Book review: A caustic columnist revisits his takes on Alaska politics and people

“The Impertinent Question: The Words and Adventures of a Liberal Columnist at a Conservative Newspaper in the Red State of Alaska”

By Dan O’Neill; Cirque Press, 2025; 273 pages; $15.

Fairbanks resident Dan O’Neill, author of the well-respected “The Firecracker Boys,” “A Land Gone Lonesome” and “The Last Giant of Beringia,” wrote opinion columns for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner from 1998-2002. “The Impertinent Question” collects dozens of these along with some op-eds he wrote for other newspapers over the years.

Investigations into governmental activities and caustic political commentaries were O’Neill’s trademarks, and his liberal views were, from the start, at odds with the conservative, pro-business orientation of the newspaper. He gives considerable credit to the editors who welcomed his perspectives, even when the objects of his criticism were the newspaper’s own news coverage and editorial positions.

Those were years, O’Neill points out, when a lot was happening in Alaska and the nation. In reviewing his columns, he found that many of them dealt with issues that are still with us today, and that their historical groundings might “raise for rethinking” knotty issues like fake news and media bias, conspiratorial thinking, foreign meddling in elections, gay rights, gun rights and gun violence.

Each of the reprinted columns follows a paragraph that explains the situation or gives it context. The selections are organized somewhat thematically; without dates, it often takes some reading to place them in time. Some, in fact, seem dated in the sense that the events of the day no longer hold the same relevance or interest a quarter of a century later. O’Neill, whose past work involved collecting oral histories and who was selected as the 1994 Alaska Historian of the Year, leaves readers to find the rhymes between decades and the lessons we might have learned.

A significant number of the commentaries address O’Neill’s research into and opinions about military weapons systems and their installations and testing in Interior Alaska. “Missiles Provide Pork, Not Defense” and other selections take on the National Missile Defense Program, which had already cost Americans tens of billions of dollars and appeared to benefit only defense contractors and members of Congress who sought spending in their states. Alaska politicians and media were actively promoting it for basing in Alaska, despite it never being tested with any success. O’Neill was particularly outraged at the “missile meetings” that were carefully controlled and limited public questioning.

As with other selections in the book, more context and updates by the author would have provided more understanding and meaning. Google searches indicate that the MDP was later renamed GMD for Ground-based Midcourse Defense and exists today, with interceptors at Fort Greely, as a limited defense system for shooting down attacking ballistic missiles. President Trump’s proposed — and theoretical — Golden Dome system is intended to build on it with space-based interceptors for protecting the entire country. Readers might wish for O’Neill to take up his impertinent pen anew.

O’Neill takes to task numerous politicians of the time. He held strong opinions about the 1998 governor’s race (“The Incredible Dissembling Lindauer”), the Bush-Gore election (“High Noon for Bush and Gore”) and U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens after his conviction for receiving illegal gifts (“Ted Stevens’ Best Option: A Graceful Exit.”) When Sarah Palin’s VP nomination was announced, he wrote “Sarah Palin Vice President? You’ve Got to be Kidding,” in which he defended many of her actions as governor before declaring that she had “absolutely zero qualification” for the higher office.

Regarding institutions, he criticizes the University of Alaska for engaging in secret weapons research and the Legislature for “strangling” the university. He found fault with the local utility company, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources and the National Weather Service for not telling the truth about the source of two dangerous wildfires.

Elsewhere he foresaw certain developments in American society. Two days after the 9/11 attacks, he wrote “After 9/11, a Lean into Authoritarianism?” in which he wondered whether Americans would sacrifice their freedoms for more missile defense, a “blank check” for the president to declare wars, and the curtailing of environmental laws. A couple of pieces address changing attitudes toward same-sex marriage. Others speak to the misrepresentation of reports by politicians, and the failure of reporters to investigate or fact-check. He calls the News-Miner, in its own pages, an “incurious newspaper.”

Perhaps the most interesting selections — those with the potential for longevity in the print world — are about people O’Neill knew and admired. He was, after all, an oral history researcher, and he tells these stories well. One is about Celia Hunter, the WASP pilot, conservation leader, and co-founder of Camp Denali. Others honor Bering Land Bridge authority Dave Hopkins, Fairbanks lawyer Gene Belland, poetic newspaper letter writer Fred Stickman and his own Uncle Jim.

Near the end, “The Stubborn Gal” tells of his wife’s first and last sled dog competition, “which might make Sarah Campbell the only undefeated dog racer in Alaska history.” This story is also told in his children’s book of the same title.

Today, with responsible journalism — especially of the investigative variety — severely in decline, it’s helpful to be reminded of its value. Dan O’Neill may not have been loved by every Alaskan, but he surely made a case for the importance of asking tough questions and sharing his discoveries.

O’Neill will be launching “The Impertinent Question” in Anchorage and Palmer on Aug. 8 and 9. He will be at Title Wave Books from 1-3 p.m. on Aug. 8.

Later that Friday in an event sponsored by Cirque Press, O’Neill will be at Cyrano’s Theater Co. at 6 p.m. The appearance will include an interview with journalist Steve Heimel. Poets Shannon Gramse and Shauna Potocky will open with readings from their new books of poems.

On Aug. 9, O’Neill will sign books from 1-4 p.m. at Fireside Books in Palmer.