John Anderson; The Candidates -- 1980, by Aram Bakshian Jr. New Rochelle: Arlington House. $12 .95.

Books on John Anderson are as elusive as is his candidacy, but one can find a reference to him in Aram Bakshian Jr.'s sprightly survey, "The Candidates -- 1980." Bakshian's blend of political erudition and lucid style is well worth the price of purchase. His sharp wit and irreverence make it a bargain. Summarizing the political melodrama, he muses: "Every presidential campaign is a sort of civic scavenger hunt, rich in heroes, sharpers, clowns, patriots, weaklings, sages and potential accidents of history. Most of them are far from ideal presidential material, but nearly all of them are interesting. . . . Happy hunting."

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