John M. Barry is the author of "The Ambition and the Power: A True Story of Washington, " and co-author of "The Transformed Cell, " which has been published in twelve languages. As Washington editor of Dunn's Review, he covered national politics, and he has also written for "The New York Times Magazine, Esquire, Newsweek, The Washington Post, " and "Sports Illustrated." He lives in New Orleans and Washington, D.C.