.com/business-finance/2017/08/politics-prose-open-bookstore-wharf/slide/1/ | title= Politics and Prose to open bookstore at The Wharf | author= Clabaugh, Jeff | date= August 9, 2017 | work= WTOP | access-date= August 20, 2017 | archive-date= August 21, 2017 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170821061542/http://wtop.com/business-finance/2017/08/politics-prose-open-bookstore-wharf/slide/1/ | url-status= live }}

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Politics and Prose was required to shut down by city officials as part of Washington, D.C.'s shutdown. The store was one of the first six inside D.C. that was allowed to re-open, as part of a pilot program allowing curbside sales for independently owned stores from Mayor Muriel Bowser's Educational and Academic Retail Shops pilot.{{Cite web|last1=Segraves|first1=Mark|last2=Crummy|first2=Brianna|date=May 18, 2020|title=Six DC Stores Given Go-Ahead to Reopen Under New Pilot Program|url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/six-dc-stores-given-go-ahead-to-reopen-under-new-pilot-program/2305160/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525104715/https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/six-dc-stores-given-go-ahead-to-reopen-under-new-pilot-program/2305160/|archive-date=May 25, 2020|access-date=May 26, 2020|website=NBC4 Washington|language=en-US}} The store on Connecticut Avenue re-opened, while mandating that only 30 customers could enter the store at one time, and with plexiglass placed to protect workers.{{Cite web|last=Berlin|first=Marlene|date=July 9, 2020|title=What it's like at the reopened Politics and Prose|url=https://www.foresthillsconnection.com/news/what-its-like-at-the-reopened-politics-and-prose/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718204620/https://www.foresthillsconnection.com/news/what-its-like-at-the-reopened-politics-and-prose/|archive-date=2020-07-18|access-date=2020-07-18|website=Forest Hills Connection|language=en-US}}

Workers at Politics and Prose announced in mid-December, 2021 that they intended to unionize with Local 400 of the United Food and Commercial Workers. A super-majority of workers across departments signed union authorization cards and asked management for voluntary recognition, which management refused. Thereafter, the workers filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board.{{Cite news|last=Gomez|first=Amanda Michelle|date=December 14, 2021|title=Politics and Prose Bookstore Employees Move To Unionize|work=DCist|url=https://dcist.com/story/21/12/14/politics-prose-bookstore-employees-unionize/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214153539/https://dcist.com/story/21/12/14/politics-prose-bookstore-employees-unionize/|url-status=live|archive-date=December 14, 2021|access-date=December 14, 2021}} The owners of Politics and Prose initially hired attorneys from Jones Day, which local DC news outlet DCist described as, "known for its aggressive anti-union tactics" to fight the unionization effort.{{Cite web|title=Politics and Prose Bookstore Employees Move To Unionize|url=https://dcist.com/story/21/12/14/politics-prose-bookstore-employees-unionize/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214153539/https://dcist.com/story/21/12/14/politics-prose-bookstore-employees-unionize/|url-status=live|archive-date=December 14, 2021|access-date=2021-12-16|website=DCist|language=en}} Two weeks later, the co-owners pivoted and instead hired a D.C. labor attorney who represents unions and nonprofits to negotiate the scope of the union.{{Cite news|last=Elwood|first=Karina|date=January 3, 2022|title=Politics & Prose becomes first unionized bookstore in D.C.|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/01/03/politics-and-prose-first-unionized-bookstore-dc/|access-date=January 24, 2022}} Graham and Muscatine voluntarily recognized the union as the collective bargaining unit for the bookstore after 35 of 54 union authorization cards were signed by workers, making the store the first unionized book store in D.C.{{Cite news|last=Elwood|first=Karina|date=January 3, 2022|title=Politics & Prose becomes first unionized bookstore in D.C.|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/01/03/politics-and-prose-first-unionized-bookstore-dc/|access-date=January 24, 2022}}{{Cite web |title=DC’s Only Unionized Bookstore Politics And Prose Approves First Contract Agreement |url=https://dcist.com/story/22/09/06/dcs-only-unionized-bookstore-politics-and-prose-approves-first-contract-agreement/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=DCist |language=en}}

File:Politics and Prose crowd.jpg

File:Politics and Prose cafe.jpg

Politics and Prose has a reputation for staff who are able to recommend books to customers. The {{convert|14,000|sqft|m2|abbr=off|adj=on|sp=us}} space contains an Espresso Book Machine for on-demand printing of self-published and out-of-print books and a cafe on the first floor of the building called "Modern Times" in addition to space for books.{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/11/independent-bookstores-embrace-digital-publishing/|title=Independent bookstores embrace digital publishing|author=Anderson, Stacy A.|date=July 11, 2002|publisher=Associated Press|work=The Washington Times|access-date=July 14, 2012|archive-date=June 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619202204/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/11/independent-bookstores-embrace-digital-publishing/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/modern-times,799639/critic-review.html|title=Modern Times/Politics and Prose review|author=Rapuano, Rina|date=July 26, 2006|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 14, 2012|archive-date=November 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110181920/http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/modern-times,799639/critic-review.html|url-status=dead}} A Washington Post review of the cafe in 2006 reacted favorably to changes to the menu.

