The Truth of Power: Intellectual Affairs in the Clinton White House (Columbia Studies in Political Thought / Political History) - Softcover

Barber, Benjamin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0231144393 ISBN 13: 9780231144391

Publisher: Columbia University Press, 2008

Synopsis

In 1994 Benjamin R. Barber was invited by President Clinton to participate in a seminar on the future of democratic ideas and ideals. Following their meeting, Barber became an informal consultant to the Clinton White House, working with a president who proved to be an astonishing listener open to a variety of ideas. Barber's experiences were unexpected and enlightening-the most unpredictable being his interactions with the president himself.

Barber's meditation on Bill Clinton's tenure in office offers a balanced and complex portrait of the Clinton administration, especially in its relationship to America's intellectual and scholarly community. Barber also identifies the true faultlines of power that future candidates must negotiate if they are to win an election. For this edition, Barber has written a new afterword reflecting on Clinton's "vision" problem, his controversial role in shaping today's Democratic Party, and his efforts to confront the challenges of interdependence and terrorism. He concludes with a provocative assessment of Hillary Clinton as a Democratic primary candidate in the battle for the presidency.

About this title

About the Author

Benjamin R. Barber is distinguished senior fellow at Demos and the author of the international bestseller Jihad vs. McWorld: How Globalism and Tribalism are Reshaping the World.

From Library Journal

These two fine photographic collections feature different aspects of the quadrennial race for the presidency and the victors of each election. Campaigns includes more than 350 mostly black-and-white photos from the archives of the New York Times, beginning with William McKinley's 1900 victory. Distinguished historian Brinkley (American History: A Survey) offers an excellent introduction on the evolution of modern campaigning, while Widmer (director, C.V. Starr Ctr. for the Study of the American Experience) provides an overview of the elections themselves. The photographs are accompanied by a front-page facsimile of the issue of the Times announcing the winner, which is fully transcribed. Notable articles include Arthur Krock's coverage of Franklin Roosevelt's 1932 triumph, James Reston's review of Kennedy's razor-thin win in 1960, and Tom Wicker's portrayal of Lyndon Johnson's decisive if short-lived mandate. Until Krock, election coverage consisted mostly of unsigned articles providing little more than tedious vote counts. Krock set the standard for future Times reporters covering the presidential beat by providing voting analysis and insights into the candidates' personalities. Consequently, the articles dating from the FDR elections through the contentious 2000 contest are fascinating.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0231144393
• ISBN 13: 9780231144391
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 336