Customer Reviews

The Choice

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Woodward carefully documents the early stages of the 1996 presidential election, covering mid-1994 to April 1996. Note that the book's coverage ends before the national party conventions. Woodward tries to give equal treatment to both parties, but Republicans clearly cooperated with him much more than Clinton's staff (who no doubt feel burned by Woodward's earlier exposé of Clinton, 'The Agenda'). More than anything else, this is a character study of Bob Dole, who candidly shared his thoughts with the author throughout the period. We also learn a great deal about Powell, Forbes, and Dick Morris.

Woodward's style is not for everyone. He carefully reconstructs various meetings, explaining who said what to who. However, Woodward uses paraphrases instead of direct quotes, unless he's sure of the exact words spoken. Many readers will find the result to be incredibly tedious, although I appreciate Woodward's concern for accuracy when quoting people. The book gives the reader a real sense of being in the room when important conversations occur regarding the federal budget or campaign strategy.

If you want to read a book about politics, this is the book to read. Even if you are skeptical or apathetic towards American politics, I would still recommend this book to you-- it might make you more interested in the subject. Woodward takes us behind the scenes of the 1996 presidential elections, showing us the intricacies and complexities involved. He does a powerful job of keeping this potentially flat topic lively and engaging. The first time I read this was in 1998, and I am still raving about it.

ISBN 0684813084 - Amidst my piles of current political books, there are many like The Choice: no longer current "current event" writings that might seem outdated but actually offer an interesting perspective on today's politics. As I read my way through them, I'm surprised to find that they're still enlightening, informative and entertaining.

In 1994, the campaign for the 1996 Presidential election began. Bill Clinton was pretty clearly the Democratic candidate, but the field was wide open in the Republican Party. Woodward spent time with candidates and potential candidates - Colin Powell, Pete Wilson, Lamar Alexander, Steve Forbes, Pat Buchanan, etc - for the Republican nomination, as well as their family, friends and staff. He shares the results of innumerable interviews and gives the reader a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the political landscape.

We know how this one turned out. In fact, Woodward published what looks like his "Ball Four Plus Ball Five" (if The Choice is "Ball Four") with The Choice: How Bill Clinton Won. This book ends with 174 days to go to the general election; the other, based on the title, goes further. There's still much of interest in here. Candidate Dole gets much more ink than President Clinton, for whatever reason; considering the way things turned out, that might be a good thing because it's a bit like his political epitaph. On the other hand, the Clintons come out looking a bit insane - Hillary's friendship with Jean Houston and Bill's campaign's misuse of DNC funds, for example, and the hiring of Dick Morris and his rather childish-semming fighting with George Stephanopoulos, all add up to make the reader marvel that the Clinton presidency went as well as it did.

There's some moments that only have their "aha!" impact in retrospect. At one point, Dole talks about running for just one term with Powell as his VP, leaving Powell as the virtual incumbent. Had that scenario played out, Colin Powell, perhaps the most widely respected voice on foreign affairs, would have been president on September 11, 2001; it makes for an interesting alternative history to wonder about.

Worth a read for the politics junkie, in particular. The similarities between Clinton and Obama range from obvious to surprising; the things Dole and McCain have in common are interesting, which leaves the reader wondering how many times the Republicans will try running an "old man" military veteran against a younger, inspiring Democrat. The more things change, the more they stay the same... in politics, perhaps, more than in any other arena.

- AnnaLovesBooks

I got to revisit the 1996 presidential election when I listened
to THE CHOICE, Bob Woodward's insightful account of the
race between President Bill Clinton and Senate Majority Leader
Bob Dole.

It was a behind-the-scenes view of what took place in each
camp . . . though the outcome never seemed in doubt, I still
liked how it made me appreciate the ups and downs of
what has become a two year trek to lead the nation.

I also became more aware of Clinton's political brilliance . . . in
addition, THE CHOICE made me think more highly of Dole--along
with his wife Elizabeth (who methinks might have been an
even better candidate for the top spot).

The narration by Tony Roberts added to my enjoyment of this book.

Very good book. Being a preidential primary and pre genral elction junkie, this was the best book I ever bought... Very well written and researched. Woodward defintely got the inside scoop on election 1996.

Engaging, insightful and entertaining. The Choice is a fast-moving book which clearly defines the stakes of the 96 elections and the strategies used by both democrats and republicans to win the White House.

An engaging "tour de force" of America's favorite adult game- politics

I have read several of Woodward's books over the years and each new publication seems to surpass the last in its hurried prose. Woodward and staff were obviously in a race to get the book in print as soon as possible after "the choice" became irrevocable. Still, the book gives us a good sketch of the character of two men, and to some degree their wives, who will continue to influence the lives of all Americans into the next century. Recommended reading before you vote in November

The choice gives real insight on the U.S. political life. To us European it looks light-years away the "glasnot" of American political life. It doesn't always mean that "the best wins", but at least you can undestand "why".

I bought book this book at Pick and Save for a dollar. If I paid full price it would have been worth it. If you ever wondered whether the people at the top are just like us you won't wonder any more after reading this book. This gives a great preview of the 2000 election as well as the 96 election and in a sense fortold some of the impeachment trial. A must read for those who must vote.