Customer Reviews

Friends in High Places: Our Journey from Little Rock to Washington, D.C.

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3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

What's most important here is what's not included in this work.
Questions regarding Lippo Group,Revlon,Vernon Jordan,his wife's
rocky tenure at Bill Clinton's Interior Department while Hubbell
was in prison,and many others,remain unanswered.



If she decides in a year or two to seek "higher office",one can only
wonder if the junior Senator from New York will regret having demanded
so much loyalty from Hubbell that he felt compelled to "roll over one more time" for her,as he stated while in prison.


This book will certainly come under intense scrutiny if that day arrives.

This is an excellent look into the world that revolved around Webb Hubbell in Little Rock and Washington DC. Mr. Hubbell is an adept storyteller who cuts through all of the partisan politics and simply tells the truth about his relationship with The President and First Lady. Mr. Hubbell also does something few men are willing to do nowadays. He accepts responsibilty for his mistakes without casting blame and doesn't try to glorify his standing with the Clintons or blame Kenn Starr for his failures. A good read that provides one of the only truly first hand accounts of the Clinton's days in Little Rock.

Closer than Bill Clinton was, that is for sure.

I am one of the top Clinton researchers in the nation (sorry to "boast," at one time I probably had ever book ever written on the Clintons, practically) ...
and in my opinion, based on my years of research is:

Webb Hubbell is the biological father of Chelsea Clinton, NOT Bill Clinton. Period. End of story.

Larry Nichols, a long time Clinton insider for 10 years told this to Melrose Larry Green who told it to me. Google "Chelsea Clinton Webb Hubbell" and you will see they both have unusually BIG lips.

You have to understand how dysfunctional the Clintons were, with Bill having literally hundreds of affairs and Hillary living her separate life with Webb Hubbell and Vince Foster. Hillary, Hubbell and Foster were the Three Amigos. Hillary had girlfriends, too, as Bill told in graphic detail to Gennifer Flowers.

Vince Foster later became Hillary's emotional husband and boyfriend. I think Hillary's rejection of Vince when they got to Washington, DC played a big role in Foster's suicide on July 19, 1993.

Vince was very unhappy that he was not getting to spend "special time" with his girlfriend and emotional wife Hillary - who, angry at Vince over work issues - had cut Vince off the last three weeks of his severely depressed life. Vince, upset about Hillary, told Webb Hubbell "It's just not the same, Hub ... She's so busy, Hub, that we don't ever have time to talk." [p.234, Friends in High Places, Hubbell]

Hubbell writes about the time in June, 1993 that Hillary cancelling a planned dinner with the Hubbells and Vince and Lisa Foster (Vince was obsessed with Hillary)

"Vince hardly said a word the rest of the evening. Suzy, as much as she loved Vince, thought his behavior was extremely bizarre. "He was sulking," she said. "It was so uncharacteristic of him." He pulled his chair back and turned himself away from the rest of the table. He was just like a child who had been promised quality time with a parent, only to have the parent renege when business had called him away." [p.234, Friends in High Places, Hubbell]

As for Webb Hubbell being the biological father of Chelsea, read this little nugget:

"On summer evenings, I could sip a drink in my big living room and look out at children- including the Fosters' and the Clintons', when Chelsea got big enough- bouncing happily on a trampoline in the shade of my big oak trees. Such a scene made me feel successful." [Hubbell, Friends in High Places, p.84]

On the night Bill lost the 1980 Arkansas's governor's race, Webb says he and Vince were watching Hillary on TV and "I think both of us wanted to wrap her in our arms and comfort her." [Hubbell, p.86] (Hey, wasn't that Bill's job - in theory?)

Chelsea Clinton was born on 2/27/80 and Hillary did not do much campaigning for Bill that year ... and here is Hubbell wanting to hug her election night ...

