This Time, This Place: My Life in War, the White House, and Hollywood

In a sense this is two books in one. Valenti (apart from his war years) had two very different careers - as a valued aide to President Lyndon Johnson and latterly as President Motion Picture Association of America. He did sterling work in both roles. Almost anything written about Johnson is fascinating and Valenti keeps that legend going. The author never fails to see good in people and like other Johnson aides such as Joe Califano, seemed to have a genuine love for the towering Texan. Valenti's opening chapter on the dreadful events of November 22nd 1963 is compelling reading. The author also writes well on the meetings and decision processes that encouraged LBJ to enlarge the war in Vietnam. For those with rose tinted glasses who believe JFK would have taken the US out of Vietnam before it became a quagmire, Valenti makes it quite clear that the bulk of LBJ's Vietnam advisors were Kennedy people. Overall the section on Johnson and the White House years is enjoyable reading. The same can not be said for his MPAA memoir. Part of the problem is that Valenti is so gushing in his praise of everyone. The number of "radiantly beautiful" or "dazzling" wives he met with adorable offspring is mind-blowing. This man would have something good to say about the devil! He alludes very gingerly to the excesses of and infatuation with Hollywood, but never provides any depth. Valenti - who wrote a book on communication - is a wonderful writer with a flowing style that is a joy to read. It is a pity that he did not bring greater depth and I think honesty to his MPAA career.

Jack Valenti's memoir "This Time, This Place: My Life in War, The White House, and Hollywood" tells an authentically American story. Valenti, the grandson of a Sicilian immigrant, rises from his working class roots to: * win the Distinguished Flying Cross (WWII) * attend Harvard Business School (Veterans Bill) * start his own successful business * become the aide de camp to a US President (Lyndon Johnson) * and, become the chief lobbyist and defender of the motion picture industry for four decades. Valenti's book opens with a flashback to Dallas, Texas on November 23, 1963 as he rode in the fateful Presidential motorcade that passed the Texas Book Depository with Lee Oswald's rifle pointed at President John Kennedy. Before the day was over, he was THE confident and consigliore to a new US President, Lyndon Johnson, overseeing the president's speeches, decided whom he would see and where he would go to speak. His chronicle of his White House years reads like a fast-paced novel and has plenty of detail to satisfy historians. "This Time, This Place" provides important events in Valenti's early formation which were the underpinnings of a remarkable life. As a working class kid from Houston, he watched his grocer grandfather practice local politics and made his own first speech at the age of 10, advocating the reelection of the Sheriff. He worked as movie usher during high school, and got himself elected class president as a night student at the University of Houston. In 1943, he joined the Army Air Corps, taking his first solo flight only after nine hours of instruction. He piloted 51 bombing missions over Europe in a B25 winning the Distinguished Flying Cross. His descriptions of these years are among the most vivid in this book. His prose throbs with memories of an experience that was simultaneously exhilarating, terrifying and "brutal." The section on the Hollywood years is looser. Valenti's good-old-boy Texas story-telling comes out. He is more willing to tell tales, poking fun at some of the pompous behavior and trappings of the Motion Picture Industry's celebrities. "This Time,This Place" is told straightforwardly, acknowledging debts, sketching people he knew and giving a not entirely flattering view of himself. His self-portrait is one of restlessness, and a strong commitment to advancement. This is a man that senators, congressman and presidents readily took calls from. His formula was simple, "It is rooted in the ability to engage in courtship, to cosset talent, to understand the human condition and to make decisions fast." He exuded charm and was able to establish relationships by being everyone's pal but he never left empty-handed. Jack Valenti died two years after his retirement from the Motion Picture Association of America in April, 2007.

Jack Valenti was both a witness to, and an instrument of, history and his autobiography presents the fascinating elements of his life and all those that he came across. Written in a very easy to read, yet eloquent, style (you can hear Valenti speaking these words)the book should be read by anyone interested in the Washington, the Great Society, and movie industry scenes.

How's this for a life change: you arrange logistics for the President's trip to Texas in 1963, end up in the famous photo of President Johnson being sworn in, end up LIVING in President's Johnson's residence for a month and become his chief aide, how's that? Well, if that's not enough, within 3 years become president of the Motion Pictures Industry roundtable of executives also responsible for lobby work. Such is the life of Jack Valenti, an always engaging personality on TV, this book backs up that persona in spades. After being a WWII pilot, the U of Houston grad gets in the Harvard MBA program which sets him on his course. After early life set-up the book focuses on his years in the White House and close relationship with Pres. Johnson before focusing more than half the book on Hollywood, his job and his relationships. At the end, he revisits his memories of famous people that he loved or admired: Jackie Kennedy, Warren Buffet, Lew Wasserman, Kirk Douglas, Tom Cruise, etc. The list is long and illustrious, and while very interesting, this is the one part of the book that suffers from massive name-dropping. I can't recommend this book higher from a great American. If you have interest in politics or pop culture in the 2nd half of the 20th century, this book is a must read. But, if you want to read the life story of a truly engaging, friendly, family man then it is definitely for you. My condolences to the family on the unexpected death of Jack Valenti shortly after completion of the book.

I am honored to be the first person to review this book. I can not believe this book is not on anyone's top ten list. The book was not even displayed in Barnes and Noble in the front section. I give 5 stars to the book and 10 stars to Jack's life. To rise from where he did and land in the places he did was unbelievable. Jack was smart and well liked and knew how to respect people. The first 50 pages of the book speak of the Kennedy assasination and how Jack was thrust into the White House, first hand eye witness view of how that day and days after unfolded. How he lived in the White House with LBJ and family. Some of the anecdotes were priceless, like when he was being interviewed to get into Harvard or the Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando stories. At age 22 he is a bomber pilot in WWII, flying over 20 missions. Any part of his life could have been a book unto itself. Page 143 really sums up what Jack felt that through the genorosity of others many other doors opened up for him and he seized the opportunity. Everyone wanted to be Jack's friend. I almost felt Jack was sitting with me and telling me his life story. I really wish I could have met him. The book moves very fast and gives insight to the life of a very remarkable true blue American.