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Untitled On Bush Cheney White House (2013)

by Peter Baker(Favorite Author)

4.07 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0385362358 (ISBN13: 9780385362351)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Random House Audio

review 1: This book is a masterpiece. It's Woodward-like in getting behind the scenes but with more interesting writing. It's a history of the Bush administration through the lens of the Bush/Cheney relationship. Going in I thought that might an artificial construct or at worst gimmicky. However Peter Baker (Fairfax County Public Schools grad) weaves their relationship throughout all the events without it seeming forced contrived. If you paid attention to the current events of the Bush years (not just 9/11 or the Iraq war) you will remember all of that, but from the view of the Bush admin players. One of the best presidential histories I've read.
review 2: An epic recounting of the Bush Presidency According to the author's notes, this book (clocking in at 658 pages for... more the paperback edition, and that excludes the notes and index!) took nearly 10 years to research and write. And no wonder. This is a book that tells of the Bush/Cheney administrations: from each of their origins and pre-White House lives through the inauguration of Bush's successor, Barack Obama and the departure of each man for their respective homes. This book won't change anyone's mind. It's not written to do that and regardless of where one sits on the political spectrum, they will find things that will support how they feel about this particular administration. However, it DOES provide a history (definitive? Baker doesn't think so.) of Bush and Cheney in the White House. The book begins with Bush considering Cheney's request to pardon his chief of staff, Scooter Libby. At the end of the book we will return to this request, except perhaps with the knowledge. After a historical look at the Bush and Cheney families and the youths of the respective men, Baker's work begins to pick up as he takes us through the campaign. From then on out the book drops in and looks at particular events of the Bush presidency, some with more focus than others. The disputed 2000 campaign, attacks on 9/11 (plus the consequences from civil liberties to intelligence gathering), the decision to invade Iraq (and beyond), the re-election campaign in 2004, the domestic agenda (Social Security, immigration, Medicare), Hurricane Katrina, the 2006 midterms, the Scooter Libby saga, the financial crisis, the 2008 election, and the very end of his presidency. Throughout the history we look at the partnership of Bush and Cheney. And while these are the two main "characters" of this story, familiar names drop in. Condoleeza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell, Karl Rove, etc. all appear. We see the drama, the Machiavellian moves, the politics, etc. And while Baker's book is not necessarily meant to sway one's thinking, it's not hard to see that perhaps Bush (just other presidents before him and likely after him) was surrounded by personalities too focused certain things and not enough challenges to their mindsets from within (or without, from aides perhaps too junior to feel safe in objecting or disagreeing). What was perhaps most fascinating was the drop-off in Cheney's influence as Bush came into his own (and public opinion turned against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, leaving Cheney without what was perhaps his strongest areas). In the beginning Cheney's influence and voice often carries a big impact, but as the end of their time in the WH looms, he sometimes all but disappears from the text. Which is the point of Baker's book, although again it is not for political purposes. It's just a story he's telling. We also spot other familiar names such as Vladmir Putin, Saddam Hussein, etc. They are not major players though. Neither are the Democrats. Mentions of big names appear here and there as relevant to the events as described in the moment, but the book focuses very much on what is going on in the White House itself. In some ways this reminded me of a sort of "The West Wing"-like story, except in written form and for a Republican White House. And indeed, there is a line where Baker makes a reference to Fargo, North Dakota and mentions the phrase "the West Wing" in the next line (if you've seen the show you'll understand the Fargo reference). Another possible Easter egg is where General David Petraeus tells President Bush he is "all in," but I am not fully certain if it is, since I haven't read Petraeus's book. This book was hailed by critics and by readers alike, and no wonder. Sometimes I stay away from political books because I am not interested in authors who clearly have a slanted political agenda in any direction. Baker takes pains to recount conversations and events, noting when people's recollections differ and if certain party(ies) disagree on what was said or how something was supposed to happen. That was something I really appreciated.That said, this isn't for everyone. It's a LONG book and if you hate non-fiction, you probably won't be interested. Baker doesn't stray from his topic but sometimes his level of detail (for example, lists of military supplies and discussion of tactics) can make one's eyes glaze over. But even if you hate Bush/Cheney with the deepest of hatred for whatever reason, read this book. It would likely make a GREAT reference for a student. I'm glad I bought it at full price. less

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