The store is famous for its author events, in which writers usually read an excerpt from their book and take questions from the audience.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0207/2948.html|title=The Politics of Politics and Prose|author=Grim, Ryan|date=February 28, 2007|publisher=Politico|access-date=July 14, 2012|archive-date=September 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923213418/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0207/2948.html|url-status=live}} The Washington Post notes that as the talks gained prominence and the store grew more popular, Cohen and Meade, the original co-owners, "became known as literary tastemakers". C-SPAN broadcasts around five of the talks a month; and audio and video recordings of most talks are released on the Internet Archive and the Politics and Prose YouTube channel respectively.{{cite web |title=Event Video Recordings |url=https://www.politics-prose.com/multimedia |website=Politics and Prose |access-date=1 February 2022}}{{cite web |title=Politics and Prose YouTube Channel |url=https://www.youtube.com/user/politicsprose/featured |website=YouTube |access-date=1 February 2022}} The store has gained a reputation for having astute and smart audiences present at readings. Famous readers at its author events have included politicians such as Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, UK statesman Boris Johnson, and former Senator Edward Brooke, as well as authors J.K. Rowling, Salman Rushdie, and Amy Chua, photographer Annie Leibovitz, and investigative reporter David Halberstam.{{cite web|url=http://news.msn.com/us/obama-buys-spy-novel-kids-books-on-shopping-trip|title=Obama buys spy novel, kids' books on shopping trip|author=Hennessey, Kathleen|date=November 30, 2013|publisher=MSN News|access-date=August 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203225000/http://news.msn.com/us/obama-buys-spy-novel-kids-books-on-shopping-trip|archive-date=December 3, 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/21/books/21broo.html|title=A Senator's Ambitious Path Through Race and Politics|author=Clemetson, Lynette|date=February 21, 2007|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 24, 2012|archive-date=December 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219202241/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/21/books/21broo.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2010/10/carla-cohen-politics-prose.html|title=Politics and Prose's Carla Cohen has died|author=Kellogg, Carolyn|date=October 11, 2010|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=July 24, 2012|archive-date=January 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123080339/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2010/10/carla-cohen-politics-prose.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/20/AR2011022003473.html|title='Tiger Mother' author faces a tough crowd at Politics and Prose|author=Hesse, Monica|date=February 21, 2011|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 24, 2012|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402201348/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/20/AR2011022003473.html|url-status=live}} Cohen in the past refused to allow prominent writers to appear in the store, such as Matt Drudge, ostensibly because of their conservative leanings.{{cite web|url=http://www.drudgereport.com/mat28bb.htm |title=Drudge Banned in D.C.; Politics & Prose Bookstore Calls Internet Reporter 'Dangerous', Will Not Open Doors |date=September 12, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040213151609/http://www.drudgereport.com/mat28bb.htm |archive-date=February 13, 2004 |publisher=Drudge Report |access-date=July 24, 2012 |url-status=unfit }}

Politics and Prose is often seen to be an important stop for authors publicizing their work and is regarded as being a significant part of DC culture. New owners Bradley Graham and Lissa Muscatine were ranked #50 on GQ{{'}}s "The 50 Most Powerful People in Washington" because of their purchase of Politics and Prose, describing the store as "...liberal Washington's most sacred space."{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gq.com/news-politics/politics/201202/50-most-powerful-people-in-washington-dc#slide=50 |title=The 50 Most Powerful People in Washington |last1=Cherlin |first1=Reid |last2=Fischer |first2=Rob |last3=Horowitz |first3=Jason |last4=Zengerle |first4=Jason |date=February 2012 |magazine=GQ |access-date=July 14, 2012 |archive-date=October 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005044249/http://www.gq.com/news-politics/politics/201202/50-most-powerful-people-in-washington-dc#slide=50 |url-status=live }} The New Yorker{{'}}s Hendrik Hertzberg commented on the unusually intelligent questions from the audience at readings, and Slate{{'}}s editor in 2007, said: "If there's one bookstore in the city you want to read in, it's obviously the place."{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/hendrikhertzberg/2010/06/politics-prose-perfection-i-hope-permanence.html|title=Politics and Prose and Perfection and (I hope) Permanence|author=Hertzberg, Hendrik|date=June 9, 2010|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=July 14, 2012|archive-date=July 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711225043/http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/hendrikhertzberg/2010/06/politics-prose-perfection-i-hope-permanence.html|url-status=live}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category-inline|Politics and Prose, Washington, D.C.}}

• [http://www.politics-prose.com/ Politics and Prose], official website
• [https://www.c-span.org/organization/?34148/politics-prose-bookstore Politics and Prose] appearances on C-SPAN and BookTV

{{coord|38.955452|-77.069669|type:landmark_region:US|display=title}}

Category:1984 establishments in Washington, D.C.

Category:Culture of Washington, D.C.

Category:Independent bookstores of the United States

Category:Retail companies established in 1984

Category:Bookstores in Washington, D.C.