On the Edge: The Clinton Presidency [Paperback]

Elizabeth Drew (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 8, 1995

Bill Clinton's Presidency has been the most turbulent in recent history, as this talented but flawed and perplexing man has struggled to govern. On the Edge is the first full-spectrum report on the Clinton Presidency. From its first days, Drew spoke with the President's top advisers, key Cabinet officers, and members of Congress as she watched -- up close -- as policies were hammered out and crises confronted. Drew tells the remarkable story of this fascinating term and deciphers what it means for this country.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Washington Commentator Drew's evenhanded account of the successes and failures of the first 18 months of Clinton's presidency.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The first 20 months of Clinton's beleaguered presidency receives its fullest treatment in Drew's impressive work. Clinton the expert campaigner was poorly prepared and ineffectively served by an unexperienced staff when he took office. Poor planning, lack of discipline and credibility, and a failure to be accountable have exaggerated his failures, minimized his successes, and lowered public trust. Drew is at her best when describing the personalities and tensions among administration policymakers. Her excellent recounting of foreign policymaking in the post-Cold War world shows that Clinton misread public sentiment by giving scant attention to hot spots such as Bosnia, Somalia, and Haiti. Domestic issues, especially healthcare, crime, and the budget, are treated in an exciting you-are-there manner, with Hilary Clinton, Vice President Gore, and a host of officials emerging as important, often difficult players in the political process. This revealing portrait of "America's first activist president in the age of cynicism" is an excellent complement to John Brummett's Highwire (LJ 9/15/94) and Meredith Oakley's On the Make (LJ 7/94), both of which focus on Clinton's Arkansas roots. Strongly recommended for public libraries.
Karl Helicher, Upper Merion Twp. Lib., King of Prussia, Pa.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone (November 8, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684813092
• ISBN-13: 978-0684813097
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,790,782 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worthy of Woodward, December 8, 2000

By 

Kevin Lane (Norfolk, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On the Edge: The Clinton Presidency (Paperback)

I consulted this book for background on how the administration handled the Bosnian war and got swept into it. Drew is an outstanding writer, and her style is reminiscent of Bob Woodward's.

This presents a full account of Clinton and his aides, their battles, their personalities, etc. Clinton definitely had a rough going early on...it's hard to believe he stayed so popular all along.

Anyway, if you like Woodward's stuff (All the President's Men, Commanders, the Brethren, etc.), you'll find this very interesting. I am sure we will see more good things from Drew again.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent behind-the-scenes account, May 3, 2000

By 

Peter N. Woodke - See all my reviews

This review is from: On the Edge: The Clinton Presidency (Paperback)

I just finished this book and enjoyed it immensely. Drew provides a fly-on-the-wall account of the early Clinton years with breathtaking depth. With the benefit of a few years' hindsight, her analysis and perceptions at the time were spot-on. Highly recommended for political junkies and people interested in the inner workings of the White House.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reporting, February 8, 2004

By 

John G. Hilliard (Toronto Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On the Edge: The Clinton Presidency (Paperback)

Each time I read a book by this author I am reminded why she is considered such a good journalist and excellent author. If ever a political book could be considered in the "could not put down" category, this book could. The author gives the reader a detailed description of the first year and a half of the Clinton presidency with an unbiased look at both the good and the bad. I tend to fall on the side of a Clinton supporter so I agreed with all the positives and cringed at the negatives she brought up, but could not find fault with her reporting. The problems and reasons why were well thought out, accurate and unbiased.

So much of what takes place in Washington covers up the real story and the actual work that does or should get done. This author does a good job a stripping away the noise and getting to what the real problems were of the first year of the Clinton administration. She detailed the lack of organization, the agenda that was too large and the effect of too many staff with lacking experience to play that this level. Overall the book was very interesting and well written. If you are looking for details on how the Clinton White House worked at the first then this should be your first stop.