The Accidental American : Tony Blair and the Presidency - Hardcover

James Naughtie

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1405050012 ISBN 13: 9781405050012

Publisher: MACMILLAN HEINEMANN, 2004

Synopsis

Tony Blair's affair with America is one of the most compelling stories of our time. He is the Prime Minister whose bonding with George W. Bush imperilled his political future in Britain, while becoming a hero to many Americans after 9/11. In this powerful and compelling narrative, James Naughtie asks why America has so taken him to their hearts, and what this means for our politics, our leaders and the kind of country we are. In seven years, Tony Blair has turned the `special relationship' into something of a love affair. With unparalleled knowledge and using the testimony of a wide circle of intimate contacts, Naughtie traces the roots of Blair's American obsession - through intimacy of the Clinton years to controversy of the Bush administration's War on Terror - showing how he has revelled in the adulation and respect showered up on him. However this veneration has come at a price. As Blair is attacked by recalcitrant members of his own party and distrusted by an increasingly suspicious electorate, America is remains in his thrall. But should John Kelly prevail over George Bush, how will Blair react? 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.

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: MACMILLAN HEINEMANN
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1405050012
• ISBN 13: 9781405050012
• Binding: Hardcover