The Clinton Enigma: A Four-And-A-Half Minute Speech Reveals This President's Entire Life

Only Clinton's autobiography will do a better job at realistically assessing the behavior of this very unique president. He was such a blend of good and bad. The author captures this perfectly. Jeffrey McAndrewauthor of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"

This book analyzes different parts of President Clinton's arrogant August 17th speech, and incorporates them into his past to try and savor his reasons behind his risky behavior. After reading this book, the reader will understand why Clinton stayed in office amidst being impeached and put on trial in the United States Senate rather than resigning. This is a very moving thesis on a very wreckless character.

I've not read any books about Clinton until now. The stories I read in here were new to me. I found the author fair and balanced. No honest look at Clinton's personal life can be flattering, but the author seeks to explain Clinton, not condemn him. The book is thoughtful and very well written. I enjoyed it immensely. ( Let's face it, Clinton's personal life became public business when he fooled around in the Oval Office and involved his secretary in the coverup.)

Packed into a mere 110 pages is enough material to keep one spinning in speculation and turbulent thought for hours. There have been many books written about the Clintons but none is more concise than this production by Maraniss; especially with regard to what motivates Hillary Rodham Clinton, the power behind the throne, co-president to some and a marriage seemingly made for the sole purpose of acquiring and retaining power at any cost.Taking a chance with Bill (p.78) paid off handsomely in spite of the enormous price in the interim. In this context, one cannot help but recite a few lines from Philip Wylie's "Generation of Vipers," if only to round out the author's observations and background material on Hillary.Quote: Mom is organization-minded. Organizations, she has happily discovered, are intimidating to all men, not just to mere men. They frighten politicians to sniveling servility and they terrify pastors; they bother bank presidents and they pulverize school boards. Mom has many such organizations, the real purpose of which is to compel an abject compliance of her environs to her personal desires...As an interesting sidelight, clubs afford mom an infinite opportunity for nosing into other people's business. Nosing is not a mere psychological ornament of her; it is a basic necessity. Only by nosing can she uncover all incipient revolutions [i.e., the "vast right-wing conspiracy"] against her dominion and so warn and assemble her co-cannibals. Close quote.Even more intriguing is the use of religion to smooth out the ramifications of having stepped over the line either from alleged crimes or ethical violations, not to mention the countless "bimbo eruptions," purported or otherwise. For example, the author mentions the Clintons praying with the high-profile Rev. Jackson in the White House (p.100), the night before the four-and-half minute speech Maraniss brilliantly analyzes in this book. It is not without accident that the Christian concept of forgiveness allows one to commit any transgression, no matter how repugnant, on an ongoing basis simply because the opportunity is always there to wipe the slate clean; something Clinton has used with masterful expertise. That Rev. Jackson would appear on camera shortly thereafter only leads one to conclude that, not only does one hand wash another in politics and prayer -- with the public's credulity serving as the soap to facilitate the process -- but that the employment of such a strategy as a photo-op would have Tzu Sun relishing the moment.Moreover, Maraniss' book, perhaps unwittingly, breathes new life into Ambrose Bierce's definition of politics: A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage. Close quote.At any rate, the author saves the best for the last: Did he [Clinton] believe in life after death? "Yeah, I have to," Bill Clinton said. "I need a second chance."

Can we ever take foolishness seriously? Yes, when the actor--Bill Clinton, for example--not only has power, but some noble qualities too. Maraniss, author of the acclaimed biography _First in His Class_, knows Clinton well, writes well, and doesn't play "parlor psychoanalysis." With respectful curiosity Marannis discusses Clinton's background, self-presentation (a pattern of evasion and lying) and womanizing. I was fascinated by sidelights on Betsey Wright, Dick Morris, Hillary and less-known informants. If you want to know what Clinton's best biographer thinks of the Lewinsky mess, here it is. Short, well-told, informative, tying many loose ends together (forgive me!) this book is no mere "quickie." Maraniss predicts what happened November 3: "It is one of the many ironies of the Clinton tragedy that he was always his worst enemy while his enemies, by overreacting, were often, unwittingly, his strongest allies."