Der letzte Zeitzeuge

Shortly after his 100th birthday, and just in time for the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the state of Lower Saxony, Rolf Zick speaks up for the last time with this major volume of memoirs. For some 60 years the former editor-in-chief of the Nord-Report and long-time president of the Lower Saxon State Press Association has followed political events as a journalist, describing, criticising and commenting on them in thousands of articles. He is the only remaining witness who has met all eleven Prime Ministers of his state, from the legendary first "Father of the State" Hinrich Wilhelm Kopf through Heinrich Hellwege, Dr Georg Diederichs, Alfred Kubel, Dr Ernst Albrecht, Gerhard Schröder, Gerhard Glogowski, Sigmar Gabriel, Christian Wulff and David McAllister to Stephan Weil.
Rolf Zick describes them as he encountered them both as a journalist in the State Parliament and in personal meetings and conversations. With many anecdotes he weighs up and documents the outstanding events of their respective periods in office, their political achievements for the state, their merits as well as affairs and minor scandals, failures, misfortunes and mishaps. At the same time he knowledgably describes social upheavals and how they are connected with such matters as the protest movement and its national synonym Gorleben or the extremism that started in Lower Saxony. Der letzte Zeitzeuge is the legacy of a great journalist and a stimulating read for anyone with an interest in politics.