Confessions of a White House Ghostwriter: Five Presidents and Other Political Adventures [Hardcover]

James C. Humes (Author), Julie Nixon Eisenhower (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1997

A behind-the-scenes look at people who make presidents talk.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Humes has enjoyed a diverse career as a legislator, lawyer, and author of 21 books, including three about his idol, Winston Churchill. He also served as a speechwriter for Republican Presidents Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Bush, enjoying a close relationship with Nixon. The most revealing chapters of this book show the unraveling of the Nixon White House during Watergate. Humes identifies David Gergen, then an assistant to chief presidential speechwriter Raymond Price, as Deep Throat, the snitch who helped reporters Woodward and Bernstein. Like all good ghostwriters, Humes never takes center stage in this engaging memoir, which is laced with wickedly funny anecdotes; the politicos, presidents, and British royalty whom Humes fondly remembers receive star billing. Even Presidents Kennedy, Carter, and Clinton, whom he does not admire, are not treated with the rancor that often passes for political humor. This winning combination of charm and humor is cheerfully recommended for public libraries.?Karl Helicher, Upper Merion Twp. Lib., King of Prussia, Pa.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

A popular speaker on the Republican rubber chicken circuit, Humes tells tales of the five GOP presidents since Ike for whom he minted a word or two; but it was for Nixon that Humes was a full-fledged speechwriter. Long after that job, Humes heard Nixon's suspicion of Deep Throat's identity (D.C. spin doctor David Gergen), which tops the many reminiscences Humes shares about politics and speech giving. Unlike modern wordsmiths, typically journalists enjoying a political interlude, Humes began as an actual politician--a short-lived one who served one term in the Pennsylvania assembly. That experience supports a practical series of stories about how a speech becomes a success or failure, whether delivered on solemn or frivolous occasions. Humes stocks an immense store of stories--about famous conservative personalities, about how the plaque on Apollo 11 came to be, about how to ad lib at the lectern--that have been enjoyable for those who have listened to him or have read his many books of quotations and oratory. Gilbert Taylor

Product Details

• Hardcover: 219 pages
• Publisher: Regnery Publishing; 1st edition (April 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895264331
• ISBN-13: 978-0895264336
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,317,111 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting memoirs., June 23, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Confessions of a White House Ghostwriter: Five Presidents and Other Political Adventures (Hardcover)

The author, "lawyer, legislator, diplomat, author, historian, actor, professor, and White House speechwriter", recipient of the Order of the British Empire and dance-partner with Queen Elizabeth, seems to have been everywhere and met everyone, most notably the several U.S. Presidents for who whom he wrote speeches.
Humes' chatty narrative style, marred only by a few regrettable typos, painlessly shares some remarkable insights into high politics and diplomacy, with such highlights as; Nixon's candidate for "Deep Throat", and the real reason Ford pardoned Nixon.
Not incidentally, Humes is today a professional speaker whose tips on public speaking would be well worth the price of admission here to anyone who speaks publicly.
Very entertaining.
(The numerical rating above is a default setting within Amazon's format. This reviewer does not employ numerical ratings.)

3.0 out of 5 stars I Can Write!, August 27, 2008

By 

Bruce Newman (carmel, ny USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Confessions of a White House Ghostwriter: Five Presidents and Other Political Adventures (Hardcover)

"I can write! I can talk! I can go to meetings and drop names! And what names they are! Nixon, Haldeman, Eisenhower - met them, knew them, worked for them. Am I great, or what?"

Okay, I admit it. I'm a democrat and the author is a republican. That being said, I bought this book seeking to learn more and gain some insight about past leaders and senior government officials. In that sense, the book was somewhat successful - hence the three stars. Unfortunately, the author's never ending patting himself on his back interfered with his stories and reminisces, some being quite interesting. Had he shown more self restraint, this book would have been a much better read.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting if a little overblown, May 3, 2000

By 

dcreader (Washington DC area) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Confessions of a White House Ghostwriter: Five Presidents and Other Political Adventures (Hardcover)

"James Humes is over the top!" exclaims the introdcution (written by Humes pal and British MP Jonathon Aiken). Indeed he is. This book reflects that sentiment in both the positive and negative aspects, though on balance it is highly entertaining. Humes has many good stories to tell and tells them well. He does, however, give off the feel that there might be SOME exaggeration going on. Still, the book is quick and enjoyable to read.