Customer Reviews

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

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

 

 

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.)

"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.

"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.