Truth at Any Cost: Ken Starr and the Unmaking of Bill Clinton

As a history buff and a person who just oogled over the entire impeachment process (and who lost several bets concerning its outcome) I was anxious to read the books on the subject as they came out. Over the next 50 years (If I live that long) I expect to read many from all viewpoints not to mention history textbooks, which I collect. I suspect that I won't enjoy any of them as much as I enjoyed this one. This book is more that just about a historical event. It is, much like Mr. Shippers SELLOUT a book about right vs wrong, about principle. Unlike Mr. Shippers effort (which I enjoyed) this book flows. We see Starr and his staff, going forward, dodging and weaving 'round the obsticles put in their path by the White House and their friends. The story winds and keeps even one who knows the story in anticipation. The climax of the book Starr's appearance before the judiciary invokes all of the Mr. Smith Goes to Washington images that a person like me who should be more jaded lives for. It is a powerful testament to doing what you believe is right. It works as history, it works as storytelling and it most important it works by displaying all that is right about this country in the midst of all that is wrong.

...about who was right or wrong in the Lewinsky affair and why it matters. I read this book in just a couple of days. I watched the whole Lewinsky imbroglio with strange fascination like everyone else. As a conservative, I have to admit I was quick to "side" with the Independent Counsel. And this book, although written from an apolitical standpoint, buttressed my opinion in this sense: that history will record the sad but true fact that Ken Starr unflinchingly, and to his own peril, sought truth and justice at almost every single step of the way in this investigation. Equally, it is true that Clinton unflinchingly, and to his own peril, sought to AVOID truth and justice at almost every single step of the way in this investigation. Both Starr's and Clinton's reputations are permanently tarnished. But Starr's tarnishing is undeserved and will improve as time goes on. Clinton's reputation is, deservedly, unsalvagable. This book reads almost like you're watching a gripping docu-drama unfold before your eyes. It is excellent history, excellent reporting, and unrivaled for it's ability to wring information from both the OIC and White House. Thus far, if you are going to read one book about this sordid American episode, this is the one!An explanatory note: this book touches, but does not focus to any degree, on the media's role in this and also the impeachment proceedings. It's primary focus, however, is the inner machinations of the OIC and the White House from the time of Linda Tripp's bombshell until Starr's appearance before the House Judiciary Committee. For in depth coverage of the media, impeachment, etc aspects of this case, go elsewhere.

"The Truth at Any Cost" cuts through the hatefulClinton spin campaign against Ken Starr and his investigation ofClinton's subversion of the legal process and trampling of the rule of law and offers a clear-eyed and level-headed look at the truth behind Ken Starr and his inquiry. Starr's character is redeemed by this fascinating and insightful study and the facts it cites surrounding the investigation and how it was carried out, to say nothing of the vile depths the Clinton team went to in an attempt to bring down Starr as its only means of rescuing Clinton's soiled reputation. Ken Starr is shown in fact to be driven NOT by partisan politics, but rather by a devotion to justice and the rule of law. It is clear that what motivated Starr was his indignation over Clinton's contempt for the judicial process. Political motivations are scarcely in evidence in Starr's decision-making. If anything, Starr is portrayed as being too politically tone-deaf. Clinton is the one who comes out looking mean, partisan, hateful and on a vendetta, not to mention guilty of serious criminal malfeasance. It will be difficult for Clinton partisans to dismiss this book, as it is written by two of the nation's premier journalists from mainstream publications not known to be part of the "vast, right wing conspiracy." It will also be difficult for them to maintain the James Carville spin that the Starr investigation was about nothing more than investigating consensual sex. Anyone who comes away from this book still thinking Clinton was an innocent victim, rather than an abuser of his power to deny justice to one less powerful, and that Starr was anything other than a reasonable, fair, scholarly, yet maligned legal mind is too feircely partisan to be taken seriously. The book is balanced in making clear that Starr made mistakes in his investigation, but that they were errors made out of naivete or out of a lack of political sophistication. But there is little in this account to indicate that Starr was ever on a political "witch hunt." You would have to be in severe denial to not see that there was substance to the charges that drove Starr to put his professional reputation, his good name and even his life at risk in his brave pursuit of the truth...

This book obviously inflames Clinton partisans because it doesn't deal with "spin," but only that which can be factually supported with court transcripts, produced documents and the like. There's no "Deep Throat" or other unidentified sources here. And the facts all lead to the same place: William Jefferson Clinton, President of the United States lied under oath. A federal judge fined him $90,000 for that and Clinton didn't appeal the ruling. Sens. Lieberman, Feinstein and others all publicly announced their belief that the President had committed illegal acts that were punishable under criminal law, even if they didn't rise to the level of impeachable acts. Because the book relies so heavily on facts, it is somewhat slow reading and those who actually followed the events (not the "spin") will find little new here. Isikoff's book is actually more fun to read, though less encyclopedic in its fact gathering. For those who don't want the truth or can't admit to it, there's always Toobin. Starr doesn't come across as a hero really, but rather as a man who truly believes that no person is above the law and that the law is to be applied equally to low and high. If you've never been a party to a civil or criminal action or have any knowledge of the function of law in a democracy, you won't understand the importance of those two concepts - nor will you ever understand how important the service, however flawed from a "spin" perspective, Starr performed for the nation. If Starr could have only combined his legal skills with the charisma of a Clinton, the Clinton Presidency would have been over in a flash. Instead, as this book clearly demonstrates in its flat, dull language, we have established partisanship and spin as being more important than law. We will most assuredly suffer for that in the future.Jerry

At last we now have the straight scoop on much of the behind the scenes events leading up to President Bill Clinton's impeachment. Here we see Ken Starr as the professional he is, not the GOP pawn who was unfairly vilified by Democrats and Clinton supporters. Every Clinton biography collection must include this volume. I expect many future historians to copiously refer to Schmidt's and Weisskopf's extraordinary writings.