The Man Who Would be President: Dan Quayle [Hardcover]

Bob Woodward (Author), David S. Broder (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1992

Revealing the man behind the bad press, two premier journalists uncover the real Dan Quayle--an ambitious, crafty politician who possesses much more savvy than his many detractors are willing to admit. 50,000 first printing. National ad/promo.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Readers will find little here to change perception of Vice President J. Danforth Quayle as a lightweight with a short attention span, a confused sense of history and lacking in "the vision thing." In a reprint of a controversial seven-part series that appeared in the Washington Post , journalists Woodward and Broder describe Quayle's 1976 entry into politics, his contributions as a senator, his aggressive campaign to be picked by George Bush as his 1988 running mate, his ordeal-by-ridicule throughout that campaign and his accomplishments as vice-president. There's an entire chapter on Quayle's golf obsession ("I can't get enough of it!") in which the authors aver that the game is a major part of his life, essential to his psychic balance and a key to understanding him. We're shown that another key is his formidable wife Marilyn, and Woodward and Broder do a fine job describing her role in her husband's career. She comes off as having more substance than he. And she is more interesting to read about in this short but informative book. Photos.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Overshadowed by jokes and negative press, the real Dan Quayle finally emerges in this reprint of a January 1992 seven-part Washington Post series of articles by Broder, the dean of political columnists, and investigative reporter Woodward, author of The Commanders ( LJ 8/91). (Librarians should note that the publisher reverses the co-authors on the book jacket.) Though he lacks intellectual depth, Quayle is presented as a decent politician (and parent), who is able to get along with others and who is adept at promoting himself. In this regard he resembles William Howard Taft and Warren G. Harding. In fact, even their wives shared similar temperaments: they were all talented, ambitious, and frustrated. This is likely to become the definitive work on the Quayle vice presidency. It confirms Richard F. Fenno's account of Quayle's legislative career ( Making of a Senator , Congressional Quarterly, 1989) and adds balance to the media's negative view of Quayle during the 1988 campaign (see Jules Witcover's Crapshoot , 12/91).
- William D. Pederson, Louisiana State Univ., Shreveport
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (May 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671791834
• ISBN-13: 978-0671791834
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,655,178 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Is He Dumber Than W? You Decide, March 24, 2002

By 

The Orange Duke "orangeduke" (Cupertino, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Man Who Would be President: Dan Quayle (Hardcover)

Did George Bush pick a dingbat for his vice President? You bet. Were the
American people troubled by the notion that the dingbat could become
President one day? You bet. Did two conservative journalists write an easy
to read puff piece on the dingbat? You bet. Does it fail to hide the fact
that the dingbat is an intellectual lightweight and basically a spoiled son
of a wealthy family? You Bet. It's a good read though.