The Governor [Hardcover]

Rod Blagojevich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 8, 2009

The Governor provides the most comprehensive look to date at the life of a twice-elected public official in the notoriously complicated world of Illinois politics. We take a tour through the segregated neighborhoods of Chicago, a city of great ethnic diversity, and see firsthand how those divides can evolve into cabals that rival anything found on the national political scene.

We follow the governor as he is awakened early one morning, his young daughter sleeping peacefully beside him, and unceremoniously arrested by FBI agents without knowing the charges being brought against him. We see the harsh glare of the spotlight, the media whirlwind already staking out his home and family, rushing to judgment before even the governor himself knew what crimes he'd been accused of committing. We follow him through the maze of political conspiracies, forces brought to light by the ambition of an attorney general and the greed of her Democratic State Party Chairman father, as well as the zeal of a federal prosecutor and the manipulations of a disloyal lieutenant governor.

The behind-the-scenes workings to fill the Senate seat vacated by the most popular President-elect in decades becomes something much more incendiary when wiretapped conversations are used by authorities to commit the arrest. But, as the governor soon learns, those tapes are not allowed to be played at his impeachment hearings in the House or Senate. What is on those tapes? And why will the prosecution not let them be heard if they were the primary factor in initiating the arrest that started this political scandal in the first place?

Quoting from sources as diverse as Jim Wallis's God's Politics to Aeschylus, Shakespeare to The Purpose Driven Life, The Governor provides not just an inside look at politics on a state and national level but a treatise on the proper place of government in the everyday lives of its people.

It is a mandate for healthcare reform, which the governor feels is the civil rights issue of our lifetime. It is a clarion cry, remarkably, against cynicism in modern governing and a return to a more thoughtful and informed sense of government that views its state budgets as moral documents. It is a lament against the current state of the political landscape, one that too often is wracked by scandal and interwoven with a media-driven culture obsessed with scandal and snap judgments.

And it is a proclamation that one man will not be silenced, that his side of the story must be heard and that the fight for American liberties and freedom must sometimes occur within its own borders.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Accused of trying to sell Barack Obama's vacated senate seat, impeached as governor of Illinois, and abused as a national joke, Blagojevich recounts his political life in this desperate, unsuccessful bid for redemption. While steadfastly maintaining his belief that he's the victim of a vicious conspiracy (headed by members of his own Democratic party), Blagojevich focuses on his humble roots and the good works he has done for the citizens of Illinois. Surprisingly candid about the shady inner workings of local Chicago politics, Blagojevich holds himself aloof from the fray of corruption and glad-handing, faking an almost willful naivety; his absolute refusal to admit wrongdoing rings particularly hollow in combination with his canny insider observations. Blagojevich tries to paper over his disingenuity with incessant repetition and grandiose comparisons to figures like Roosevelt and Shakespeare (a memorable leftover from his earlier cable-news charm offense). Rather than provide any answers, Blogojevich stokes the fires of suspicion, inspiring another, more specific round of questions.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Democrat Rod Blagojevich served as the 40th Governor of Illinois. Son of a Serbian immigrant, he attended Northwestern and earned a law degree from Pepperdine University. First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois' 5th District in 1996, he was elected governor in 2002, re-elected in 2006, and forced from office in 2009.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 264 pages
• Publisher: Phoenix Books; First Edition edition (September 8, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597776467
• ISBN-13: 978-1597776462
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #961,026 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Rod Blagojevich - As Disappointing an Author as a Governor. He Had Been One Tough Prosecutor, September 8, 2009

By 

Citizen John (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Governor (Hardcover)

In The Governor, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich demonstrates the character flaws that hypercharged his rise as a tough prosecutor and ended his political career in spectacular fashion. He was indicted on political corruption charges and unanimously removed from office by the Illinois legislature. He lets us know he's not going to be silenced but then his book doesn't reveal any political facts, missing a perfect opportunity for everybody. Where are the insider deal-making accounts that would have defined this chapter in Illinois history and provided entertainment on an international scale? While I was naturally inclined to get the other side of the story, I felt disappointed.

The Governor doesn't spotlight previously undisclosed corruption. There are no political paybacks from now-impeached Governor Blagojevich, no salacious stories, no juicy details - just a rehash of strident denials and protestations of innocence from his national media tour served with histrionics. The Governor did not reveal a shadow world of Illinois politics as its prerelease promotion implied.

Blagojevich as a Governor and author is a "wedge creator," someone who invokes a big cause (like increased health care coverage for the poor), creates a bad guy (typically for Blagojevich, the Illinois state legislature controlled by his own political party), and positions himself as the hero. This framework allows Blagojevich to suggest that ends justify means. In the former Governor's narcissistic mind, his super-charged, pay-to-play fundraising and his disregard for constitutional and legal technicalities are necessary sacrifices for some greater good. Blagojevich's ramblings about his big causes (259 pages) are superficial and dull.

