Customer Reviews

The Imperial Rockefeller: A Biography of Nelson A. Rockefeller

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This was a very good writing of the life story of Nelson A.
Rockefeller. This book tells you of the wealth that Rockefeller was raised in. It then takes him to adulthood. His years of government service are well covered by the author. His four terms as the Governor of the state of New York are documented. His term as Vice-President of the United States is also in this
book. His being dropped from the Republican ticket is also told
in detail in this book. Rockefeller's life is well covered in this book. His service is unquestioned. You will also notice that
Rockefeller was the force that brought several good people to government service. Buy this book and read it. You will not be
dissapointed.

Persico was Nelson Rockefeller's speechwriter for over a decade, and he sheds an even handed light on the former governer and Vice president. While it isn't always flattering, it strives to be fair. Moreover, Persico wrote the tome with a voice that most readers can relate to, which is an understandable awe at the vast resources of the Rockefeller family, and how the fortune is almost the rosetta stone of modern philanthropy. Beyond that, the book is an observation at the brilliance, generousity, obtuseness, egocentricity, & exasperating proclivities that made the late governer such an enigmatic figure. 90% of the material is from his election to governer onward, so you won't get much of his upbringing, but you'll have ample insight of those years to give the later years context. You'll see how his governership shaped NY State today, for better or worse. A very worthwhile read if Nelson or the Rockefellers interest you.

While I would strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in the life and career of New York Governor (1959-1973) and American Vice President (1974-1977) Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller (1908-1979) I would add the caveat that this book is more of a personality profile than an in-depth biography. Joseph E. Persico (1930-) worked closely with Rockefeller, as his speachwriter, from 1966-1977. The strenght of this book is Persico's up close observation of his subject for many years and the uniqueness of the book is that Rockefeller's aides have generally not written books about the experience.

My definition of this book as primarily a personality profile versus a biography is not to split hairs but simply to set the expectations of the reader. What Persico does not see, such as Rockefeller family background, is covered but is fairly flat in style and "canned" in terms of content. Similarly, what would have to be covered in depth in a full biography, such as Rockefeller's expansion of the New York State university system, is here given all of one paragraph! However, what Persico sees of Rockefeller up close, and it is a lot, is rendered vividly.

Rockefeller was an interesting figure: interested in big ideas and programs, constantly positive and upbeat, able to interface with all types of people and cultures, with great stamina, generous under the right circumstances etc. However his staff both loved and feared him. He demanded twenty four hour support, dissent had to be handled very carefully and Rockefeller was cold to any perceived disloyalty. The list goes on and on in Joe Persico's insightful book.