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I enjoyed this book very much. It is a very interesting book that talks about the challenges that befell several of our last presidents. I enjoyed it very much and it just shows you the pitfalls the befall every president regardless of which side of the political spectrum he belongs to.
Well, I read a few books by Woodward. Bernstein was the real thing in this duo. That's fiction not history.Next, I think this accounting was rather ridiculous.
After I finished this one, I closed the door on Bob Woodward.First of all I don't like the fiction type format for a history book. Come on.I struggled and struggled to finish reading this book, but that's the last one by Woodward and friends for me.I've read a couple by Bernstein. I haven't been that impressed by any of them.
This book makes Jimmy Carter out to be a foul mouthed, conniving manipulator of people and the poor press; on the other hand Gerald Ford comes off as a ex-altar boy with only the purest apolitical motivations. I realize that he and his staff of junior writers are trying to make it interesting and more enjoyable, but when they write things like: Judge So and So thought to himself, what a complete jerk this guy is. That's going too far for me.
I think Mr. This Woodward is a joke.Books written by Richard Noble - The Hobo Philosopher: "Hobo-ing America: A Workingman's Tour of the U.S.A." "A Summer with Charlie" "A Little Something: Poetry and Prose" "Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother"
After that, of course Reagan and Iran-Contra weapon sale and Oliver North incident. Finally, Clinton era, Whitewater and Monica. First gulf war and Saddam stories given. Secondly, Carter and payment made to Jordan King and Iran Hostage crisis. Detailed research, witnesses, and main character interviews are combined to revealed truth with every respect.
Book starts with Ford, Nixon and Watergate, This is the most interesting chapter of the book, and it is explained with every detail. Also Monica scandal is the fun part of the book. I am getting great pleasure from his books. This chapter is also very interesting.
There is also little bit information about Bush-Saudi relations in that time. In Whitewater investigation is explained very well. You can feel Carter's pain in this chapter. The role Regan and Senior Bush is much different than public knows. This is the best book for near presidential history.
Another Bob Woodward book, another masterpiece. Inevitable, Mr. Bandar's name is also here. This is also very big chapter. There are always something learn from his books. I give all the credits to Mr. In Shadows, he discovers the last five presidents scandals and events around them.
Woodward for this great book. Senior Bush's role is very controversial. When Senior Bush was at the White House, subject is the war again. Star and Clinton have not a bad relation as we know. Buy it and read it.
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. The other large section is Iran-Contra. The most significant event in the way these things played out was the creation of the Independent Counsel. 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. I think this is a pretty good book on the Presidency of the United States since Watergate. There are lots of endnotes to document the sources for the various statements, meetings, and conclusions drawn. Half of the book is devoted to the Clinton scandals. Good riddance.
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). 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. Of course, Mr. How you perceive Woodward's balance and objectivity will be colored by your personal politics. 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. My chief conclusion from reading this book is that this was a bad law with worse execution and should never be revived. But all-in-all there is a lot of good reporting here and is written in way that is easy to read. I recommend the book highly.
he does not have a great speaking voice, that's for sure. Heard the taped version of SHADOW: FIVE PRESIDENTSAND THE LEGACY OF WATERGATE by Bob Woodward. the rest was narrated by James Naughton. 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 thoughI had thought I had known a lot about the Monicagate morass,I now know even more (including a lot of dirt not uncoveredelsewhere).Fortunately, Woodward is only heard at the beginning andthe end. hisimpressive 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.
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