Bush at War
by Bob Woodward
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Hardcover (19 November, 2002)
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Editorial Review

Bush at War focuses on the three months following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, during which the U.S. prepared for war in Afghanistan, took steps toward a preemptive strike against Iraq, intensified homeland defense, and began a well-funded CIA covert war against terrorism around the world. The narrative is classic Woodward: using his inside access to the major players, he offers a nearly day-by-day account of the decision-making processes and power battles behind the headlines. Woodward's information is based on tape-recorded interviews of over a hundred sources (some unnamed), including four hours of exclusive interviews with the president, along with notes from cabinet meetings and access to some classified reports.

Woodward's analysis of President Bush's leadership style is especially fascinating. A self-described "gut player" who relies heavily on instinct, Bush comes across as a man of action continually pressing his cabinet for concrete results. The revelation that the president developed and publicly stated the so-called Bush Doctrine--the policy that the U.S. would not only go after terrorists everywhere but also those governments or groups which harbor them--without first consulting Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell, or Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is particularly telling. Other principals are examined with equal scrutiny. Though National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice emerges as soft-spoken and even tentative during group meetings, it becomes clear that Bush is dependent on her for candid advice as well as for conveying his thoughts to his cabinet. The relationship between Powell and Rumsfeld (and to a lesser degree Powell and Cheney) is often strained, exposing their differences regarding how to deal with Iraq and whether coalition building or unilateralism is most appropriate. Woodward also describes how CIA director George Tenet prepared a paramilitary team to infiltrate Afghanistan to set the groundwork for invasion, and how this ushered in a new era of cooperation between the defense department and the CIA. A worthwhile and often enlightening read, this is a revealing and informative first draft of the Bush legacy. --Shawn Carkonen ... Read more

Reviews (205)

Not Bad- Has Moments of Great
Bob Woodward's book is a fascinating blow by blow look into Oval Office in the wake of September 11.

The personalities are vividly portrayed. My perception of George W. Bush has been altered. In this portrayal, he appears to be an interested, conscientious participant and certainly not like he is being chaperoned by Dick Cheney. Bush Jr. is calling the shots.He is portrayed leading the cabinet taking in all information like a sponge.

Woodward, however, posses only limited information. Frequently his narrative seems choppy and incomplete, leaving interested readers wanting more. One great example is his dealing with the Northern Alliance.Readers are left wondering quite a bit about the U.S. relationship with the alliance and the role the group may have taken in any planning.

For me, the most informative insight of the book centers on the concept of power.The President of the United States is to powerful for his own good.Every cabinet member serves at his will. Their power and prestige are derived from his.In order to stay in power they give the president self serving advice designed to defend themselves or advance their agency's interests and interestingly this advice is always in agreement with the Chief. To disagree is to risk alienation and lose access to power.

Armed with all the intelligence and in the wake of the worst attack on America, Woodward masterfully portrays how different key players came to deal with the idea of preserving government continuity and living and working in a giant target, uncertain of the future.

Overall, this is a fascinating book that will be of interest to anyone who wishes they could be a fly on the wall in the cabinet in those terrible times.

Political Red Meat for Cons and Libs (3 & 1/2 stars)
Bob Woodward, who was a major player in breaking the Nixon Watergate scandal and also wrote the book-made-into-movie, "All the Presidents Men," writes his account of President George W. Bush's presidency during the first 100 days after the attacks on the two World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001. Conscientiously fair, Woodward has put together a quite comprehensive behind-the-scenes documentary-style book that reveals a full-disclosure look at the Bush war cabinet, their meetings and interactions with one another, interviews with the President and much more.

Of interest to those who seek authenticity, this book will make you feel like a fly on the wall. According to Woodward, Bush at War includes: "contemporaneous notes taken during more than 50 National Security Council and other meeting where the most important decisions were discussed and made." Additionally, Woodward states that he "interviewed more than 100 people involved in the decision making and execution of the war [in Afghanistan], including President Bush" (4 hours of interviews), "key war cabinet members, the White House staff, and officials serving at various levels of the Defense and State Departments and the CIA." Needless to say, a great deal of investigative effort was put into this book, which can be said of all Mr. Woodward's books.

I read Bush at War about a year-and-a-half ago, and after much time and reflection, I am amazed at the amount of access to the Administration that Woodward was given. I found this to be rather astonishing, as it was almost certainly an unprecedented move by a world leader in terms of permitting the scope and freedom that Woodward enjoyed. At the time this book was originally published, Bush at War contained a good deal of secret information from the war effort in Afghanistan. No doubt the reason for such trust in Woodward comes from his reputation for fair and impartial reporting, his unmatched investigative skills, and his astute journalistic credentials.

But enough about Woodward.

From the beginning, we are familiarized with the key players involved in post-9/11 war planning subsequent to the terrorist attacks. Woodward begins the story of that sunny Tuesday on 9/11 by going through the events of that morning through then CIA director George Tenet's perspective, leading to the urgently ominous, "Mr. Director, there's a serious problem." From there, the previously untold story of how Bush, Cheney, Powell, Rice, Rumsfeld, and Tenet dealt with the worst attack on America unfolds before your very eyes.

As I've alluded in my opening statements, this book reads like a documentary to me. I can visualize much of the book as if I were reading a transcript from a hypothetical movie that could've been named "100 Days After." But one of the most interesting and even intriguing things about this book is not just the details of the book itself, but the perspective with which people have read it and reviewed it. There is such a contrast in what people have gotten from it, and the opinions that have been formed after reading it. It is a perfect example for me that the term "what you find depends mostly on what you look for" has a resounding ring of truth; especially when the subject matter involves political figures. But it's really a testament to Bob Woodward in this instance, because it shows to me just how impartial the book really is. Most, if not all the information that those who've read the book were looking for is provided; and most importantly, we are judiciously left to make our own informed decisions and judgments on how we feel about what took place in the Bush White House subsequent to the 9/11 attacks.

For instance, there are conversations about Iraq that provide some insight into the President's feelings on the subject. These quotes are surprisingly candid and really provide more answers on his reasoning for deciding to liberate (or "liberate" for those who prefer the insinuation) Iraq. You will read just what Bush's vision for the world is, in his own words. What's priceless about it is that they're direct quotes that haven't been filtered by spinsters or the PC police. It's raw George W. Bush like you've never witnessed before; and that means that you will love him or hate him even more than you already do. For those that hate him, you will find more reasons to hate him. For those that love him, you will find more reasons to love him. It has plenty of "red meat" for everybody, regardless of political persuasion; and that's a good thing in my view. There's nothing worse than reporting that biased and intended to shape your opinions to the political right or left; because that's not really reporting, that's called propaganda. Bush at War is the real deal, un-salted and raw. It's up to you to spice it, cook it, chew it, digest it, and decide if it sits well with you or not.

For added entertainment, here are just a few notable quotes that stood out for me:

Bush on Iraq:

"Action was not for strategic purposes or defensive purposes, [Bush] said. ` You see...Condi didn't want me to talk about it (Iraq). We'll see whether this bears out, [but] clearly there will be a strategic implication to a regime change in Iraq, if we go forward. But there's something beneath that, as far as I'm concerned, and that is, there is immense suffering.' "

"As we think through Iraq, we may or may not attack. I have no idea yet. But it will be for the objective of making the world more peaceful."

