Ronald B. Scott
Encyclopedia
Ronald Bruce Scott is an American
journalist
and author of a biography of Republican
presidential candidate Willard Mitt Romney --Mitt Romney: An inside look at the man and his politics-- published in October 2011 by Globe Pequot Press.
Scott's first novel in a series of four-- Closing Circles: Trapped in the Everlasting Mormon Moment-- was completed in 1998. Now, with most of the work done on the remaining books, the first novel in the series will be released by Gray Dog Press in Spokane, Washington in early 2012. The other novels in the series, will be released in this sequence: The Mending: A life too well remembered; Finding Faith; and Leaving West Perish.
in New England (1965–67). He studied journalism at the University of Utah
while working as a reporter for both of the city's daily newspapers, The Salt Lake Tribune
and The Deseret News (now The Deseret Morning News). He worked briefly for United Press International in 1970 before accepting a position with Time, Inc. in New York City
, where he reported and wrote for its magazines Time, Sports Illustrated and Life, and was part of the small start-up editorial team that founded People Magazine in 1974. From there, Scott wrote pieces on subjects ranging from Jimmy Carter's attention-grabbing brother Billy Carter
to Donnie and Marie Osmond
to Muhammad Ali
].
In a 2005 article in Sunstone (magazine), Scott noted Romney’s "flip-flops" on issues like abortion, stem cell research, gun control, and gay rights. The article was widely quoted by other broadcast and print media during the 2008 primary election season.
.
The book also drew substantial interest in Salt Lake City and Utah because of the state's interest in Romney, who directed the 2002 Olympic Winter Games there. The Desert News reported that Scott's book "examines Romney from every angle" including taking too much credit for "saving" the Salt Lake Winter Games, using it for political capital. The newspaper reported that Scott claims Romney is: "more liberal than his fellow Mormons and many Republicans.He is a bit of a political butterfly, blowing with whatever political winds are blowing rather than with any deep-seated beliefs. He's a genuinely nice man, but a little stiff and awkward with people in the political arena (according to Scott, Mitt's own father urged him to relax and stop listening to his handlers). He is a good man, with strong unrelenting morals and principles." The newspaper report also noted that the book identifies the Utah man who blew the whistle on the alleged "bribery" scandal associated with the 2002 games.
Salt Lake City's free alternative newspaper City Weekly, remarked that the book provided an "honest, yet never a simple takedown. Through dogged reporting and his own personal recollections, Scott paints a broad-ranging portrait of Romney, from his college years through his missionary experience, his business triumphs and his time running both the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and the state of Massachusetts... The image that emerges, as is true of any well-studied individual’s life, is more complex than you might expect. Scott highlights the personality traits that simultaneously made Romney a success in the private and the public sector, and a difficult-to-embrace enigma for many potential voters."
George Curry, a nationally syndicated columnist, wrote of the Romney book:
, Massachusetts
and is married to Diana Lynn Watt Scott. He is the father of three sons and two daughters. Previously, he lived in Westport
, Connecticut
for 14 years.
Closing Circles: Trapped In The Mormon Moment,Gray Dog Press, 2011,ISBN 978-1-936178-49-0,ISBN 1-936178-49-4
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and author of a biography of Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
presidential candidate Willard Mitt Romney --Mitt Romney: An inside look at the man and his politics-- published in October 2011 by Globe Pequot Press.
Scott's first novel in a series of four-- Closing Circles: Trapped in the Everlasting Mormon Moment-- was completed in 1998. Now, with most of the work done on the remaining books, the first novel in the series will be released by Gray Dog Press in Spokane, Washington in early 2012. The other novels in the series, will be released in this sequence: The Mending: A life too well remembered; Finding Faith; and Leaving West Perish.
