Hardball: How Politics Is Played, Told by One Who Knows the Game [Paperback]

Chris Matthews (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 2, 1999

Timed to re-release simultaneously with Chris Matthews’s new book Jack Kennedy, which Simon & Schuster will publish this fall, this national bestseller explores the fascinating, largely unknown, relationship between Nixon and Kennedy and the crucial ways in which it shaped them—and the nation.

Hardball is a tough, funny, tell-all revelation of how politics really works. From tales of raw ambition and brutal rivalry to behind-the-scenes stories of famous disagreements, Matthews reveals the truth about master politicians such as JFK, LBJ, and Richard Nixon, while he explains the real meaning of rules such as “Only talk when it improves the silence;” “Positioning is everything;” and “Always concede on principle.”

Whether addicted to Washington politics or office politics, readers will enjoy this unprecedented guide to grown-ups’ favorite game—the game of position, power, and survival in the world today.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Hardball, first published in 1988, is like a modern version of Machiavelli's The Prince, only much more richly illustrated, with anecdotes drawn from talk-show host Chris Matthews's stint as a congressional staffer (where he worked for, among others, renowned Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill). Discussing such basic principles as "It's not who you know; it's who you get to know" and "Don't get mad, don't get even--get ahead," Matthews not only dishes out choice Washington insider info, he has over the years inspired many readers to apply his principles for political success to their own professional lives.

Review

The Wall Street Journal A thoroughly entertaining book about modern-day American politics and how it's played...Hardball is a must-read textbook that should be read with a marker.

Stephen Stark The Washington Post Every so often a writer reads a book so incisive and so good that when he finally puts it down he says, "Damn, I wish I had written this." I just finished Christopher Matthews' Hardball. And damn, I wish I had written this.

George F. Will Matthews is half Huck Finn and half Machiavelli in this exuberant guide to the great game of politics.

Christopher Lehmann-Haupt The New York Times Savvy and amusing...Fresh and original.

Ben Bradlee author of A Good Life and Conversations with Kennedy Christopher Matthews writes about politics with relish -- the way sports writers cover boxing.

Hendrik Hertzberg Senior Editor, The New Yorker People will be quoting Hardball as long as the game of politics is played.

Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. The best in the business!

Sam Donaldson Brilliant! God may take care of fools, drunks and the United States, but Chris Matthews has the goods on how Washington politicians take care of the rest of us.

William Safire Chris Matthews hits a political homer with Hardball. For political sagacity and humor, this ranks with the work of George Washington Plunkitt.

Tim Russert In Washington, everyone says they "practice" politics, and "develop" policy. But to succeed they know they must "play hardball." This book smartly captures that central truth!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Revised and Updated edition (November 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684845598
• ISBN-13: 978-0684845593
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (82 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,982 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > United States > National
  • #11 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Elections & Political Process > General
  • #28 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Specific Topics > Commentary & Opinion

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 56 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Inside Politics February 5, 2005

By G. Reid

Format:Paperback

Chris Matthews set out to write an honest rulebook on how the game of politics is played and he did just that. It is a nonpartisan guide. Matthews believes that the rules of politics apply to every human life, not just to senators and congressmen. Here are some of the rules of politics as put forth by Matthews:

1. It is not who you know, it is who you get to know. Washington is like working in a big Company where it is who you know is more important than what you know. The key to your success in life is based upon your personal relationships. Nearly everyone in Washington owes their job to a personal friend.

2. All politics is local.

3. It is better to receive than give. Ask for help. The more someone invests in you, the more committed they become to seeing you succeed. As Benjamin Franklin once said, "If you want to make a friend, let someone do you a favor."

4. Dance with the one that brung ya. It is about loyalty to your side. Think about the loyalty that Ronald Reagan had to the conservative movement.

5. Keep your ememies in front of you. Great politicians always stay on speaking terms with fierce opponents to show strength, obtain useful information and because they know that they may have to call on the opponent as an ally some day.

6. Don't get mad, don't get even, get ahead. Focus on getting past your adversaries.

7. Leave no shot unanswered. Always respond to attacks quickly and effectively by attacking the credibility of your opponent, ridicule your opponent, and reverse the attack so it backfires against your opponent.

8. Only talk when it improves the silence. Know when to speak and when to listen.

9. Always concede on principal. In many cases, the best way to achieve one's goal is to concede the argument. Great politicians often negotiate by telling their adversaries exactly what they want to hear. By conceding the principal at issue, they manipulate their critics into accepting their views.

10. Hang a lantern on your problem. When in doubt, get it out.

11. Spin, spin & spin. Always turn negatives into positives.

12. The press is the enemy.

13. Have the reputation of power. Political leaders become powerful by appearing powerful. There are six ways to appear powerful. They are: play your strengths, lowballing, sandbagging, creating new commandments, passing the buck, and put your opponent in a "put up or shut up" position.

14. Positioning yourself to the voters as they desire to see you.

30 of 35 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good way to learn about politics November 4, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

The book is an excellent source of info for an aspiring politician or just someone who is curious about how politics in America work. Matthews talks about several ways in which to make it in politics and among them are: stay ahead of your enemies, "don't get mad; don't get even; get ahead" and "it's better to receive than to give." The best part of the book is that Matthews doesn't merely give a list of political objectives, he shows how successful politicians have put his strategies into practice, and how these strategies helped those politicians. Another great part about the book is that the reader gets an insight to how politics in Washington are done...since Matthews was in the govt.; he gives several insights about the administrations of such presidents as Reagan and Carter. However one criticism of the book is that, at times it drags. This is why I couldn't give it 5 stars. Sometimes Matthews tends to be a little too specific in his details and the point of the chapter is momentarily lost. This is evident in his discussion of Reagan's push for the MX missile and discussions of former employer, Tip O'Neil. On the whole, though, the book is a great way to get on the right track in politics. And some suggestions may be useful outside of the world of politics.

30 of 36 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful tool, even for critics! May 19, 2002

By Traveler TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

I'll admit it, I'm a progressive. I also think that Chris Matthews is a first class jerk with a completely unethical view on what's acceptable in this world.

However, I'm extremely politically active, too. I bird dog presidential candidates (Bush, McCain, Gore, Bradley), worked on a Congressional campaign, etc. etc. And the truth is, as much as I hate the messenger, Matthews is pretty much dead on here with this book. If you want to know how the game of politics is currently played, or at least get a taste for it, you should read this book. It doesn't mean you have to like it or think that Matthews is a great guy. But don't dismiss him out of ideology. If you do you'll miss out on the opportunity to learn things that you can use to your advantage.

Activists, particularly those on the left, need to smarten up if they want to succeed politically. I certainly don't recommend everything Matthews is suggesting, but he's got some words of wisdom that should be utilized.

For example, there's "hang a lantern on your problem." That means, if there's no upside, there's no way to "hide" your problem, expose it yourself! In the process you can define it in your own terms and look honorable in the process. I've used this in my own political work.

Then there's "Leave no shot unanswered" which means you don't let the opposition nail you without coming back with an effective counterstatement. This, as Matthews points out, needs to be balanced against "only speak if it'll improve the silence." He gives good examples (although at times a little disjointed) on these and several other words of wisdom to the politically active.

I can't say I like the playing field, but it is the playing field whether I like it or not. I can curse it, or use it to my advantage while also applying my own moral standards.

If you're a progressive, slog through the baloney -- the fact that this book received a rave review from George Will should give you some indication of what I'm talking about -- but read this book and learn.