Bush on North Korea's leader:

"...`I loathe Kim Jong Il!' Bush shouted, waving his finger in the air. `I've got a visceral reaction to this guy, because he is starving his people...' "

Bush on unilateralism: "I mean, you know, if you want to hear resentment, just listen to the word unilateralism. I mean, that's resentment. If somebody wants to try and to say something ugly about us, `Bush is a unilateralist, America is unilateral.' You know, which I find amusing. But I'm also-I've been to meetings where there a kind of `we must not act until we're all in agreement.' " He continues, "...well, we're never going to get people all in agreement about force and the use of force. But action--confident action that will yield positive results provides kind of a slipstream into which reluctant nations and leaders can get behind..."

Woodward on Cheney and Powell:

"Cheney and Powell went at each other in a blistering argument. It was Powell's internationalism versus Cheney's unilateralism."

Condi on Nukes:

"I've been in this business for a long time and people always underestimate the time, they rarely overestimate the time [it will take a country to become capable of building nuclear weapons]. If we're wrong and we had four or five or six years before he posed a nuclear threat, then we just went in early. If anyone willing to wait is wrong, then we wake up in two or three years, and Saddam has a nuclear weapon and is brandishing it in the most volatile region in the world. So which of these chances do you want to take? The lesson of September 11: Take care of threats early."

Bush on his role:

"I'm the commander--see, I don't need to explain--I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being the president. Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody an explanation."

An In-Depth Analysis of the Months Following 9/11
Bob Woodword gives a nearly day-by-day account of the three months following the terrorist attacks of September 11th.This format allows the reader to gain insight into the decision-making process regarding the war in Afghanistan (you must read Woodword's new book, Plan of Attack, to learn about the war in Iraq).Woodword had unprecedented access to President Bush as well as senior cabinet members, giving him a clear advantage over others in ability to objectively confer the events that led to the war in Afghanistan.Woodword allows the reader to draw their own conclusions about the President and his administration, rather than filling the pages with his own opinions and analysis of the proceedings depicted.No matter your party affiliation, everyone would do right to read this book in order to have an informed opinion about the President, his administration, and the war in Afghanistan.No other work covers the events with as much detail and objectivity as Woodword does here. ... Read more

Isbn: 0743204735
Subjects:  1. (George Walker),    2. 1946-    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Bush, George W    5. Decision making    6. Government - U.S. Government    7. Military leadership    8. National security    9. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    10. Political Process - Leadership    11. Political Science    12. Politics - Current Events    13. September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001    14. U.S. Practical Politics    15. U.S. President    16. United States    17. United States - 21st Century    18. War on Terrorism, 2001-    19. Current Events / General    20. Interviews   

The Commanders
by Bob Woodward
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 January, 2002)
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Reviews (11)

Bush's Brain: Decision Making in Panama and Iraq
Bob Woodword seems to have become the reporter of authority when it comes to writing what I have heard called "instant histories", that is, histories that will surely be expanded as perspective is gained on a given event, but ones that accurately record how people saw things at the time.In "The Commanders" Woodword gives blow by blow accounts of two major foreign policy crisis' which ultimately led to military action: the removal of Manuel Noriega from Panama and Operation Desert Storm.The book is a quick and absorbing read, focusing almost entirely on the relationhip between the military (Pentagon) and civilian (White House) leaderships, and how that relationship operates during a crisis.

I assume that many who read this book now look to widen their view of some of the key players in the current administration, namely Cheney, Powell, and Wolfowitz (though in much lesser role here) and now is as good a time as any to do so.My impression of Powell, while widened, remains consistent.He comes off as more hesitant to use force than others, very conscious of organization, very thorough, and very aware that words have power.Cheney, however, doesn't at all resemble his sinister caricature.He, too, is careful and analytical, often concerned with Bush "ratcheting up the rhetoric way too much," and, at one point, even recomending that Bush slow down and "wait for the UN."Whereas these two figures are painted as rivals within the "W" administration, they pictured as allies in the first Bush Administration.

Our problems with diplomacy are also present, though they are not the focus of the book.The presumed reaction from Latin America contrained our ability to craft a war plan in Panama, even though it was "anticipated that privately most of these governments would send back-channel word that they were nuetral or even pleased" that Noriega was removed, and it was certain that the Panamanian people hated their leadership (92% were ultimately in favor of Noriega's removal, according to Woodword). Also, many instances show Arab regimes begging for protection, though not wanting their populations to know about the American presence.At one point, the exiled Emir of Kuwait even refuses to meet with members of the US Senate.And of course, "The French were a problem and required a major effort". We will continue to have problems if governments, particualrly democratic ones, refuse to reveal to their publics what they see as in their own national interest.Ahh, the trials of a superpower!

If you are looking for an account of the diplomatic manuevering, the assembling of the coalition, or the national political debate preceeding either conflict; or you want an account of Gulf I itself, this is not your book.Taken for what it is, however, "The Commanders" is an excellent. There are a number of times where statements from this book could fit perfectly into the latest foray in Iraq, but I'll let you hunt for those.

Lastly, funniest line in the book: "the secure internal electronic-mail system, called E-mail, provided a means of quick nearly instantaneous communications by computer with the boss."Who knew only a decade ago that you needed someone to explain what an E-mail is?

I rate this very highly.
I enjoyed this book and learned a great deal about what is right and what is wrong with the American political-military machine. It shocked me how much infighting went on, but at least the persons involved USUALLY put aside their egos for the sake of the common cause. I don't know how the author got all the fly-on-the-wall dialogue and facts, but it all seems credible and the author's record for reliability is pretty high, isn't it. This is an exceptional book and I will in time read it again.

Accessible Non-Fiction
I am an 11th grade history student who is very intellectual but has one problem- I cannot read nonfiction. However, when I read this book by Woodward for a class assignment, I found the book so readable that I was enthralled and even enjoyed reading through the engrossing decision-making and conversations. What's more, a reader feels like they get the real facts from the book and see the real reasons that decision makers act in certain ways; it is hardly a random action- these men take their jobs seriously and do it well. Cynicism I may have felt towards government has become more controlled and more muted after reading this book. I recommend it. ... Read more

Isbn: 0743234758
Sales Rank: 187677
Subjects:  1. History    2. History: American    3. Military - Persian Gulf War    4. Military Policy    5. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    6. Politics - Current Events    7. U.S. Foreign Relations    8. United States - 20th Century (1945 to 2000)    9. United States - General    10. History / Military / General   

All the President's Men
by Carl Bernstein, Bob Woodward
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Paperback (16 June, 1994)
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Reviews (66)

Journalism 101 - The Honors Course
There are good and bad kinds of bugging. The bad kind is when you eavesdrop on political opponents and violate laws and ethical codes. The good kind, as we discover in the opening pages of this classic of journalism as it happens, is when you are a reporter assigned a court case, and don't take no for an answer.

Bob Woodward is talking to a well-dressed lawyer who mysteriously popped into the courtroom to handle the defense of five equally well-dressed burglary suspects, caught the previous night at National Democratic Headquarters in the posh Watergate complex.

Why are you here? Woodward asks.

"I'm not going to talk to you." "I have nothing to say."

But the lawyer talks, a little, just enough to give Woodward some footing on what would turn out to be perhaps the biggest journalistic break in history, one that ruined a presidency and echoes to this day. Any national political scandal is almost automatically accorded the suffix "-gate," in memory of this.

People who think they know the story from seeing the movie really should read the book. The movie condensed a lot of the story, almost to the point of rendering it nonsensical. Watergate as a story really comes together from reading the book.

