Reviews (12)

An excellent book for the post-Watergate generations
This is a terrific look back on the Watergate scandal.Emery writes that his purpose is to tell the story for those who did not live through Watergate, and in this he achieves success.The account is direct, informative, and accessible.I was in primary school during the time of Watergate and understood nothing of what was going on (despite my father's assurances to me during the Ervin hearings that I was watching history being made).The only flaw, if one could call it that, in Emery's approach to the book is his failure to recognize that his intended audience has difficulty regarding Nixon as exceptional among American presidents.For those of us who came of age during the presidential scandals of the 1980s and 1990s, it is hard to resist the idea that what makes Nixon different is that he was foolish enough to ensare himself through the secret taping system.Apart from that, the pattern of Nixon deceptions parallels that of Clinton and, one doesn't really doubt, other presidents who have managed to keep their political secrets.All that said, this is a fascinating book, and I recommend it to anyone in the post-baby boom generations who wants to understand why Nixon resigned.

Great Book
Don't be misled by the review submitted by "true_blue".Most of his/her points are addressed in the first chapter of Emery's book, and all of his/her points are addressed at some point.Based on the writing and spelling in that particular review, I would dismiss it as someone with too much time to write and not enough education to say anything.For example, Emery never claims the White House had any a priori knowledge of the break-in at the Watergate.And, as far as I know, most historians agree that Nixon did not know about it in advance.That isn't really in question in this book.
Where's Vietnam?
It's unfortunate that most people don't remember what Watergate was but is even more unfortunate when historians forget what it was! First off, there is no evidence that the whitehouse approved the Watergate break-in! I have listened to over 500 hours of the tapes and not once does anyone approve the break-in. Again, it is a conclusion made by the author with no documentations (mainly because it does not exist.)Read more

Subjects:  1. (Richard Milhous),    2. 1913-    3. General    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History - U.S.    8. History: American    9. History: World    10. Nixon, Richard M    11. Nixon, Richard M.    12. United States - 20th Century/60s    13. Watergate Affair, 1972-1974    14. Central government    15. History / General    16. USA   

Subjects:  1. Government - National    2. Government - U.S. Government    3. Political Science    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Politics and government    6. Politics/International Relations    7. United States   

Editorial Review

Princeton University's Fred I. Greenstein caps off an illustrious career as a presidential scholar with Read more

Reviews (14)

Review
Greenstein's The Presidential Difference is short and sweet. It condenses the story of our Presidents from FDR to George W. Bush into an easy to read manner. Each chapter is dedicated to a President and gives six points upon which they are evaluated, which makes comparisons with other Presidents in the book easy. Even with only 223 pages nothing seems to be left out. The book is engaging from beginning to end and before you know it you have gone through twelve presidencies. To end it all Greenstein wraps 13 chapters up in a magnificent conclusion titled "Lessons from the Modern Presidency". There isn't any more one can ask for. I highly recommend this book as a good read, that is fun, short, and a great way to brush up on knowledge of our Presidents.
Great intro to U.S. presidency
Fred Greenstein explores the leadership style of the presidents from FDR to Bill Clinton inhis piece "The Presidential Difference."In the new edition, Greenstein includes an updated afterword on George W. Bush.The book is a great introduction to the modern day presidents and is recommended to the amateur historian to the most serious public policy students. Wonderful Comparative look at the Modern Presidents
Greenstein does a great job in setting aside his bias and reporting on the facts from the people who knew. He reports on the "Modern Presidency" - all of the presidents who were elected from FDR to Clinton. He evaluates them based on a number of qualities including vision, cognitive ability and a few other qualities. Greenstein first gives a basic history of life before being elected president and then evaluates the qualities. At the end of the book, he sums up the qualities he has just evaluated and proceeds to explain that no president will ever be able to perfect all of these qualities because every man is flawed. Overall, this is a great read for everyone who wants to brush up on their knowledge of these presidents. It doesn't go into too much detail but what it does present is both useful and sufficient. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. Personality and politics    3. Political Process - Leadership    4. Political Psychology    5. Political Science    6. Political leadership    7. Politics - Current Events    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Presidents    11. Public Affairs & Administration    12. U.S. President    13. United States    14. United States - 20th Century    15. History / General   

Reviews (4)

The Mother of All Presidential Memoirs
Witty, quirky, profound, lyrical--this is one of the great American memoirs. The 1999 Modern Library and National Review rankers of the 100 great nonfiction books of the 20th century missed the boat on this one.

