The contention of Film and the American Presidency is that over the twentieth century the cinema has been a silent partner in setting the parameters of what we might call the presidential imaginary. This volume surveys the partnership in its longevity, placing stress on especially iconic presidents such as Lincoln and FDR. The contributions to this collection probe the rich interactions between these high institutions of culture and politics—Hollywood and the presidency—and argue ...

In this #1 New York Times bestseller, a former secret service officer reveals what he saw of Bill and Hillary Clinton's behavior while on protection duty."Byrne's What-the-Butler-Saw style account is particularly damning [. . .] so much of his testimony rings true based on what the world knows about goings-on at the Clinton White House. It is little wonder the Clinton camp has not only denounced the book, but has...

The real story behind the investigation of Iraq, and the basis for the MSNBC documentary of the same name hosted by Rachel MaddowFilled with news-making revelations that made it a New York Times bestseller, Hubris takes us behind the scenes at the White House, CIA, Pentagon, State Department, and Congress to show how George W. Bush came to invade Iraq--and how his administration struggled with the devastating fallout.Hubris connec...

One of America’s most important young journalists delivers the first substantial piece of narrative nonfiction to chronicle the hard-fought closing months of the 2012 presidential campaign in PANIC 2012. Michael Hastings – BuzzFeed correspondent at large; Rolling Stone contributor; George Polk Award winner; and critically acclaimed, New York Times-bestselling author of The Operators – presents an in-your-face, on-the-ground, real-time, singular a...

Chuck Todd's gripping, fly-on-the-wall account of Barack Obama's tumultuous struggle to succeed in Washington.Barack Obama won the presidency in 2008 partly because he was a Washington outsider. But if he'd come to the White House thinking he could change the political culture, he soon discovered just how difficult it was to swim against an upstream of insiders, partisans, and old guard networks allied to undermine his agenda -- including members of his own party. ...

Feeling Bushed, America?In Thanks for the Memories, George, author and Onion contributor Mike Loew takes a humorous–yet furious–look at the last eight years of the Bush administration. From the botched evidence for the war in Iraq to the torture and violation of the Constitution to the economic crisis, this is a scathing, witty review of W’s sorry legacy, including:•How the Taliban is spending their record opium-profits, and how Iraqis have more mo...

The real story of the Republican vice presidential nominee and her collision with the elite liberal mediaAs the second woman ever nominated as a candidate for vice president, Alaska governor Sarah Palin became an instant phenomenon. Americans were enthralled by a woman with charm, ambition, natural political talent, and a passion for conservative values.But the fascination of ordinary people quickly drew an unprecedented attack from the media elite and libe...

An in-depth look at Bush’s presidency by some of America’s top historiansThe Presidency of George W. Bush brings together some of today's top American historians to offer the first in-depth look at one of the most controversial U.S. presidencies. Emotions surrounding the Bush presidency continue to run high—conservatives steadfastly defend its achievements, liberals call it a disgrace. This book examines the successes as well as the failures, covering ever...

Through the shadowy persona of “Deep Throat,” FBI official Mark Felt became as famous as the Watergate scandal his “leaks” helped uncover. Best known through Hal Holbrook’s portrayal in the film version of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s All the President’s Men, Felt was regarded for decades as a conscientious but highly secretive whistleblower who shunned the limelight. Yet even after he finally revealed his identity in 2005, questions about his true motivations persisted....

In recent years, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Eliot Spitzer, John Edwards, Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain, and countless other politicians have made headlines for their sexual scandals. But such stories are not new. Indeed, there is a long history of misbehavior in politics, including in the nation’s highest office. Bill Clinton, it can safely be said, was not the first president to misbehave, nor was he the worst.In fact, there is a long history of presidential peccadilloes. Many presidents...

Presidential earmarks? Perhaps even more so than their counterparts in Congress, presidents have the motive and the means to politicize spending for political power. But do they?In Presidential Pork, John Hudak explains and interprets presidential efforts to control federal spending and accumulate electoral rewards from that power.The projects that members of Congress secure for their constituents certainly attract attention. Political pundits still chuckle about the...

From review of previous editions:"In the Shadow of FDR shrewdly sets forth the special cruelty of the dilemma Roosevelt's successors have all faced: 'If he did not walk in FDR's footsteps, he ran a risk of having it said that he was not a Roosevelt but a Hoover. Yet to the extent that he did copy FDR, he lost any chance of marking out his own claim to recognition.'"—New York Times Book Review"A stimulating and original survey of the political impact of Franklin D. Roosevelt...