It's less the story of presidential misdeeds and more of how a couple of mismatched journalists stumbled their way to the scoop of the century, with hard work, stubborn persistance, and occasionally breaking the rules. People who criticize Woodward and partner Carl Bernstein for telling a self-serving story really haven't read the book. Like the part when, stalled for a new story after Nixon's overwhelming re-election, they start knocking on the doors of Grand Jury members legally precluded from discussing the Watergate case. Nothing is learned, and after the jurors complain to Judge John Sirica, the two brace themselves for a stern public lecture, maybe even formal charges.

But Sirica only notes the violations and leaves the reporters nameless. Woodward and Bernstein find themselves confronted by other members of the press asking questions. Woodward and Bernstein duck the questions, not without lingering irony. "They had dodged, misrepresented, suggested, and intimidated, even if they had not lied outright," the authors conclude, speaking of themselves in the third person.

Mostly, though, Woodward and Bernstein get it right. June 17, 1972 was not the most important date in history, though some Nixon haters will say otherwise. The burglary itself was small potatoes, indicative of a larger problem with illegalities permitted by Nixon and his senior staff, but it wasn't like Woodward and Bernstein destroyed the Fourth Reich.

They latched onto a story, kept digging, wouldn't take no for an answer, and made sure they had the facts. In the end they won a Pulitzer, and became heroes of the Fifth Estate. This book, warts and all, tells how, and offers worthy testimonial to all those who want to follow in their footsteps. No Journalism 101 course is complete without it.

Excellent Book, Excellent Reporters
Watergate, among the most infamous scandals in American history, shocked the nation.All the President's Men's investigative style puts the reading in the exciting position of doubt.We know what happens-that is a matter of history books and lectures.The real story, therefore, is how.How did an odd couple of two young reporters, with no experience working together, manage to crack an embarrassing case of executive fraud?The answer comes with the turn of a page, the book's journalistic adventure eliciting great interest.
The book's strength is in showing the sedulous effort of Woodward and Bernstein.Working hours on end, they managed to find reliable sources-including the mysterious Deep Throat.But even with an inside source, the work of getting through a political fortress is daunting.They had to go great distances to investigate and learn trust.Both Woodward and Bernstein started with the feeling that one was going to take off with the credit.They, however, soon realize that both have integrity.This book comes out strong in recognizing that honesty is a valuable policy.It didn't take misinformation to bring Watergate to the forefront of the news.Instead, Bernstein and Woodward went through the labor of verifying facts with other sources.
The book is also admirable in that it provides a model for what we should focus on.Deep Throat is respected by the literature, his identity still a mystery.He wasn't used as tool for the purpose of improving careers; Woodward shows special concern and expresses guilt when he believes that Deep Throat has gotten into danger on his account.We are also reminded that Nixon didn't need to approve and try to cover Watergate.His victory was a certainty.He was more worried about his interests political domination and compromised his integrity.
All the President's Men also brings a message of hope: we are a check and balance to government.Especially in a time of partisan domination of all branches of government, we need to investigate it.Two young reporters were able to challenge an administration that won the vote of the majority.While Nixon made speeches about the importance of law and order and the constitution, Bernstein and Woodward took the spirit of the law in their own hands and made a difference.
All the President's Men isn't just a great historical reference (although much can be gained in that regard); it's also narrative with an important lesson: dishonesty and deceit are defeated by honest hard-work.All the President's Men belongs on the shelf of any reader looking for an interesting, motivating thrill ride through the (in)famous mystery of the 1970's.

All the President's Men
All the President's Men is a well written and enjoyable book.Though their is a serious plot underlying the book, it is light-hearted and witty at times too.This book shows the ups and downs of taking on "the man" and everything that comes with it.Woodward and Berstein show what persistance and taking a few risks can do.They took a simple burglary story and discovered a whole different story behind it.Creating the story that has never been equalled since.Also, Woodward and Bernstein are the perfect foils for each other.They are so different that their differences play off of one another making the story more interesting and adding some wit.Without their competiveness with each other this story may never had broken.This story is like all about the American hero.The reporters found out something that needed to be brought to light and did just that, no matter what.They fought of doubters and liars and brought charges all the way up the line to the President of the Unided States. Theses are the kinds of people we look up to and this book did a good job of showing what the rode is like leading up to the top.Giving us a personal view of what it is like. ... Read more

Isbn: 0671894412
Sales Rank: 7682
Subjects:  1. 1944-    2. Bernstein, Carl,    3. Conspiracy & Scandal Investigations    4. History - General History    5. History: American    6. Political History    7. United States - 20th Century (1945 to 2000)    8. Watergate Affair, 1972-1974    9. History / General   

FINAL DAYS
by Carl Bernstein
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (16 June, 1994)
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Reviews (19)

A very detailed, chilling look at presidential politics
Who's driving the bus?

This was the first book I've read by these authors, and the biggest shock to me was something that a more experienced student of the presidency is probably well aware of: The people who surround the president of the United States have more influence on the American government than any other half dozen elected officials.

It's no surprise that this book is amazingly well-researched, with Woodward and Bernstein taking full advantage of a high level of access to White House personnel. The book tracks the final days of Nixon's presidency, as he flits from indignation to desperation to resignation, in every sense of the word.

Nixon himself is shown to be a sympathetic, if unsettlingly hapless, character whose complexity makes him impossible to read at times. As the situation builds to its inevitable conclusion, it's really fascinating to see one person after another come to the conclusion that the President of the United States must resign from his post. The last person to come to that conclusion seems to be the President himself, and his slowness to realize this is a very sad, tragic aspect of the story.

Clocking in at around 500 pages, this is not a quick read, especially when you consider that the book doesn't really go into any of the events that surround the limited scope of the final days. The level of detail is sometimes fascinating, but sometimes pretty boring. I know that there's a great deal of historical value to be had in publishing this detailed document, but I wish that there had been a shorter version for the laymen like me. I want that intimate look into the White House without needing to hear details about each and every meeting and conversation that took place there.

That being said, you don't have to be a Nixon buff or a political buff to enjoy this book. You just have to care about your citizenry to appreciate the sometimes-arbitrary, and very human, decisions that take place in the highest office of the land.

Why does nobody mention...
the fact that Woodward was a briefer to Alexander Haig when Woodward was serving in the Navy. Tons of documents have come out disproving the allegations of Bernstein and Woodward in All the President's Men and Final Days. The authors downplay the relationship between Haig and Woodward dramatically, hiding the fact that Haig was Deep Throat. Look at this logically: why would a high up guy in the executive branch named "Deep Throat" come out of nowhere to reveal what he knew about Watergate? Deep Throat MUST have had a previous relationship with Woodward, and the only man with a connection to Woodward who knew so much about Watergate was Alexander Haig. Why isn't this mentioned in ANY of the Woodward/Bernstein books?

yes, but how?
Quite a good book all in all as a gripping insider's look into the clandestine goings on of the Nixon presidency in reaction to the watergate scandal. However if you're a Nixon fan, you may come away from it hating him, as the authors tend to portray him as incapable, noting that he can't even open medicine bottles without assistance.As noted, they interviewed nearly 400 people before writing this book.However they could not have known everything that was truely said. Therefore, don't take the book as gospel truth. Nixon was just misunderstood. ... Read more

Isbn: 0671894404
Sales Rank: 58827
Subjects:  1. (Richard Milhous),    2. 1913-    3. General    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Impeachment    8. Nixon, Richard M.    9. Nixon, Richard Milhous,    10. President U.S    11. Resignation from office    12. United States - 20th Century    13. United States - 20th Century (1945 to 2000)    14. History / General   

Maestro : Greenspan's Fed and the American Boom
by Bob Woodward
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (23 October, 2001)
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Editorial Review

Bob Woodward called his biography of Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan Maestro for two reasons. First, Greenspan is a musician. He started out as a Julliard-trained jazz sax man. "He wasn't a good improviser," Woodward reports. And while the other guys got stoned all night, Greenspan "read economics and business books and eventually became the band's bookkeeper." He also cultivated powerful pals, like Ayn Rand, whose coterie dubbed the dour young man "The Undertaker."

