Accidental American : Tony Blair and the Presidency - Softcover

James Naughtie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0330435612 ISBN 13: 9780330435611

Publisher: Pan Macmillan, 2005

Synopsis

Tony Blair's relationship with America is one of the most compelling stories of our time. He is the Prime Minister whose bond with George W. Bush imperilled his political future in Britain, while making him a hero to many Americans after 9/11. In this riveting narrative, James Naughtie asks why America has so taken him to its heart, and what this means for our politics, our leaders and the kind of country we are. Fully revised and updated in the light of the 2004 Presidential election, "The Accidental American" is an important and timely book, written with wit, verve and an acute eye for the contradictions and intrigues behind the Prime Minister's American adventures. This is essential reading for anyone hoping to understand the enigma of Tony Blair. "Absorbing ...The portrait of Blair is deeply alarming" - Kenneth O'Morgan, "Independent". "Well worth reading. Naughtie has an admirably rounded prose style ...some good stories and many illuminating quotes" - Ian Gilmour, "Guardian".

About this title

Review

British Prime Minister Tony Blair was regarded as something of a maverick in the lead-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He broke ranks with the majority of his own Labour Party in England, as well as the prevailing opinion among European leaders, to support George W. Bush's plan to topple Saddam Hussein. But according to veteran British newsman James Naughtie, such a maverick approach is completely in character for Blair, who has a long history of sticking with his convictions even if it puts his own popularity at risk. Curiously, that mindset has actually led to a great deal of popularity for Blair, first among the British people and then among American war supporters who lauded Blair for his consistent support of Bush. Contrary to characterizations of Blair being an advocate of invasion purely for political interests or as a victim of neo-conservative brainwashing, Naughtie presents Blair as a man of genuinely independent thought, convinced of not just the viability but the necessity of using force to bring greater security and freedom to the world. The Accidental American focuses heavily on the hours and days following the 9/11 attacks, detailing the urgency Blair felt reacting to the crisis and along the way providing candid (and newsmaking) glimpses inside the corridors of power, such as Colin Powell's characterization of the Dick Cheney-Donald Rumsfeld-Paul Wolfowitz group as "f---ing crazies." While Naughtie interviewed Blair for the book and explains Blair's beliefs and motivations in tremendous detail, the Prime Minister is never laid bare, remaining intriguingly enigmatic throughout. Still, The Accidental American is a valuable look at one of the more fascinating and important figures in modern global politics. --John Moe

About the Author

James Naughtie is the former chief political correspondent of the Guardian and is currently a presenter on Radio 4's Today programme. He is the author of The Rivals: The Intimate Story of a Political Marriage and is married with three children.

About this edition

• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0330435612
• ISBN 13: 9780330435611
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 356