He Earned His Spot on Mt Rushmore
If he had never entered the public square, Teddy Roosevelt would have created a noble legacy somewhere.He lived every moment of his life to the fullest extent and loved every second of it!He embodied the same ardent zest in the boxing ring, watching birds, being a cowboy, traveling the world, and leading America to its debut as a superpower.Yet, the one role that brought him the most satisfaction among the many diverse parts he joyously played was that of family man.Although he sedulously guard their privacy, enough references exist to reveal the power he derived from his family's love. Bully!
Teddy is definitely an egomaniac, but he does write well.He also benefits from a good plot, his extrodanary life.Jolly good read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1858-1919    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. General    6. Presidents    7. Roosevelt, Theodore,    8. United States    9. United States - 20th Century (1945 to 2000)    10. Biography: general    11. Central government    12. Roosevelt, Theodore    13. USA   

Editorial Review

At the beginning of this slim polemic, Peggy Noonan states that she does not hate the first lady, she merely has contempt for her, and in Read more

Reviews (218)

'The politics of hate' as expressed by a catty conservative

Another One-sided Partisan Attack
Or is it just personal (because of jealousy)? Its hard to judge emotion from the pages of a short book. Peggy was infamous for her support or Reagan and his lies (even if he was a senile puppet).
partisan politics
Noonan has lost all of her credibility. I had hoped to read a thoughtful and well-written piece of work. Unfortunately, this book reeks of hate and partisan politics run a muck. No one admires cheap shots--not even a conservative. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Career in politics    3. Clinton, Hillary Rodham    4. Current Affairs    5. Ethics    6. General    7. Government - U.S. Government    8. New York (State)    9. Political    10. Political Process - Leadership    11. Political activity    12. Politics / Current Events    13. Politics/International Relations    14. Presidents' spouses    15. United States    16. Women political candidates    17. American history    18. Central government    19. Elections & referenda    20. Local government policies    21. Political Science / General    22. USA   

Editorial Review

Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY) was one of the first members of the United States government openly to predict the imminent collapse of the Soviet Union--and, by extension, statist communism--as far back as the late '70s, as political historian Richard Gid Powers reminds readers in a lengthy introduction (comprising approximately one-fifth of Read more

Reviews (8)

How to use 20/20 Hindsight To Prove You're Never Wrong
First, let me say that Patrick Moynihan is an intelligent man. However, this book is bunk. He states that the Cold War was completely unnecessary - that the USSR was going to collapse anyway. Therefore, all the money/effort spent on it was wasted. That's like saying that we would've won World War II anyway, so all that money spent on D-Day was a waste.
Eroding the open society
This is an important documentation and history of the blight of screcy overtaking the American Government in the wake of the Second World War, especially in the context of the Cold War. Moynihan is especially critical of the way in which the gestation of classified information supporting fallacious conclusions (e.g. the Missile Gap)thwared proper open discussion and review of wrong policies. Moynihan makes a sound case for the excessive use of classification, to the point of absurdity. This erosion of the open society requires an active correction, although it is hard to see how this usurpation of power can be stopped in the short term. In any case, the threat to 'government by the people' is direct and ominous.

Extraordinary Contribution to National Sanity and Security
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Executive privilege (Governmen    3. Executive privilege (Government information)    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. History    6. History: American    7. Official secrets    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Public Affairs & Administration    10. Security classification (Government documents)    11. United States    12. United States - General    13. Central government    14. Espionage & secret services    15. Political Science / General    16. USA   

Editorial Review

Long before he entered politics, when he was just in his early 20s,South Dakotan George McGovern flew 35 bomber missions over Nazi-occupied Europe,earning a Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery under fire. Stephen Ambrose,the industrious historian, focuses on McGovern and the young crew of his B-24bomber, volunteers all, in this vivid study of the air war in Europe.Read more

Reviews (156)

A SOLID READ - IF NOT THE AUTHOR'S BEST
While I enjoyed this one, it certainly was not the author's best work.It did draw attention to a group of very brave men, the B-24 crew members in the European Theater, which was good as this group and this plane is often overlooked.It did seem to me though that the author, on one side was trying to write a biography of George McGovern, or if he was trying to cover the air war during the last part of WWII.I did enjoy his trade mark technique of telling the stories of different men who participated, but he would always go back to McGovern.Perhaps if he had stuck to one or the other the book would have had more of an impact.Parts of this work did drag and were rather repetative.On the other hand, the author did not try to over dramatize McGovern's part in the war.The work was well crafted and you certainy would not waste your time in reading it.I suppose it is not quite fare to compare this work with other works by this author.After all, no one bats a thousand all the time.Overall, recommend this one with reservations.It is about very brave young men and we do need to know as much about them as possible.