More profoundly, Greenspan is a maestro, a conductor, exquisitely attuned to every instrument in the political and economic orchestra. He rules by consensus, but with a firm hand and notoriously inscrutable words. Marvelously, Woodward relates that Greenspan had to propose twice to his wife, the violinist-turned-TV news star Andrea Mitchell, before she understood: "His verbal obscurity and caution were so ingrained that Mitchell didn't even know that he had asked her to marry him." Woodward gives us the inside story of what Greenspan really thinks and how he outmaneuvered the most ruthless politicians on earth in some of the hairiest times imaginable, from the 1987 stock market crash to the 1994-95 Mexican crisis to the stomach-churning turn of the century. It turns out that for all his awesome knowledge of monetary minutiae, the Fed chief literally relies on "a pain in the pit of my stomach" to make decisions. "At times, he found his body sensed danger before his head," writes Woodward. The Fed chief also adapts Einstein's technique to economics, hunting for discrepancies as keys to deeper theories. Einstein made breakthroughs out of bent light; Greenspan deduced productivity gains that government statisticians had overlooked for years. (The gains appeared when Greenspan made the statisticians calculate productivity by business sector, the way it's done in the real world.)

Woodward's prose is cool and rational, not exuberant. But if you're into economics and politics, you'll find a rich gossip trove here. Who knew Reagan had a draft of a presidential order to shut down Wall Street trading at hand in 1987? Scary! Reading Maestro is better than sitting with Greenspan in his famous tub as he charts your future--it's like being right there inside his head. --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Reviews (76)

Maestro, but Not Of Music.
The Federal Reserve Board makes decisions which affect all Americans.The committee meets eight times a year to determine short-term interest rates and economic well-being of us all, poor and rich alike.

In 1974, Alan Greenspan was chairman of then-President Ford's Council of Economic Advisors.After the stock market crash in 1987, he succeeded Paul Volcker during Reagan's term.George Bush said, "I reappointed him in 1991 and he disappointed me."He felt that it had cost him the reelection because economic recovery wasn't visible to the public.

The Greenspan years were 1987-2000.Each president's Treasury Secretary is a member of the committee of seven.And yet, in the photo shown, there were 24 present.

Sometimes subtle, sometimes blunt, reluctant, perplexed, nervous or calm, skeptical, dispassionate, enigmatic (adjectives to describe Greenspan), he was always struggling, often alone.In 1997, he married Andrea Mitchell, a NBC correspondent.He became the symbol of American economic reeminence.

In the new book, GREED, there is a photo of the drawing of 'The Greenspan Buddha) which is most irreverent.

The Federal Reserve is located in a magnificent marble structure on Constitution Avenue, built in 1930s, no doubt from Knoxville, Tennessee, marble as were so many of the D.C. federal buildings, including the Capitol.

Bob Woodward and his fellow reporter, Carl Bernstein, of the Washington Post exposed Watergate and caused the demise of President Nixon in 1974.That break-through book was called ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN and was made into a movie.In 1979, he and Scott Armstrong wrote THE BRETHREN (about the Supreme Court).

Typical Woodward
I decided to pick this book up after reading "Secrets of the Temple," hoping that it would serve as a sort of extended epilogue to that wonderful book by William Grieder on Paul Volker, Greenspan's predecessor at the Fed.However, I wasn't expecting much from Woodward - and unfortunately I wasn't disappointed.

The book briefly chronicles Greenspan's life and offers some sharp apercus on his celebrated tenure as Federal Reserve Chairman over the past decade-and-a-half.The book provides about as much detail and insight as a well-written newspaper or journal series and can easily be read in a day or two.

If you know little about the Federal Reserve and central banking in general, perhaps this book will be informative or a least serve as a primer for more serious reading.Otherwise, I don't see any reason to bother with this one...

Management of Risk Outside An Entrepreneurs' Control
Venture backed companies are always "at risk" until they reach sufficient cash flows to fund their growth. Risks outside the control of a venture's management team include the public equity and debt markets. Even with great potential and execution, a company's fortunes can be dealt a death blow by what is going on in these markets.

The public equity market is critical in determining the valuation of a privately held company. One looks to the equity market for comparable public companies (further along in their development) for establishing valuation. If the company category is out of favor or declining or if the "window" for a public offering is closed, valuations are reduced and capital can be very difficult to raise. Likewise, if valuations are high and the "window" is open, valuations are higher and money is easier to get. I was forced in my role as a CEO to look at the events impacting the market in an attempt to 'time' financings. As most will tell you, this is an impossible task.

As one who managed a start-up from concept to commercialization, raising money from both private and public investors, I found the Maestro to be a fascinating book. I lived ('survived' may be a better choice) through many of the ups and downs of the public market that are detailed in this book. When Greenspan and others were on the edge of the abyss, my company was there as well!

It was instructive to learn about how Greenspan worked behind the scenes to set policy in motion to correct the economy and the public markets. His actions had a direct influence on the course, not only of mine, but of all development stage companies - impacting both positively and negatively the greatest source of US job growth over the last several decades.

Woodward does a very good job articulating the tension that existed when disaster struck and the leadership Greenspan and Company provided in working to a positive result. An unexpected learning for me was the positive and courageous role President Bill Clinton filled in numerous 'against the grain' decisions. I came away with a more positive view of his presidency.

Those who are dependent on public markets and those who want to understand the management of macro-economics in today's world will find this a good and instructive read.




... Read more

Isbn: 0743205626
Subjects:  1. 1926-    2. 20th century    3. Banks & Banking    4. Board of Governors of the Fede    5. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.)    6. Business    7. Business & Economics    8. Business/Economics    9. Economic Conditions    10. Economics - General    11. Government - U.S. Government    12. Greenspan, Alan,    13. History    14. Monetary policy    15. Money & Monetary Policy    16. Politics - Current Events    17. United States    18. Greenspan, Alan   

Shadow : Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate
by Bob Woodward
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (06 June, 2000)
list price: $16.00 -- our price: $10.88
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

There are two ways to look at this bestseller by Watergate scoopmeister Woodward. First, it's an original take on Clinton's sex scandal, framing it as the latest consequence of Nixon's assault on the U.S. political system. Woodward sketches each president's tussles with scandal managing after Watergate permanently turned up the press heat on the White House. Ford lies about a meeting concerning a potential deal to pardon Nixon, but remains convinced he did nothing wrong. Carter's pious advocacy of truth telling backfires when he's confronted with conundrums involving his pal Bert Lance, the fallout from CIA-provided hookers, and cash for King Hussein. Reagan's men try to make him understand the lies and shocking wrongness of the Iran-Contra debacle, but he simply, stubbornly doesn't get it. And by the time prosecutors interview Reagan in 1992, he's so ill he can't remember his own oldest friends and advisers.