Biography
Ronald B. Scott was born in Salt Lake City (October 4, 1945) to Robert R. Scott and Lillian Haws Scott. He was a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints traces its current dispensation beginnings to Joseph Smith, Jr. on April 6, 1830 in Western New York. Initial converts were drawn to the church in part because of the newly published Book of Mormon, a self-described chronicle of indigenous American...
in New England (1965–67). He studied journalism at the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
while working as a reporter for both of the city's daily newspapers, The Salt Lake Tribune
The Salt Lake Tribune
The Salt Lake Tribune is the largest-circulated daily newspaper in the U.S. city of Salt Lake City. It is distributed by Newspaper Agency Corporation, which also distributes the Deseret News. The Tribune — or "Trib," as it is locally known — is currently owned by the Denver-based MediaNews Group....
and The Deseret News (now The Deseret Morning News). He worked briefly for United Press International in 1970 before accepting a position with Time, Inc. in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he reported and wrote for its magazines Time, Sports Illustrated and Life, and was part of the small start-up editorial team that founded People Magazine in 1974. From there, Scott wrote pieces on subjects ranging from Jimmy Carter's attention-grabbing brother Billy Carter
Billy Carter
William Alton "Billy" Carter III was an American businessman who promoted Billy Beer, was a candidate for Mayor of Plains, Georgia, and was the younger brother of United States President Jimmy Carter.-Early years:...
to Donnie and Marie Osmond
Marie Osmond
Olive Marie Osmond is an American singer, actress, doll designer, and a member of the show business family The Osmonds. Although she was never part of her family's singing group, she gained success as a solo country music artist in the 1970s and 1980s...
to Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
].
In a 2005 article in Sunstone (magazine), Scott noted Romney’s "flip-flops" on issues like abortion, stem cell research, gun control, and gay rights. The article was widely quoted by other broadcast and print media during the 2008 primary election season.
Additional Career
In 1979, Scott founded a multiple sports championship called the Women's Games involving 350 Olympic-caliber athletes in five sports. Scott had hoped that by the time The Women’s Games were staged in September of 1980, many of the participating athletes would be well known because of their performances in the 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, planned for July and August in Moscow, The U.S.S.R. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan prompted the United States President Jimmy Carter to call for a boycott of the games in Moscow, a call that was honored by several countries. The week-long Women’s Games Championship that followed a month later was staged at the University of Utah, was broadcast live throughout the month of September by ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.
The Romney biography
The book's publicity began with an article in the Boston Globe concerning the original working title of the book, Mitt Romney: The Heart of the "Tin Man." The article suggested that the possible negative connotations of the title caused the lack of cooperation Scott received from Romney and some of his advisers. Nearly a month later, the New York Times ran a long front page story on Romney and his religion with multiple references to Scott's forthcoming book. More provocatively, the article told of the book's revelation identifying a Mormon woman who had previously been pressured by Mitt Romney to not have an abortion while he was her ecclesiastical leader.The book also drew substantial interest in Salt Lake City and Utah because of the state's interest in Romney, who directed the 2002 Olympic Winter Games there. The Desert News reported that Scott's book "examines Romney from every angle" including taking too much credit for "saving" the Salt Lake Winter Games, using it for political capital. The newspaper reported that Scott claims Romney is: "more liberal than his fellow Mormons and many Republicans.He is a bit of a political butterfly, blowing with whatever political winds are blowing rather than with any deep-seated beliefs. He's a genuinely nice man, but a little stiff and awkward with people in the political arena (according to Scott, Mitt's own father urged him to relax and stop listening to his handlers). He is a good man, with strong unrelenting morals and principles." The newspaper report also noted that the book identifies the Utah man who blew the whistle on the alleged "bribery" scandal associated with the 2002 games.
Salt Lake City's free alternative newspaper City Weekly, remarked that the book provided an "honest, yet never a simple takedown. Through dogged reporting and his own personal recollections, Scott paints a broad-ranging portrait of Romney, from his college years through his missionary experience, his business triumphs and his time running both the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and the state of Massachusetts... The image that emerges, as is true of any well-studied individual’s life, is more complex than you might expect. Scott highlights the personality traits that simultaneously made Romney a success in the private and the public sector, and a difficult-to-embrace enigma for many potential voters."
George Curry, a nationally syndicated columnist, wrote of the Romney book:
Personal life
He lives in suburban BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and is married to Diana Lynn Watt Scott. He is the father of three sons and two daughters. Previously, he lived in Westport
Westport, Connecticut
-Neighborhoods:* Saugatuck – around the Westport railroad station near the southwestern corner of the town – a built-up area with some restaurants, stores and offices....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
for 14 years.
Published Work
Mitt Romney: An Inside Look At The Man and His Politics, Globe Pequot Press 2011, ISBN 978-0-7627-7927-7Closing Circles: Trapped In The Mormon Moment,Gray Dog Press, 2011,ISBN 978-1-936178-49-0,ISBN 1-936178-49-4