Almost to dramatic to be believed
The only other Ambrose book I've read was "Band of brothers" so I really can't compare it to his other works. But I had to comment after reading the negative reviews. They must have skipped around a lot. This book was so exciting and dramatic it was almost unbelievable. McGovern shows himself to be an exceptional pilot and a true hero. The book is full of unforgetable moments and breath-taking action. After reading it I immediatly started looking up more information on line. I consider it a must read.

Mr. Mc Govern's book.
I have read better books by Stephen Ambrose(or his team of writers...). This one is dull, tiringsome, centered in one person. Ok the guy was supposed to be charismatic in spite of not wining a presidential election long ago forgotten.
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Subjects:  1. Aerial operations, American    2. B-24 bomber    3. History    4. History - Military / War    5. History: World    6. Military    7. Military - Aviation    8. Military - World War II    9. Military Aircraft - World War II    10. Modern - 20th Century    11. Regimental histories    12. U.S. Senate    13. United States    14. United States - 20th Century    15. World War, 1939-1945    16. Air forces & warfare    17. Aircraft: general interest    18. Central government    19. History / Modern / 20th Century    20. History of engineering & technology    21. Second World War, 1939-1945    22. USA    23. Weapons & equipment    24. World history: Second World War   

Subjects:  1. Campaign management    2. Communication    3. Government - National    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. Political Process - Elections    6. Political Process - General    7. Political Science    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. United States    11. Political Science / Government / National    12. Political campaigning & advertising    13. USA   

Editorial Review

Bob Woodward called his biography of Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan Read more

Reviews (81)

Tries to make monetary policy interesting
I have always been interested in the secretive world of the Federal Reserve. The goal of the work is to provide an inside look on how it really operates. Despite its importance, writing on the Fed and its long time chairman Alan Greenspan is difficult because the topic is very dry and boring. The author does all he can to make it interesting, but after awhile all of the stories of rate hike and cuts all sound the same.
How to feel your way to the correct interest rate
Woodward will give you a feel for how Greenspan feels (this feeling is developed from massive amounts of economic dated and dicussions with other experts) his way along to a decision on interest rates. There is no clear-cut method for getting the interest rates to just the right level. Now that Greenspan is gone and left us with a boom, we have to be concerned that Ben Bernanke will also develop just the right feel. And probably more importantly--may he be just as lucky as Alan Greenspan.

Fed primer
A great intro to our central banking system that shows us just how tenuously we sway between prosperity and decay, and how guys like Alan Greenspan ride the serpent in the hopes they can get it to go where they want it to, with mixed results. I find it nothing short of existentially frightening that the best economists in the world really don't fully understand how modern macroeconomics works, and that our most important fiscal policies are based on incomplete models.
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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    19. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    20. Political Science / Government / National   

Subjects:  1. Campaign funds    2. Congress    3. Elections    4. Government - Legislative Branch    5. Political Process - Elections    6. Political Process - General    7. Political Science    8. Political action committees    9. Political campaigns    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics/International Relations    12. U.S. Congress (General)    13. U.S. Practical Politics    14. United States    15. Central government    16. Political campaigning & advertising    17. USA   

Reviews (1)

strictly school
Very boring.I like the easy wayit reads. I wouldn't have bought it unless it wasn't necessary for school. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: Operating Systems    2. Computers    3. Data processing    4. Government & Business    5. Information Technology    6. Management    7. Management Information Systems    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Public Affairs & Administration    10. Public administration   