All provocative stuff, some of it new. But most readers will flip to the book's second half, a fly-on-the-wall account of the backroom mud-wrestling in both the Clinton and Starr camps in the Monicagate morass. It's a trove of racy facts (mostly from anonymous sources). We read that Clinton called Nixon a "war criminal," yet tried to minimize Watergate in his Nixon eulogy, that he disgusted Ford and Jack Nicklaus by cheating while golfing with them, and that he kept falsely assuring aides, "I'm retired! [as an adulterer]." We hear Hillary's alleged words of agony and see the pain on Bill's face after Chelsea reads The Starr Report on the Internet. Starr comes off like RoboCop without the human side. Woodward calls him "pathetic and unwise" in rejecting his staff's urgent demand not to send the lurid details of presidential sex to Congress. "I love the narrative!" Starr weirdly exulted, according to Woodward's new Deep Throat (or Throats). Since Monica was interrogated at Starr's mother-in-law's apartment, which he called "Grandma's place," ethics expert Sam Dash suggested they call it "Operation Red Riding Hood." What sharp teeth everyone in this book has!

To tell the truth, Woodward doesn't really knit together 25 years' worth of scandals into a single strong narrative. But the Clinton part is the closest thing yet to what we all crave: a tale of Monicagate with some of the flavor of a John Grisham thriller. --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Reviews (109)

The effect the Independent Counsel had on the Presidency
I think this is a pretty good book on the Presidency of the United States since Watergate.Of course, Mr. Woodward played a significant role in reporting Watergate and has written extensively about the Presidency since then.

This book examines the various difficulties and scandals the Presidents since Nixon have had and the shadow the legacy of Watergate fell on those events and affected how they were handled and perceived.The most significant event in the way these things played out was the creation of the Independent Counsel.While I was never wild about the Independent Counsels before I read this book, I have come to the conclusion that it was an awful idea and an abuse of our Constitution.While the office was designed to not be accountable to the President to afford a credible ability to investigate the Executive Branch, it has no reasonable boundaries or limits and is not subject to any of the checks or balances that enable our government to function as reasonably as it does.

Freed from any limits of time, budget, or public accountability it is not surprising that many, but not all, of these Independent Counsels end up pursuing all kinds of things apart from what they were originally charged to pursue.My chief conclusion from reading this book is that this was a bad law with worse execution and should never be revived.Good riddance!

Half of the book is devoted to the Clinton scandals.The other large section is Iran-Contra.How you perceive Woodward's balance and objectivity will be colored by your personal politics.I have to admit that I found my own reading of the book varied at different points because of my own view of these scandals and whether or not I agreed with Woodward or felt that his own political biases were creeping in (which is impossible to avoid).But all-in-all there is a lot of good reporting here and is written in way that is easy to read.There are lots of endnotes to document the sources for the various statements, meetings, and conclusions drawn.

I recommend the book highly.

Interesting, disturbing look at the presidency
Heard the taped version of SHADOW: FIVE PRESIDENTS
AND THE LEGACY OF WATERGATE by Bob Woodward . . . it
is a very interesting, as well as disturbing, look at what it takes to be president in this country.

Because of Watergate, the press no longer takes a "hands off"
approach to what is being done in the White House . . . consequently, Woodward points out that all presidents--from Nixon through Clinton--seem to have had lapses in judgment, during which they either did not tell the truth or had others help cover it up for them.

I got a fresh perspective on Ford's pardon of Nixon, and though
I had thought I had known a lot about the Monicagate morass,
I now know even more (including a lot of dirt not uncovered
elsewhere).

Fortunately, Woodward is only heard at the beginning and
the end . . . he does not have a great speaking voice, that's
for sure . . . the rest was narrated by James Naughton . . . his
impressive baritone voice made for easy listening . . . moreover, he actually sounds like many of the characters he portrays, such as James Carville, Ronald Raegan and Jimmy Carter.

An important bridging of common sense psychology & politics
The first line in Micahel Lind's deeply provocative treatise on the modern American conservative movement UP FROM CONSERVATISM kicks you in the stomach, regardless of your political beliefs:"American Conservatism is dead." Like the political Nietzsche he is, Bob Woodward, in SHADOW: FIVE PRESIDENTS AND THE LEGACY OF WATERGATE, finishes that statement in this 500-plus page tome by saying, essentially, "...and Nixon has killed it."

None other than Gore Vidal has nicknamed America the *United States of Amnesia* so often that the trueness of it stops it from being funny. Yet any psychologist worth their salt will tell you the many reasons why memory, in a person or culture, is often the first thing to be EXORCISED. It isn't always something that leaves willingly. Bob Woodward brings common sense psychology--memory--back into the discussion of what has happened to the presidency, and America's relationship to it, since the quasi-psychotic Nixon disgraced it in the early 1970's. He reveals this with SHADOW, not by calling out and judging the Nixonians from the perspective of opinion, but via showing and analysing actual history. The degree to which the entire concept and institution of the American Presidency has been almost irrevocably debilitated by Watergate is the subject of this book, and it cannot be ignored in our time after reading it. In revealing the new cynically invasive psychic architecture of American politics, built on the destroyed remnants of the trusted Tao of FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, LBJ and Kennedy, he offers a glimpse of what Watergate symbolized about Nixon's soul. And what that tortured soul has meant for American culture today, in the 21st century.

Doing this not only puts Monica Lewinsky into a less mythological perspective. It also puts all of the machinations that now go into politicking for your right to actually BE President long after you have been elected--Republican or Democrat--into a new, important, and ultimately saddening perspective. (The degree to which her very existence in the public mind is shown to be part of a desire of Clinton's powerful enemies to erase Nixon's legacy from the annals of history with the impeachment of a Democratic President is brilliant. That omen is ironically overshadowed, however, by the way he explains the uncontrollable political Frankenstein that was the Office of Independent Counsel. This evil genie, with its granted near absolute power, is what Clinton let out of the bottle; a bottle that, after Watergate, was thought never to be opened again. Without it, the reincarnation of the Salem witch trials with Kenneth Starr and the pornography of his reports would never have occurred.)

I happened to have picked up this book to read after reading Conason and Lyons' THE HUNTING OF THE PRESIDENT--something which truly must be read in tandem with this if one is to really understand the social forces that also took center stage in the Clinton drama, despite their desire to still remain hidden. As such I found the Clinton chapters of SHADOW a rehash of previously digested material. SHADOW nonetheless, with its detailed meticulous analyses of the weaknesses and foibles of Ford, Carter, Regan, Bush and Clinton, and how these weaknesses became debilitating through the sins of their Watergate predecessor Nixon, cuts to the quick of our social consciousness today.

It is so important, it seems, for the American public not to have a historical perspective on anything that happens in politics. As if the pretense that all of it has no precedence somehow makes it more real or important--or worse, justifies an often hypocritically manufactured moral outrage. (I'll never forget the rage Clinton-haters would express at the mere mentioning of Sally Hemmings [Thomas Jefferson's slave mistress], Judith Exner [one of Kennedy's mistresses] or the broken first marriages of Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich, seemingly defending their right to believe Bill and Monica had ushered in the seventh sign of the Book of Revelations with their original sin.) Woodward's SHADOW destroys any validity that way of thinking had, and redefines the desire to be willfully politically/historically ignorant (as if ignorance buys someone moral virtue) as anything but sane. The book has a way of revalidating the entire concept and discipline of psychology, and its ability to explain the source of today's events, as it gives new strength to the battle weary line of Santayana: "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

