Customer Reviews

Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi's Life, Times, and Rise to Power

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Book Review: Madame Speaker

This review is on the third book I have bought on or about her.

Two review sources have been used to help in this review: Amazon (AZN) and Barnes & Noble (B&N). An interesting sequence of Customer reviews was noted as follows:

Thirteen reviews were recorded on AZN by Peter Richardson. He was responsible for 13 out of 21

reviews. Now 21 reviews is a small number by what one would expect to see on Amazon, but

large in this sampling. His third review covered this book. Richardson notes that "Readers

expecting a full blown, soup to nuts critical biography won't find it here." He reports that the

picture that emerges from this book "is that of an organized, hardworking, business like

leader." He goes on to report that he enjoyed this book. He closed, by calling it "Very

worthwhile."

However this accolade was followed by:

"(Full disclosure: I edit Pelosi's daughter, Christine.)." This addition, while one can appreciate

The motive behind it, is surely one that would not give one much confidence in this review.

One review was recorded on AZN by C. Williams. This seven line review starts out declaring that the author "has done a superb job pulling together a coherent and well told story of the rise of Nancy Pelosi." He concludes with the observation that this "would make an excellent book group choice for women seeking inspiration." However, in my reviews on two other books on Ms Pelosi, I have noted that she may be suffering from a royalty fixation. This would not be a good fit for women "seeking inspiration."

One review was recorded on AZN by Joseph A. Hennessey. This review was substantially larger at 17 lines, primarily used for inputs from two historians: Edward H. Carr and Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. He concluded it by commenting "that this book is a must read." However, that was a conclusion I simply could not share.

Zero reviews were posted on B&N. However, Kirkus Reviews posted the following partially edited review: "By-the-numbers bio of the Speaker of the House." Former San Francisco Chronicle Washington bureau chief Sandalow seems unsure whether to like, dislike or fear Nancy Pelosi, whose career he has been covering since 1987 (though, by his account, whom he first met only in 1993). "I have had a hot and cold relationship with Pelosi," he writes. Apparently Madam Speaker returns the favor, for this is an unauthorized biography chockablock with imagined conversations and scenes that speak to lack of access, unless he were hiding under her bed when the call from the White House came to congratulate her on her election to the nation's third in command. We will never know. Admittedly, Sandalow notes, Pelosi disdains the press; her attitude probably won't be improved by this too often ham-fisted piece, with all its unnecessary flourishes and choppy paeans to Pelosi's legendary multitasking abilities ("Each day was a logistical labyrinth. Carpools. Fund raising letters. School plays. Donor meetings. Birthday parties. Printing deadlines. Teacher meetings. Slate cards. Soccer practice. School supplies.)

Conclusion. The number of customer reviews seen hear speak for themselves. Thirteen, one, one and zero reviews are almost trivial numbers compared to what one would expect to see, and seem to declare there is not much of a book here, and again a book I am sorry that I bought.

This portrait of the nation's first female Speaker of the House is built for speed; its short paragraphs and newspaper style are probably the result of Sandalow's former day job at the San Francisco Chronicle. Readers expecting a full-blown, soup-to-nuts critical biography won't find it here, and the "Times" part of the subtitle isn't quite apt. This is Pelosi's life story, told quickly and effectively, but without the benefit of much retrospection or even cooperation from the subject or her staff. (Pelosi is planning to write a memoir.) For this more replete kind of biography of a San Francisco politician, the gold standard is still John Jacobs's *Rage for Justice*, which features Phil Burton, one of Pelosi's mentors.

Still, I enjoyed *Madam Speaker* and learned a lot from it. In fact, one of the things I learned is that Pelosi wasn't Burton's creature, though Burton's widow Sala essentially bequeathed her House seat to Pelosi on her death bed. Pelosi is quoted as saying that Phil Burton might not have supported that move. Interesting.

The other thing I learned is how much political savvy Pelosi picked up from her family in Baltimore. Her father was elected both to the House and as mayor, and he did retail politics the old-fashioned way--right in the neighborhood. In fact, he did a lot of it in the family home, which was frequently full of constituents seeking favors and whatnot. Pelosi's father also provides a good deal of the book's color. Her messaging is very disciplined; he was more willing to open up his game, and Sandalow records some of his zingers, at least two of which are laugh-out-loud funny.

The picture that emerges from Sandalow's biography is that of an organized, hardworking, business-like leader. She's sure of her convictions but focused on results, self-respecting but more than willing to share the credit. Most of her peers describe her as a tough Italian grandmother--which happens to match her self-description. "I'm not taking complaints today," she used to tell her five young children when the lamentations began. But like all good legislative leaders, she knows what motivates her colleagues, tracks every detail, and takes no guff.

