On the Road with Hillary: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Journey from Arkansas to the U.S. Senate [Hardcover]

Patrick S. Halley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 22, 2002

Patrick S. Halley has had politics in his blood since he was a high school senior. But his life changed with a phone call in 1992 and an offer to work as a campaign advance man, setting up publicity and appearances for Hillary Rodham Clinton, then a presidential candidate's wife, a "secondary" in advance-man parlance. Little did he know that by saying yes, he would embark on a ten-year roller-coaster ride through the American political landscape.

On the Road with Hillary takes readers from President Clinton's successful 1992 presidential bid through two terms in the White House and Hillary Clinton's own victorious run for the Senate in 2000. Through Halley, the reader sees Hillary's multifaceted, sometimes misunderstood persona and often hilarious behind-the-scenes episodes. Filled with tidbits that only an advance man could know, trips to exotic locales across the globe, anecdotes involving who's who in recent Democratic history, and personal encounters with everyone from Fidel Castro to Ronald Reagan to Nelson Mandela, this is the ultimate book for political junkies and all of Hillary's admirers and detractors.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Politics fanatics and Hillary buffs will jump at Halley's account of his nine-year stint as advance man for the first-lady-turned-senator the person responsible for organizing her public appearances and creating the perfect photo op. Whether rubbing elbows with Pamela Harriman or trying to keep Hillary Rodham Clinton and Fidel Castro on opposite ends of the same hotel, Halley thrived on the chaos behind the pomp. Neither jet lag, temperamental ambassadors nor stubborn heads of state were too much for the resourceful, hyperorganized and admittedly demanding Halley, who seemed born knowing how to fill seats and mediate disaster. Although unafraid to confront political leaders Halley once got in a shoving match with then President Clinton he consistently exudes humor, childlike wonder and a pinch-me sensibility about his job. Readers hoping for an expos‚ should look elsewhere, as Halley has nothing but praise for the Clintons. He blames the intensity of their scandals on cutthroat Republicans and "media jackals," and highlights the Clintons' love and support of each other and Chelsea. Although no secrets get revealed (unless one counts the occasional unsightly bad mood), Halley gives readers satisfying scenes of normality: Hillary worrying about her luggage and an underwear-clad Bill highlighting passages from Seamus Heaney. "This woman was the real thing," thought Halley when he first met Hillary, and through 36 countries, 25 states, a slew of scandals and endless excitement, Halley's initial impression only strengthened.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Here's an unusual book: a positive portrait of Hillary Rodham Clinton. Actually, it's more like a love letter. Halley, who served as Clinton's campaign advance man, has nothing but praise for the woman whom he has worked with since 1992, culminating in his role in the campaign that resulted in her successful bid for the Senate. Along the way, Halley advanced trips for Clinton in 36 countries and 25 states. The Hillary Clinton he describes is focused, prepared, caring, and gracious. Though Halley saw less of her husband, President Clinton is also a central player in this story, and he emerges as a more enigmatic figure, although his charisma and willingness to work hard clearly come through. Much of the material that Halley amasses here will only interest a political junkie. And he makes the mistake of portraying himself as the hero of a story that really belongs to Hillary. Still, this insider's account does offer a fascinating look at what goes on behind the scenes on campaign and White House trips; readers won't be able to resist the chance to peek through the keyhole. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult (August 22, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670031119
• ISBN-13: 978-0670031115
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,708,063 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hillary Rocks!!!, November 2, 2002

By 

Gordon (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On the Road with Hillary: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Journey from Arkansas to the U.S. Senate (Hardcover)

Patrick S. Halley's book On the Road with Hillary is a terrific, rollicking, fun read. For Hillary fans, political junkies, or just folks who want to know what really goes on behind the scenes, this is a great book.
I'm not a political junkie but I learned a lot from this book and enjoyed it...Halley is a great story teller, and he tells a story as if you were in his favorite pub in Boston, with him regaling you with tales of a trip just completed, laughing over a glass of his favorite potion, Guinness stout.
Halley is one of the pople that set up appearances for political figures. He prepares successful appearances for Hillary all over the country, from isolated rural college campuses to big city parades and fund raisers. He visits umpteen countries, suffering the hardships of dining in Paris and visiting the poorest places in the world, including Mother Teresa's orphanage in Calcutta. Through it all he never loses the pinch me sense of wonder of a working class kid who makes it good on his native talents but still can't believe his good fortune.
One of the best parts of the book is getting to look at Mrs. Clinton as a real human being. Halley is an unabashed Hillary lover, and he is right up front about that. The thing I liked though is the book does show her as a real flesh and blood human being, and not the one dimensional figure we get through the media at times.
Halley has a real talent for finding trouble and then getting out of it, usually in a daring and funny way. Some of his best stories are about how he wound up buck naked in the lobby of Tokyo's finest hotel, in a losing test of wills with an enraged yak, and in a shoving match with President Clinton while an aghast Mrs. Clinton looked on. But everyone will have a different favorite from this book.
So Hillary bashers, down a quart of maalox and loosen up a bit! But for Hillary lovers, Hillary neutrals, people who like politics, or just people who like fun, this is the book for you.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun introduction to Hillary as a real person, September 7, 2002

By 

Carol H. Jenkins (New Albany, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On the Road with Hillary: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Journey from Arkansas to the U.S. Senate (Hardcover)

This book is fun to read, and presents Hillary Rodham Clinton as a real human being rather than a power-hungry monster. Patrick Halley saw Hillary Clinton at the high points and low points of the Clinton administration, and by the end of the book still finds much to admire in the former first lady.
The behind-the-scenes stories from trips all over the United States and the world are humorous. Mr. Halley and Mrs. Clinton seemed to hit it off right from the start, and he presents an interesting insight into her personality and commitment to her political beliefs and various causes.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and Honest, September 26, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: On the Road with Hillary: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Journey from Arkansas to the U.S. Senate (Hardcover)

Just finished this book. I found it to be a very honest account of Mrs. Clinton. A must read. I've always found it amusing that all the Clinton "haters" out there buy the books and read them!Interesting.