Customer Reviews

The Clinton Years: The Photographs Of Robert Mcneely

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Beautiful black and white photographs that document the many aspects of the human side of President Clinton. Each photograph tells a story, perhaps unlike the Public Relations story we have been fed.

I was impressed with the nonstaged real life messages these pictures unfold. Many photographs you would otherwise never see and therefore may know of a small section of the Clinton years.

As much as I enjoyed the gala events and the black tie functions that are part of this collection, I also enjoyed the more relaxed normal everyday shots. So much has been said about the marriage of Hillary and Bill Clinton, negative things, these photographs show many one on one personal moments. It would be hard to view these pictures without coming to the conclusion that these two people are quite fond of one another.

Overall this documentaion of photographs shows an all around man both from a Presidential angle and from that of simply a man, a human being.

Well done and makes for a nice slice of history and an excellent coffee table book. A great conversational piece!

This is a beautiful book documenting the life of a President. The photographer, Robert McNeely, did a great job in choosing photographs that depict the life of a president. It is apparent that McNeely choose shots that he thought would draw a reader into the book, versus standard press shots or pictures that have ran in thousands of magazines and newspapers. I was a disappointed that McNeely didn't elaborate more on the pictures and tell about the events that led to the picture being taken or what happened after the picture was taken. McNeely does give some insight into the Clinton presidency in the endnotes of his book. In all a great book and a different view of the presidency.

"The Clinton Years" is a fabulous book with countless, priceless photographs of the Clinton Presidency. There are a wide variety of photographs documented in this book, which reflect Bill Clinton's leadership in the White House over the last 8 years, that are inspiring. The images of William Jefferson Clinton shown are not only in the role of President, but as an individual as well - showing the human side of our President.

As they say, "a picture is worth a thousand words," that most certainly is the case with this book!

Robert McNeely's book is quite something of its kind. What a collection of photos! What a masterpiece!! What a documentary!! History will forever remember President Clinton. Never before in my entire life have I seen such a coverage of a US President's era such as this. Well, despite Clinton's moral mistakes, which concerns only to him and to his wife and daughter, America lives today its happiest time ever. World's the stock markets feel that as well. Here's what I think: Clinton is a true leader: he's funny, clever, articulate and carismatic. Who cares about his sex life? Did he steal public money for himself? Of course not. Will we ever miss him? Yes, we will, be sure of that. Brazil thanks President Clinton for America's prosperity. Good luck in the future, Mr. President.

The photographs in this book are quite beautiful, strong and revealing. With so much media exposure of all of our public figures, it is interesting to take a behind the scenes look at our leaders at their most relaxed as well as on the job. Clinton may have his share of flaws, but he has been a remarkable leader and his energy, enthusiasm and drive shine through in this pictorial.

ROBERT McNEELY - President Bill Clinton's official photographer from 1992 to 1998 - has traveled the world and roamed the halls of the White House, a virtual fly - on - the - wall, documenting the day - to - day political and private lives of President Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. The Clinton Years presents in dramatic detail a behind - the - scenes look at the White House with intriguing glimpses into the personal side of Clinton's presidency.

Clinton trusted McNeely's vision completely and granted him full access to the inner workings of the presidency. McNeely was Clinton's constant shadow, quietly recording for posterity the president's moods, his reactions to key moments and events, his prowess as a politican, his personal charisma and presence, and his interactions with world leaders. An intimate look at the man behind the politician, this collection also reveals Clinton's relationships with his wife, his staff, his public and the world. These striking images compel the viewer to recognize what an extraordinarily complex individual Bill Clinton is. It is more than a portrait of a president; it is an education about the presidency. The Clinton Years is an essential record of Bill Clinton's legacy.

The Clinton Years offers an fantastic inside to the White House and the years of Bill Clinton. The fantastic black and white pictures make you feel you were there and experienced the presidency first hand.

Like him, love him, or hate him, few could deny that Mr. Clinton is an interesting and complex individual. President Clinton's need for and ease with personal contact with practically any person comes through loud and clear through these behind-the-scenes photos of Robert McNeely. Clinton's comfort with small children and world leaders comes through wordlessly in these photographs and they present a different view of Bill Clinton's political life and presidency heretofore not seen in the media. I believe this coffee table book of photographs would make interesting viewing and reading for anyone who, like me, is intrigued about a person who became President.

Clinton was a master politician and is a captivating human being. A revealing picture in the book, from a European perspective: Queen Elizabeth, Francois Mitterand and Bill Clinton at Omaha Beach, 50 years hence. What a contrast between fossilized 0ld World splendour and the disarming mixture of boyishness and high seriousness embodied by Clinton! If that is the spirit of America, then I'm envious of it ...

Although the pictures are of Clinton, this book is not about him.

In that respect the title is accurate. The Clinton Years is not about Clinton -- it's an inside look at the last eight years.

Regardless of political leanings, this book is about America and the people behind the curtain that make it work. Not many people have an opportunity to see any President in candid moments of success and failure. Now we have that chance.

McNeely is a talented photographer and his skills are on display here. He does well to make the viewer an eyewitness to American History as it plays out through the President. Colin Powell, Al Gore, Hillary, and Janet Reno are just a few notables frozen by McNeely's lens as they interact with Clinton.

If you don't appreciate the power and intrigue of a President --whether Kennedy, Regan, Nixon or Clinton -- this book will not do anything for you. But if you do appreciate the mystique of American Presidents, you're going to miss something if you do not sit down with this book and walk through the past eight years with our last President.