Very worthwhile. (Full disclosure: I edit Pelosi's daughter, Christine.)

Marc Sandalow has done a superb job pulling together a coherent and well told story of the rise of Nancy Pelosi. The stories of her childhood in Baltimore, her fathers accomplishments in the parochial neighborhoods of Baltimore and the lessons Pelosi seems to have learned about building relationships are well told and generally not well known about the San Francisco politician. Sandalow does an good job pulling together a coherent story of a women who has made a huge impact as the role of women in politics becomes a part of the American landscape. Would make an excellent book group choice for women seeking inspiration.

Edward Hallet Carr, in his seminal account of the study of history, What Is History?, writes, "History cannot be written unless the historian can achieve some kind of contact with the mind of those about whom he is writing." Yet, there exists a fine balance between a writer achieving disinterested contact with mind of those about whom one writes, and serving as an instrument in advancing or undermining the power of those about whom one writes. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. writings on the Kennedy years illustrate the danger of the later. Marc Sandalow's book Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi's Life, Times, and Rise to Power demonstrates the insight that can be achieved by the former. Sandalow's unauthorized biography draws upon years of critical reporting on Nancy Pelosi during his tenure at the San Francisco Chronicle. Years as a professional (and some times adversarial) questioner of Pelosi has yielded a narrative account of her rise to power that spares few punches yet unapologetically recognizes Speaker Pelosi's achievements where such recognition is due. E.H. Carr also wrote, "History is progress through the transmission of acquired skills from one generation to another." Speaker Pelosi has certainly acquired skills. Marc Sandalow's book is a reliable, objective, disinterested conduit through which those skills will be transmitted to a new generation of political leaders. This is a must read for those seeking to understand today's political environment, how a woman politician gathered and consolidated power, and where the Democratic Party will be heading in its recently-achieved post Clinton era.

Joseph A. Hennessey

Once I started "Madam Speaker," I stayed up until the wee hours before I could finally put it down. The book is written in an extremely lively style, enhanced by some great quotes, and is quite informative. I didn't know a whole lot about Pelosi before picking up this book, and was pleased that someone of such great responsibility came across as a competent, pragmatic, and principled public servant. The book is also a fascinating interesting portrayal of San Francisco in the 80's. I'd recommend it for anyone - not just political junkies.

Seems to be objective. Is very enlightening. Summary appears to be: She will stand for principle if she thinks her party does not, but at the same time is over the top partisan, and works extremely hard at her craft. My personal view is that excess partisanship does not serve the country well. Both parties need to work together for the good of the country and, I believe the book makes the point, that she has plenty of room for improvement.

Her only accomplishment was decorating the congressional dining area....how awful to have such a position to lead and have so little ability to look outside the box. I read at least 2 books a week and found nearly no substance in this particular read.

What a fascinating life of privlege Nancy has lived. Not even the cheerleading author can disguise the fact the Nancy is the biggest hypocrite on earth. Be born rich, marry rich, and you can do anything! You go girl!

Pelosi has to be the most revolting person on earth.

BORING! This book is just a little better than....

I'M FALLING IN SOMETHING AND THIS TIME I HOPE IT'S LOVE!

You don't need this many pages to talk about the LOVELY, 70-year old

Ms. Pelosi with her clicking false teeth.

Don't waste your money.

As a history professor, I am deeply interested in the position of Speaker of the House. This, after all, is a position once handled with masterful skill by such people as Henry Clay, Tip O'Neill, and Joe Cannon---probably the most powerful speaker ever. In light of this, Nancy Pelosi's claim to fame as the first female Speaker, while a historical footnote, is utterly meaningless in light of her tenure. Much of the book is about her rise to power---good enough there. Certainly, however, there is nothing unusual about an anti-war, anti-capitalism, anti-death penalty "Catholic" (who holds to virtually none of Catholic doctrine) coming to power in ultra-liberal San Francisco.

What is of potential value is her term as speaker. Did she replicate Newt Gingrich's remarkable revolution in introducing 10 previously un-voted-upon points for debate (nine of which passed)? No. In fact, in her tenure, the only legislation that the House has actually dealt with has been a meaningless minimum wage increase. Energy? Pelosi has skipped town rather than even allow a vote on this (shades of the pre-Contract With America complaints). But even to her constituents, she has been less than reliable. There has been no vote on the Iraq conflict (the Democrats would lose, and they knew it); there has been no vote on illegal immigration (ditto).

The most remarkable aspect of Pelosi's tenure is that she has managed to keep her job, having advanced virtually none of her constituents' legislation, and at the same time blocked all energy legislation that might conceivably lower gas prices. Sex alone is not a qualification for leadership, and Pelosi proves it.