Anyone interested in a deeper perspective on the Clinton presidency, the presidency of both Bushes, and modern American culture would highly benefit from this powerful trinity: Michael Lind's UP FROM CONSERVATISM, Conason and Lyons' THE HUNTING OF THE PRESIDENT, and this book. Woodward's SHADOW is extraordinarily well written, tremendously informative, and, even with its inevitable biases both in favor of journalism as it is presently practiced (Consaon and Lyons are fortunately not so kind--particularly to the Washington Post) and against the possibility of a president after Nixon inspiring the kind of faith and hope that those like FDR and Kennedy did (though he is almost right, Conason, Lyons and Lind will explain clearly why it could have happened but would not be allowed in Clinton's case), Woodward's masterful writing and storytelling skills hide a multitude of sins. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Isbn: 0684852632
Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Conspiracy & Scandal Investigations    3. History    4. History: American    5. Political History    6. Politics - Current Events    7. Presidents    8. United States    9. United States - 20th Century (1945 to 2000)    10. Watergate Affair, 1972-1974    11. World - General    12. Current Events / Political   

The AGENDA: INSIDE THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE
by Bob Woodward
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 April, 1995)
list price: $6.99
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Editorial Review

A no-holds-barred look inside the Clinton White House during the first one hundred days of his presidency.What emerges is a portrait of a man hampered by his struggle to do the right thing. Despite the defeat of the health care initiative and the bungling first steps of a naive administration, Woodward uncovers the essential decency of the man from Hope. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

historical, but reads like throwaway journalism
For a book that will certainly serve as a primary source for presidential historians because of its insider reporting, this book is extremely disappointing and indeed superficial.You get a kind of blow by blow report of Clinton's tumultuous first year in the White House with virtually no analysis and context, but instead just raw description.I was appalled at how much trash was in it.

The one nugget I took away was that in that first year, Clinton spent too much time chatting with aides due to his "lack of discipline" and enjoyment of exercising his mind with the extraordinary grasp he had of policy.But there is no exploration of his character, and indeed ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about the details of the policies he was attempting to advance.As such, this book is like so much election journalism of today:covering the horse race but not the issues.

Not recommended, except for academics doing deep research.

The Agenda captures the essence
The Agenda written by Bob Woodward, pertains to Bill Clinton's first year in office. It's mostly about the battle and struggle for the new (at the time) president to get his budget and economic recovery package passed through Congress. It's amazing, but I never realized how much of a tough job it is to be president.

Shortly after winning the presidency in November of 1992 over incumbent President George Bush Clinton soon had to both come to grips and realize that his work was cut out a lot more for him, than he, or his campaign staff could've ever realized. Ultimately, he had to accept the fact that he would have to do some drastic compromising from his campaign promises. Clinton of course campaigned to be a "New Democrat" who would restore the economy to the forgotten middle-class and overturn the Reagan-Era greed of the 1980s, by investing in jobs, education, and health insurance reform. After meeting with Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan, he soon realized that it wouldn't be so easy. As it would turn out, taking bold action to reduce the overwhelmingnational deficit would become the top-notch priority of his economic recovery plan, and would hog up most of his budget. Therefore his beloved domestic investment agenda would have to be sacrificed. Including his promised tax-cut for the middle-class.

So even before, let alone after Clinton took the oath of office, Clinton had his work cut out for him. He had to realize
early that his approval ratings would sink miserably and there would be disenchantment among his strongest supporters, let alone the American people. In many ways, two camps developed in his White House. There were the fiscal conservatives such as Robert Rubin, Leon Panetta, David Gergan. Then there were those from his campaign staff who wanted him to continue with his campaign pledges of investment such as Paul Begala, George Stephanapolis, and James Carville.

Greenspan's influence over the new president was amazing. Although it was from a neutral point of view, Greenspan
made Clinton understand how it was crucial that Clinton tackle the deficit. Or else long-term interest rates would never come down and the economy would never take off. Without the economy taking off, no way would Clinton ever be able to get back to doing the things that he was elected to do, let alone re-elected in 1996. Clinton had to come to accept that he would have to sacrifice many things, among them, his political popularity, but know that the long term effects would pay off dividends for both him politically, and for the US economy.

Fortunately for him, it did apparently work out for the best, and he did (with the extreme help of a Republican Congress
balance the federal budget in 1997) reduce the deficit and gave us a budget surplus. What should also be strongly considered is that he did this, at the behest of cutting the DOD and the intelligence community, which contributes to events such as September 11th, 2001.

What is also amazing about this book, is that Woodward gives you a fly-on-the-wall view of the battle to pass this
budget through both the House and the Senate. It also gives you the word for word account of a bitter phone conversation between Clinton and Nebraska Democratic Senator Bob Kerry, in which Clinton tells Kerry to go f--- himself, when Kerry refuses to vote for his budget, which turned out to be the crucial vote.

As it would turn out, Kerry would vote for it, making it a tie. Gore then gave the over the top vote and the budget was
passed.

This book was very, very good, and that is why I was able to go through it so quickly.

-Nicholas J. Vertucci

Big Fan
Ok, I admit it; I am a big fan of Woodward.I will read everything he puts out and probably enjoy it.With that being said here is another book of his that I will profess to really enjoying.For my money he is the best political writer in the business today.He has so many contacts that many times in reading the book you could swear he has the White House bugged.This book follows the Clinton team through the first two years that they are in office.You get all the standard Woodward items with the book, great details, wonderful he said - she said conversations that really make you feel like a fly on the wall, an easy to follow and well laid out book.

I have read the book All Too Human that George Stephanopoulos wrote and in the book he describes the interviewing technique of Woodward, he stated that Woodward has a great style of getting you comfortable with him and then before you know it you are spilling all the secrets.What was also interesting is that Stephanopoulos wrote that Woodward audio tapes all of his interviews so that leads me to believe that the information in his books has not gone through a reporter taking notes loss of detail.One last bit of info is the Stephanopoulos said that once this book came out the Clinton's got so mad at George for all of the info he told Woodward that they basically shut him out for a year.That must mean Woodward got it right.

A great follow up to this book is the Elizabeth Drew book "Showdown: The Struggle between the Gingrich Congress and the Clinton White House", it picks up where The Agenda leaves off.This is an interesting book that I really enjoyed.IF you like Woodward you will like this book, if you are interested in the first two years of the Clinton presidency then this is also a good source of information. ... Read more

Isbn: 0671666843
Subjects:  1. 1946-    2. 1993-2001    3. Clinton, Bill,    4. Friends and associates    5. Government - U.S. Government    6. Politics - Current Events    7. Politics and government    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Presidents    10. Staff    11. United States    12. Clinton, Bill    13. Literary Criticism & Collections / General   

The Brethren: Inside the Supreme Court
by Bob Woodward, Scott Armstrong
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 July, 1996)
list price: $7.99
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Reviews (25)

Stands the Test of Time
I learned more of the hows and whys of the Supreme Court from Bob Woodward's "The Brethren" than I did in my three years of law school. In addition to being an excellent and surprisingly interesting breakdown of the procedure and function of the high court, the book (which reads like a novel) paints a fascinating picture of the Burger Court and the contemporary influences thereon. Woodward gives background history and profiles of each justice on the court, how they were picked (and by whom they were nominated, as well as why they were nominated and others who nearly took their chair). Woodward also dissects the major decisions that faced the court (namely the case law developed from Brown v. Board of Education school desegregation and the abortion cases including and brought on by Roe v. Wade). Woodward explains the policy and personal influences affecting the justices and their decisions of the cases and the volatile and emotional toll taken during the writing of the opinions.

I anticipated that this would be one of those books that I "should" read, and would appreciate having read once I was finished. I was surprised when, not 20 pages in, I had a hard time ever putting it down until I finished.

