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Title: First In His Class : A Biography Of Bill Clinton by David Maraniss ISBN: 0-684-81890-6 Publisher: Touchstone Books Pub. Date: 08 February, 1996 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.58 (36 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Thorough and Compelling
Comment: This well-researched book is a fair, balanced account of Bill Clinton's life, up to the time he announced his candidacy for president. Maraniss has presented an excellent portrayal of an extremely complex man. This book really doesn't make Clinton any more or less likable than he ever was, but we do get a lot of background information to help us understand what propels Clinton and why he has made some of the choices he's made; for example, we get a lot of information about Clinton's feelings about Vietnam and how it came to be that he didn't go.
The most interesting parts of the book for me were about Clinton's family relationships, particularly his relationship with his mother and how she had such high expectations for him from the very beginning. We really can see how this relationship shaped his life, and how much he wants to please people.
I doubt this book will change your opinion of Clinton, whatever it may be, but it will certainly give a more complete picture of an enigmatic man.
Rating: 5
Summary: Almost (but not quite) a Clinton hagiography
Comment: I did not read this book until a few weeks ago, long after David Maraniss was being interviewed on almost every cable news show on almost a daily basis. My impression from the interviews (unfortunately shaped almost entirely by the tone of the interviewers' questions) was that this was just another hatchet job done on the Clintons by just another right-wing hatchet man a la David Brock and his ilk. Whoa! Not so! This is a fine and well researched exploration of much of Bill Clinton's life up to 1993. I have known the former president and his first lady since he ran for congress in 1974, and we have many friends in common here in Arkansas, an awfully lot of whom are women (I am an Ob/Gyn.) While I have heard the ugly rumors of Bill's infidelity for most of the 27 years I have known them, I've yet to meet or take a medical history from any woman who ever admitted that Bill Clinton ever made an in apprpriate move on her. I know dozens with whom he flirted over the years, most of whom were highly attracted to him and more than a few who, like Paula Jones, would probably have been willing to be his "girlfriend." But as far as I know, his reputation as a roue, at least since 1982 or 83, is vastly overstated. And given the intense scrutiny he has been under all that time, I suspect that he has had far fewer amorous adventures in the past 19 or 20 years than the average national politician on either the left of the right. But back to Maraniss' book - I found it eminently fair and balanced. Certainly Clinton has some unattractive traits, but he has never been mean, cowardly, vicious, nor even hypocritical (at least not when judged by current Republican standards.) Nor has he been venal, judgemental, or vendictive, as so many of his enemies have been. Certainly Clinton, like all of us, has made mistakes in his life. One can't live a life so active and involved as his and not hurt some or disappoint others, even while trying to do the best one can. Maraniss accurately caught his compassion and his empathetic nature, neither of which is phony (unlike the pseudo-compassion and faked empathy of our "compassionately conservative" current resident of the White House.) This book should be compulsory reading for Clinton haters and for aspiring politicians. Unfortunately, we may not see his equal again in the White House for a long, long time. Probably the greatest tragedy for this country and for Clinton's presidency was the ascendency in Arkansas of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, whose editorial policies make those of the Wall Street Journal look positively progressive, even benign. The editorialists and columnist of this newspaper propagated and promoted rumors and outright lies about the Clinton's to the national media for the duration of his presidency and both national campaigns. Unfortunately, Maraniss doesn't pick up on this aspect of the "Clinton scandals" any better than did the New York Times or the Washington Post, and therefor gives as much credence to many of the lies and rumors as did the Office of the Independent Council. Had he checked a little further, he might have come to many of the same conclusions as do Gene Lyons and Joe Conason in their fine book, The Hunting of the President. However, for what it is, it is a fine book and a real contribution to the historical record, which will treat Bill and Hillary Clinton with far greater respect than it will treat most of their detractors.
Rating: 5
Summary: Spot On
Comment: I decided I hated Clinton a few days after 18 of my brother soldiers were slaughtered in Mogadishu. It was the day the first load of wounded Rangers came back to the states. I dont expect Presidents to be standing tall every moment wounded troops come back. But I do expect they would have enough decency not to tout their health care initiatives by visiting wounded gang bangers on such a day (as Clinton did). I read this book a few years after that incident. Still hate Clinton and her husband......just not as much!
Mr. Maraniss paints an interesting picture of Bill Clinton. Here is a truly brilliant man who learned the ins and outs of the American political system. A man who can spend a law school semester on the campaing trail yet manage to pass with some intense studying at the least moment (Im a law school grad an freely admit I couldnt do this!). But he also shows us the spoiled child side too. A person who was doted an indulged in his early years and who essentially got everything he wanted. Its no wonder he thought he was too good to serve in the military! Speaking of that Mr. Maraniss puts to bed for all eternity the draft issue. He makes it quite clear Clinton received an induction notice and then did everthing in his power to avoid service. Why should he serve his nation or follow his marriage vows? He was the best of the best and should be above the law!
So there you go. The good and the bad of a very polarizing character in a very intriguing format. Clinton lovers, nows the time to hit the not helpful button and get the hate email flowing!
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Title: The Natural : The Misunderstood Presidency of Bill Clinton by Joe Klein ISBN: 0767914120 Publisher: Broadway Pub. Date: 11 February, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: All too Human by George Stephanopoulos ISBN: 0316930164 Publisher: Back Bay Books Pub. Date: 01 March, 2000 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: They Marched Into Sunlight: War and Peace Vietnam and America October 1967 by David Maraniss ISBN: 0743217802 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 01 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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Title: The Hunting of the President : The Ten-Year Campaign to Destroy Bill and Hillary Clinton by Joe Conason, Gene Lyons ISBN: 0312273193 Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin Pub. Date: 03 February, 2001 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Behind the Oval Office : Getting Reelected Against All Odds by Dick Morris ISBN: 1580630537 Publisher: Renaissance Books Pub. Date: 16 November, 1998 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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