Hi Estimable E,
I wouldn't bring this up again but I just heard a fascinating interview with two historians and authors - There is no more respected presidential historian than James MacGregor Burns, author of several acclaimed books on leadership and the Pulitzer Prize-winning study of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Georgia J. Sorenson adds her own insights as a political scientist and presidential scholar. .
They have written a new book : Dead Center : Clinton-Gore Leadership and the Perils of Moderation
by James MacGregor Burns, Georgia J. Sorenson
amazon.com
Liberal historian Burns stated that Ronald Reagan (along with the two Roosevelts) was a great President! In fact he went on to note that Reagan proved that a man of conviction can be elected and govern with great success - if not without controversy - recalling that FDR was well hated. Burns noted that Reagan proved that great Presidents can include conservatives who actively engage the office, know where they want to lead and are not afraid to risk failure.
Book Description
"The urgent question of our time is whether we can make change our friend and not our enemy....To renew America, we must be bold...must revitalize our democracy....Together with our friends and allies, we will work to shape change, lest it engulf us."
With those inaugural words, William Jefferson Clinton began his first term as President of the United States. Now, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and a former White House aide provide the first penetrating, thoughtful evaluation of President Clinton's leadership.
Before he was voted into office, Bill Clinton told the authors in an interview that he wanted to be a transforming leader, a president who would fashion real and lasting change in peoples' lives, in the tradition of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. But how has this president, who has sought to lead from the center with his vice president, Al Gore, and the First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, measured up against his own stated goals and the aspirations and performances of other presidents since World War II? From the health care debacle and the 1994 midterm elections that swept the Republicans to a majority in both houses of Congress to the effect of scandal and impeachment on his ability to govern, Dead Center examines the leadership style of Bill Clinton and offers a forceful challenge to the strategy of centrism.
There is no more respected presidential historian than James MacGregor Burns, author of several acclaimed books on leadership and the Pulitzer Prize-winning study of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Georgia J. Sorenson adds her own insights as a political scientist and presidential scholar. Their combined efforts have resulted in an incisive, informative, authoritative work and an absorbing read.
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Customer Comments
Average Customer Review: Number of Reviews: 2
A reader from Washington, D.C. , October 28, 1999
A stunning analysis and a beautiful read
This is a wonderful book which makes sense to those of us who see Clinton as a gifted politician and wonder what went wrong. The failure of his ideology -- centrism -- is at stake here and the authors' offer a really new look at its dark side. Obbviously has implications for Hillary, Al and George W., too. If you think centrism is boring, this will change your mind! Wow!
A reader from mclean, virginia , October 27, 1999
A serious and fascinating look at the Clinton presidency.
Thanks to James MacGregor Burns, one of the truly great presidential historians, we finally have a book that takes a serious look at how Clinton rates as a President. This book also does a fascinating job of letting you look at the roles of Hillary Clinton and Al Gore, which is especially helpful now that they are both candidates. As with Burns' other books, this one reads beautifully, but still manages to make you think about what it takes to be president, and the costs and benefits of Clinton's centrism.
amazon.com |