A Snapshot of the Burger Court
The 'Introduction' says the Supreme Court is the highest court and final forum. It operates in absolute secrecy, only revealing its judgments in formal written opinions. Their decision making has been kept secret from the people who are affected. This book tells about the inner workings of the Burger Court from 1969 to 1976. The Supreme Court can reinterpret laws, the Constitution, and prior cases. Numerous confidential sources provided information. It tells how 'LIFE' magazine was used to discredit Abe Fortasto force his resignation (pp.18-19). Page 21 gives the political reasons for Burger's selection. Page 24 suggests the fix was in: the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously recommended Burger. The next seven chapters cover the years 1969 to 1975; each Supreme Court term coves one year from October to June or early July.

Do you know that newspapers manipulate the news (p.31)? [You can see this if your area has more than one newspaper.] One of Burger's first actions was against the rigorous code of ethics proposed for federal judges by Earl Warren (p.32). Next he restricted the normal intercommunication between the law clerks (pp.34-35). Was Burger "petty, unpleasant, and dishonest" (p.71)? Page 85 tells how Burger tried to change the rules to benefit a monopoly. This was a violation of judicial restraint and strict constructionism! Burger then backed down from Douglas' proposed dissent. While the emphasis is on Warren Earl Burger, the personalities and characters of the other Judges are displayed. Many cases were undecided because the Court was deadlocked 4 to 4. Blackmun would provide the deciding vote on these and future cases. This ended Burger's first term as Chief Justice. This book seems slow-paced in covering many details about the Justices. After 25 years, this then important story has faded into the background of history. But its important to understand that the Justices are politicians who do not need popular approval. This book does not go into much detail as to why a specific judge was picked.

The "Constitutional Journal" by Jeffrey St. John was written as a journalistic summary of the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Article III Section 1 defined the Court system. They left further changes to Congress. There is nothing in Section 1 that mandates life-tenure, except by default. Congress could specify a term for a fixed number of years, or an age limit. There are examples from history for an age limit. There were six Justices in Washington's era, seven for Jefferson, and nine for Jackson. About one Justice for every two states. If this example was followed we could have had twenty-one Justices by FDR's era. This could allow more work to be done more quickly.

Still the best book to read to understand the Supreme Court
This is still a must-read for people seriously interested in the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, some of my fellow reviewers had to read this for class or were not interested in the topic, which is really too bad, but these individuals should not be the last word on the issue. I would also like to respond to some of the more outrageous comments from other reviewers:

"It is not an easy reading."


To those who do not have trouble reading the newspaper, it will be extremely easy reading. In fact, it is written in such a clear style, with short, to-the-point sentences, as to be among the easiest books I have ever read.


"The secretive world of the court would be difficult for any journalist to penetrate, and here Woodward and his cohort Armstrong prove themselves not to be up to the task."


Whoever wrote this obviously had not come of age when the book was published. The publication of "The Brethren" ranks as probably the most scandalous moment in the history of the Supreme Court, because no one to that date had even come close to gaining the insider access that Woodward and Armstrong did-- and no journalist has gotten this close to the Court since. This is an utterly glib and untrue comment. As close as is humanly possible, Woodward and Armstrong penetrated the Court.

"'The Brethren' is, more than any book I've ever read, a product of its times. It reflects the anti-war, anti-establishment, anti-Nixon, pro-activist, and downright revolutionary times of the early 1970s. If you choose to read "The Brethren," you should understand that it takes positions as being either right or wrong. And with political powder kegs (abortion, busing, the Watergate tapes, the death penalty, etc.), that is an intellectually risky proposition."

Funny, because when I read it I had the exact opposite reaction-- I was upset by the excesses of that period. However, I should note that "The Brethren"'s presentation of the issues is absolutely non-judgmental. It notes with honesty what each justice's view was, in such simple language that it often sounds reductionist. People who have read Woodward's other books know that he is not a partisan hack.

Again, people who are really interested in the Supreme Court should definitely hunt this down. ... Read more

Isbn: 0380521830
Sales Rank: 331250
Subjects:  1. Civil Procedure    2. General    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: American    6. Legal System    7. Supreme Court    8. U.S.    9. United States - 20th Century    10. United States.   

Veil: The Secret Wars of the CIA 1981-1987
by Bob Woodward
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 October, 1987)
list price: $3.98
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Reviews (6)

What Casey was thinking
This book presents the history of the CIA during William Casey's tenure, from 1981 to 1987.Woodward focused the book primarily on William Casey himself.The book details not only the various operations that the CIA was involved in during the 1980s, but also Casey's motivations for his leadership decisions.The CIA operations described in the book include everything from the mundane details of placing bugs in the offices of foreign leaders to the Iran-Contra affair.

Woodward gathered material from a variety of sources when writing this book.One of his primary sources was Casey himself.Woodward interviewed Casey on numerous occasions, and Casey was aware that Woodward was compiling material for a book about his leadership of the CIA.Casey was surprisingly forthcoming about his involvement in many covert operations.He must have felt confident that Woodward would not betray his trust and expose any material prematurely.What is odd is that Woodward discusses not only Casey's professional life, but also his personal life, and includes comments about such things as peanuts getting caught in Casey's dentures that seem mean-spirited rather than relevant for the story.Nevertheless, the historical documentation of Casey's leadership and CIA activities in the 1980s makes the book well worth reading.

A contemporary account of still important issues
While this book may be a little old now, having been written prior to the first George Bush's Presidency, there are still insights into government operations as well as tidbits that are relevant today.Veil follows the tenure of the Director of the CIA Bob Casey.It begins with Reagan's election and ends with Casey's death.The book is written mostly from firsthand interviews (Casey wanted some of what he was saying to be put directly in the book).

During the course of the book readers will see names like Ariel Sharon appear (no Osama is never mentioned).For those interested in wondering how some of today's issues came into being you will see a glimpse herein.

There are, however, many operations that are discussed and at one point it is easy to lose track of which one is being discussed.Furthermore, for those readers who did not live through the time period or who were too young to care then, some of the names and events will seem very unfamiliar.

This is indeed a book full of Woodward's writing style with many events two decades old.That does not mean, however, that it doesn't offer pertinent insight .

Superficial, but readable
Anyone interested in the Iran-Contra issue should have read this book.But the title, is a bit misleading.Woodward focuses too much on the Iran-Contra issue (and superficially at that) to the detriment of other CIA and DoD paramilitary/covert activities during the era of the 80s.
Furthermore, the way Woodward wove himself into the storyline would lead one to believe that he was a key character in the whole Casey-era saga.Fortunately, this is hardly the case.
Nevertheless, the book is a good review of the key players at the macro-level who were creating policy.Of note, the interaction between Goldwater and Casey is enlightening.
If you really want to get to the meat of CIA/DoD secret activities during this era, Steve Emerson's "Secret Warriors" will provide far more insight into the covert activities of the 80s. ... Read more

Isbn: 0671601172
Sales Rank: 302165
Subjects:  1. Espionage    2. Military    3. Military - Intelligence/Espionage    4. Sale Adult - History - General History   

The Choice
by Bob Woodward
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (11 June, 1997)
list price: $15.00
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Editorial Review

This latest offering of novelistic political reporting from Washington Post bigfoot Bob Woodward, a behind-the-scenes look at the Clinton and Dole campaigns, from the 1994 congressional elections to the final days of the '96 White House race, is just out in paperback. There's updated reporting and a new afterword, in which Woodward focuses on how Clinton won, and draws a portrait of Dole in defeat.This is the book that broke the story that Hillary communed with Eleanor Roosevelt. Sort of--it was actually a brainstorming exercise, not a seance, and besides, Hillary copped to it in a speech long before the book came out.Interestingly, according to Woodward it's a lot harder for Elizabeth Dole to talk to her husband--she has to get on his appointment calendar first. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Inside a Prediential Election
Bob Woodward did a great job of giving us a view of what the candidates and their families have to go through during the political process of getting elected. All the decisions that must be made. From whether or not to even run. When to announce, who to hire on staff, raising fuds and advertising. Woodward had direct contact and interviews with all the candidates excpet Clinton. Where he had to rely on the President's staff and friends.