Prosecutors often develop "wedge creator" skills, making them formidable opponents in politics. Since they work for the public good, some prosecutors can become tempted to rationalize approaches such as creating a "villain" figure and even making false claims. Blagojevich's personality might be ideal or perhaps even dangerous as a prosecutor.

However lacking in new revelations The Governor may be, it may have redeeming value, but not enough to earn it two stars. Readers will be reminded about civic responsibility. One must pay closer attention at election time, and not disregard telltale signs of a politician's character flaws and corruption no matter how good and frequent the 30-second ads. Voters sometimes fail in this regard. They reelected Blagojevich despite widespread news reports of pay-to-play politics and the federal corruption probes that dogged his first gubernatorial term.

Insider accounts and explanations of how things really worked out of the Governor's office at the time would have made this a blockbuster within the literary genre of crooked people in positions of power and the rules by which they play. When he first announced his intent to write this book, Blagojevich promised a "tell all" that would expose corrupt politicians and their associates. Such a book could have been a bestseller and earned film rights. The Governor does not deliver.

10 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars good book, but a little too self indulging, October 14, 2009

By 

O. Rios (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Governor (Hardcover)

you have to admit that Rod Blaojevich is pretty convincing. He's been on every tv show from here to Timbuktu.

His own personally written book, "The Governor" is about this arrest, his life, and the allegations being brought against him by United States Government.

The books starts off as a page turner, recollecting the day he was arrested to the whole process of the day.

then he gets into the roots of his childhood and you begin to lose interest because you really want to know about the allegations more than anything, since that is what he's been denying the entire time.

So here is his official story, and it's been told time and again.

When Barack Obama won the Presidency, his Illinois Senate seat became vacant and it was up to Governor Blagojevich to fill that seat.

He reminds readers that he actually could have filled that seat himself, but rather, he chose the daughter of his biggest political nemises.

He chose Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan in political favor that her father and Blagojevich's biggest nemises, Illinois Speaker of the House of Representatives Michael Madigan, would help pass a job's bill to create some 500,000 new jobs as well as a bill to not pass a new income tax bill.

All the while, he was already under investigation for political corruption, and it didn't help that his conversations were taped and included some pretty incriminating statements such as "this is a valuable thing....you just don't give it away for nothing". (saying this isn't criminal by the way and proves nothing)

In his book, Governor Blagojevich says that he had already made the decision to appoint Attorney General Lisa Madigan to the U.S. Senate, but on the day the appointment was to be made, he was arrested by the FBI.

This is pretty much the jist of the book, and it's believeable the way Rod Blagojevich defends himself. His argument is that he didn't sell the seat, but had already made a choice in exchange for political favors for the people of Illinois as well as himself, even though he doesn't say that he's doing it for himself, only for the people of Illinois.

Blago even writes that the reason for the sudden impeachment was because he didn't resign as Governor. Blago states that he was offered his full salary in exchange for resigning and not appointing anybody to take Obama's open Senate seat. He further states that the Illinois political machine was to appoint Lisa Madigan to the open Senate seat. Blagojevich instead stayed in as Governor and finally appointed Roland Burris, a friend and former foe of his since he felt that an African-American should represent the seat that was once held by an African-American.

BTW, just in case you were wondering. On December 12, 2008, Lisa Madigan, the Attorney General filed a motion with the Illinois Supreme Court to strip Blagojevich of his power as Governor and temporarily appoint the Lt. Governor Pat Quinn instead as Governor. Part of this motion included removing Blagojevich's power to appoint the next U.S. Senator to the vacant senate seat. The motion was denied. On December 16, Lisa Madigan's father, Michael Madigan (Illinois Speaker of the House) began impeachment proceddings, and all of this despite any formal criminal hearing.

Blagojevich makes a valid argument against his impeachment saying that he was elected two times by the people of Illinois and yet, was impeached and thrown out of office despite pending criminal court. His argument is that this was nothing more than a political move by the Illinois political corruption machine, which was able to impeach him on evidence that still hasn't been proven up in a criminal court, and to this, he makes a valid argument.

I know of several politicans in my hometown who have been arrested and charged, yet unlike Rod Blagojevich, still hold their office.

Rod Blagojevich is very convincing and a very charismatic person, and whether he's telling the truth or not, only time will tell.

I would recommend his book because it's very interesting, and unlike others, he wrote this book himself.

it's worth flipping through.

1.0 out of 5 stars refund, August 3, 2011

By 

Steve Howerton - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Governor (Hardcover)

I bought this fine book at our local bookstore for a penny.
Im taking it back and demanding a refund.