Reviews (72)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the Importance of Environmental Activism
The scenario is chilling.
Fine Analyis of the Environmental Policies of the Current Bush
Written to be a persuasive "reference" before the 2004 election, CAN is thought provoking, though at times a slanted view.
A book every American should read
Robert Kennedy, Jr. reveals shocking activities going on in our country for which the general public has no knowledge. The damage the Bush administration is doing to our environment is unprecedented and unacceptable to anyone who cares about the future of the planet. A great read...a real page turner. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (George Walker),    2. 1946-    3. Anti-environmentalism    4. Bush, George W    5. Conspiracy & Scandal Investigations    6. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    7. Environmental policy    8. Government - Executive Branch    9. Government - National    10. Nature    11. Nature/Ecology    12. Politics / Current Events    13. Pressure groups    14. United States    15. Political Science / Political Ideologies / General   

Editorial Review

John Lewis is an authentic American hero, a modest man from the most humble of beginnings who left a rural Alabama cotton farm 40 years ago and strode into the forefront of the civil rights movement. One of the young people who brought the teachings of Ghandi and King to the lunch counters of Nashville in 1960, Lewis suffered taunts and threats, beatings and arrests. He spoke at the historic 1963 March on Washington and became chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. The nation, tuned to the nightly news, watched in horror as state troopers clubbed him viciously, fracturing his skull as he led a march in Selma, Alabama, in 1965. Today, he's the only member of Congress who can be proud of having been carried off to jail more than 40 times. With the help of a collaborator, journalist Michael D'Orso, this remarkable man has written a truly remarkable book. Read more

Reviews (42)

It all comes together here
John Robert Lewis"You are the man" Best book on civil rights movement I have read. The story seems to come full circle.

Excellent Condition
The book had hardly been used, if ever.It was in excellent condition, and I am very pleased with my purchase.

Wow... Just... Wow.
This was a required book for a class I'm taking on Religion and the Civil Rights Movement and this book has brought me to tears more than once. It's so beautifully written, with words that you can really feel coming from John Lewis. So many books feel like the children of editors more than writers, but this doesn't have that same feeling.
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Subjects:  1. 1940 Feb. 21-    2. African American legislators    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Civil rights workers    8. Legislators    9. Lewis, John,    10. People of Color    11. Political    12. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    13. U.S. - Political And Civil Rights Of Blacks    14. U.S. House Of Representatives    15. United States    16. Biography & Autobiography / Historical    17. Biography: general    18. Central government    19. Lewis, John    20. Political leaders & leadership    21. USA   

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. General    3. Political Science    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Politics/International Relations    6. Central government    7. USA   

Reviews (8)

Shallowness of intellect is scary
The Speaker would be a great neighbor.I'm sure his friends, family, and neighbors are extremely proud of the Speaker and rightly so.He is a good man, the salt of the earth, but he is also a lightweight that has allowed politics over principal to prevail in the House he runs.
You really don't know all this man has accomplished
It seems to me that we overweight the past with a significance it never had when it was the present.Certain events seem more to have a more straight line connection and they are remembered and most else is forgotten or temporarily put aside in our memories until needed to create a new explanation of how we arrived in the present.I bring this up because it is easy to remember the Tip O'Neill or the Sam Rayburn as significant Speakers of the House and to dismiss Denny Hastert, but I think that would be a real mistake.
A Speaker, Not A Writer

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Subjects:  1. 1942-    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. General    5. Government - Legislative Branch    6. Hastert, Dennis,    7. Illinois    8. Legislators    9. Political    10. Political Science    11. Politics/International Relations    12. U.S. House Of Representatives    13. United States    14. Wrestling coaches    15. Biography: general    16. Central government    17. Political Science / General    18. Political leaders & leadership    19. USA   

Reviews (2)

not all KSA
Unfortunately it had nothing of value in this book for me it didn't touch on a single KSA I need help with.

Should be KSA for limited Government Jobs
This book has too few job examples and many of the jobs it does offer KSAs for are related.If I could, I wouldn't have spent the money or the 5 months it took to get it.Out of hundreds if not thousands of fed. jobs, this book manages to cover KSAs for whopping 42 of them.If you are in any science field other than medical, don't bother with this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Applications for positions    2. Business & Economics    3. Business/Economics    4. Careers - General    5. Careers - Other Specific Fields    6. Careers - Resumes    7. Careers / Job Opportunities    8. Civil service positions    9. Government - National    10. United States   

Editorial Review

On the face of it, here's an improbable book: a memoir of four years as Secretary of ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Reveiling the other side of the Clinton Administration
So far, I've read three other memoirs from the Clinton Administration; those of Mr. & Mrs. Clinton and Bob Rubin.