The book covers all the candidates that try for the nomination, including those that would have been considered but chose not to run. A very interesting insight into the process of running for our most powerful elected office. The book eventually comes down to the campign between Dole and Clinton.

Woodward is known for being very accurate and tapes all his interviews. This is the first book of his that I have read. And I will now try to pick up and read the Agenda next.

Plan Of Attack
I recently finished, "Plan of Attack" by Woodward... I couldn't put it down!! He turned Mr. Bush, Powell, Rice and all others into real people with real feelings.I felt as if I were right there and I can still feel the pulse of all of Mr Bush and his cabinet as they worried over and worked with all players forthe Iraq war.Great Book!!!!!!

The Choice shows the nitty-gritty of a Presidential Campaign
The Choice, written from November of 1994-early summer of 1996, is all about the decision making, staffs, fund-raising, advertisements, and financial tumbles of a presidential campaign. Woodward capture the essence of two campaigns and strategies. The two being, President Clinton, and Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole.

For the coverage of President Bill Clinton, it is very fascinating! In many ways this book follows up where Woodward leaves off with The Agenda. Only in the portrayal of Clinton here is of a President who has regained not only his confidence, but ultimately control of his White House and presidency. The Clinton White House of the first two year of the administration, as mostly everyone knows, was a disaster in the works. The Clinton White House of the last two years of the first term (1995-96), was much more controlled and disciplined. In The Choice, we see the emergence of political guru Dick Morris make his presence felt and heard through the Clinton camp. You get an illustration of how other Clinton staff and advisors such as White House Chief of Staff Leon Pannetta, George Stephanopolus, and Press Secretary Mike McCurry have their head-on collisions with Morris and his triangulation strategy, of polling the issues
most important to the American people and advising Clinton to follow that path to reelection. Which he ultimately did.

In The Choice, we also learn of a new key figure that will make his rise in the Democratic political process fundraising guru and mastermind Terry McAullif (now chairman of the DNC, handpicked by Clinton right before he left office). You see the mass fundraising effort led by McAullif who raised unprecedented amounts of cash for both the DNC, as well as the Clinton-Gore 1996 reelection bid. The money that was used to fund the now infamous Medicare-Scare television adds that dominated key voting districts and states. The adds that would turn the tide for Clinton, stopping the roaring tide that was giving the Republicans and the "Contract with America" such momentum throughout 1994-95, and going into the election year of 1996. The Medicare adds that would scare seniors into thinking that Gingrich and Dole were going to eliminate Medicare, Medicaid, social security. Woodward gives in his final analysis, that these adds are what would give the Clinton his reelection.

The Choice also tells the story of the rough and tumble of making the decision and running of a presidential campaign. The enormous amounts of key staff people, ect. The Choice, gives you the view of the campaign of the Republican front-runner, then Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole. All I could really say to this, is I now know, more than ever, on why I felt even then (in 1996) that the nominating of Bob Dole by the Republicans in attempt to bring down Bill Clinton, was a complete debacle. We get an image of a candidate who was a good, honest, man, but whom was too wishy-washy on the issues, and his past voting record throughout his congressional career. It shows how Dole
was a horrible speaker, and how disarray his campaign and staff was. Dole would have on so many occasions, be in the position of having to make an important stump speech, and his speechwriters wouldn't be giving him the material until moments before he was to take the podium. It also waists no time explaining on how Dole wasn't exactly the best communicator in the world either.But ultimately, Woodward's conclusion, which is no surprise the same conclusion of this reviewer, as well as most of America, that Dole just didn't have a message for what he wanted to do and more importantly, why he wanted to be President. The age factor didn't help either.

The Choice also covers many other interesting people and names that dominated the political scene and captured the minds and imaginations of most politicos throughout this era. As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, the book also gives you an idea of the decision to run for President, or not. Through this, we hear of many other people's decision and weighing in on whether to run, or not. We go through California governor Pete Wilson, Tennessee Senator Lemar Alexander, former Vice President Dan Quayle, Texas Senator Phil Gramm. The spoilers also are mentioned in this book with no punches held, such as right-wing zealot Pat Buchannan, Ross Perot, and Steve Forbs. You also learn of, why the most sought after candidate, decided not to run. That possible candidate is non other than the former Chairman of the JCS, Colin Powell.

Other's mentioned were Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and his childish charades and temper tantrums, which helped add to his unpopularity and eventual demise. We also get a fly-on-the-wallview of the infamous budget battle between the Clinton White House and the congressional GOP of 1995, and then the government shutdown. Also included is Clinton's desperate dealing to get a peace accord in Bosnia. Bob Dole's decision to sacrifice his Senate seat and status of Majority Leadership, for his campaign. So The Choice, goes beyond just the campaign.

For me, what I came away with from this book more than anything else, was the way Bill Clinton grew-up so the speak, and into the Presidency. Now, I'm obviously not referring to his personal conduct, but as a leader, and the power that was within his grasp. The power that the office of the American Presidency gives to anyone to potentially use who occupies the Oval Office. It also gave me a different view of the man!!! Normally, and in the past I have always viewed Clinton like many of his campaign staffers, and of his generation. A person who is arrogant and unappreciative of the old and those past who have paid their dues. In The Choice, Woodward gives you a vision of a man who often at times would tear into his staff members, for taking cheap shots at people such as Newt Gingrich. For instance, Clinton ripped into Mike McCurry once for taking a pot shot at Speaker Gingrich in a White House press briefing. So it portrayed
a side of the man, that I never knew, or thought possibly existed.

The portion that I enjoyed the most, was how behind the scenes both Clinton and Dole (even throughout the campaign of 1996) had a very cordial relationship, and tremendous respect for one another. At one point, Clinton.....after a major budget meeting in the Cabinet Room, pulled Dole aside and proposed that they find a solution on how to reform welfare, under the table, no politics involved. Another fascinating tale, was when Clinton stunned people like George Stephanopolus and others in his close inner-circle, on why he really wanted Bob Dole to win the Republican Nomination during the Primary season, because he felt that if something were to happen to him, or if he lost reelection
due to a crisis, he believed Dole was the only rational and able leader in the GOP. That shocked me!!!

In the end, it just goes to show, how interesting the world of American politics truly is! The relationship between
Clinton and Dole, even in spite of something as heavy as a presidential campaign and election, was very, very impressing.

The Choice, no doubt proves once again on why Bob Woodward is considered to be, perhaps the best political writer
in our times. I plan to soon read his 2000 best seller The Shadow: The Tale of Watergate and Five Presidents. of Clinton, Reagan, ect. Woodward is also due to come out with his latest book sometime in November, and the title is to be called Bush At War, I'm sure it will be revealing and a bestseller. I will send a review of the TR book when I am finished.

-Nicholas J. Vertucci ... Read more

Isbn: 068482616X
Subjects:  1. 1996    2. Election    3. Elections    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. Political Process - Elections    6. Politics - Current Events    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Presidential candidates    9. Presidents    10. U.S. Government    11. United States    12. Current Events / General