Webb Hubbell's begins his long climb back to manhood. The book outlines the short glory and long tragedy of a fellow colleague Webb Hubbell. Some call him a cover up artist, others brand him a liar, but whatever description one might try to apply to Mr. Hubbell one can never say he is snitch. Webb was given two choices, either inform on your President or we are going to burn you. What the hell does that mean, "Inform On Your Friends To Save Your Hide?" There was a time Webb Hubbell could see the difference between right and wrong. Like all who aspire to learn and practice the Law one cannot wait to be put in positions to help many. Webb got to the mountain of power and after his fall he could have gave up. Webb didn't sale out, he refused to buy his future by selling out his friends. Some would describe this as twisted integrity, others misplaced loyalty and a few such as I as uncommon character accompanied by the courage to accept his fate, punishment and seek out atonement. I won't judge what Webb did as right or wrong. I will leave that to others with far more thoughts of their ability to do so regardless of rank or position. He no longer deserves to be hounded by reporters, destroyed by opponents, laughed at by peers or condemned by the public. If there is one thing this life teaches us it is we all fall sometime, we all get muddy and many have a cold and friendless tide find us leaving us with an amputated spirit. Well, Webb Hubbell did his time, protected his family and has repented and now needs acceptance so he can atone. If another colleague Ken Starr saw no reason to call for his incarceration upon a third conviction plea, then I see no reason to condemn Webb any longer. He now needs to be embraced, protected and given new opportunities to accomplish new endeavors. I am satisfied with less so long as Webb continues on his path towards righteousness and now there is no reason why he will not and deserves another chance.

The value of the book for me was how Mr Hubbell handled his debt load...he stole. He told himself he would pay it back but you know how that goes when you get caughtup in DC politics. His discription of prison life was the most interesting and enlightening part of the book. This autobibliographic public confession was a plea for forgiveness to all those back in Arkansas.

Webb Hubbell's Mea Culpa leaves out the
best parts and he rambles on about how
hard he, Bill and Hillary worked to get
to Washington, District of Corruption.

But Webb, where's all the stuff that Jere-
miah Films and Tom Valentine's guest Larry
Nichols covered about Hitlery Klinton's
shredding documents at Rose Law Firm, et,
al.? I could go on. I got this book for
pennies on the dollar at the local Ches-
apeake, VA library. So since I didn't pay
full price, I don't feel cheated - monetarily
wise. But intellectually, being no political
fan of the corrupt Klinton regime, I have been
taken, so to speak with Webb's failed attempt
at 'woe is me.'

Those seeking insight into the Clintons are best advised to stay away from this book. It is, however, an interesting account of the personal story of Webster Hubbell. He was a lawyer at one of the most prominent law firms in Little Rock, the city's mayor as well as (briefly) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Arkansas. His journey from these lofty positions to federal prison is tragic, and like most good tragedies, fascinating.

Unfortunately, Hubbell - as the title suggests - seems stuck on his friendship with the Clintons. The word "friend" is so overused in connection with the Clintons (particularly Hillary), that it forces the reader to question whether the friendship ever existed.

Hubbell is frank about his personal weaknesses and the errors of his ways. His life story, which is well told, contains useful lessons for others.

One wishes that Hubbell - who is also candid about his insecurities - will title his next book "The Life of Webster Hubbell" and tell us more about the next chapter of his life (after prison) and less about his (perhaps now former) friends.

Webb Hubbell is a tragedy in life and Public Service. He cheated, lied and stole and then blamed others like Ken Starr, the media and his family. The book is an excuse of misjudgments not an admission of guilt, repentance or atonement. The same justification of deeds he should be ashamed of but instead makes claims of shame as a badge of honor. What is more tragic is that when it is all over. And the Clinton'' have left the scene and pities of power he will be forgotten as much as he forgot about them under cross examination. He will be like his wife, avoiding laundry by sending it out, because she was to lazy to change. In the end, he is will rue the day he undermined the Rule of Law, ran from the truth and remained silent in the face of justice calling out for vindication. No one believed him then, and after this book no one believes in him now. Webb needs to know that penitence and forgiveness does not mean avoidance of punishment. He has done neither, and thus, cannot really go on in this life proud of anything he has accomplished. He will and is a failure just like this book was trying to tell us he is innocent. When one tells half lies they often forget where they placed the truth ever again! This will be Webb Hubbell's legacy. The book will be forgotten sooner than when you close it. if you open it at all? I suggest you won't!