Customer Reviews

Unlimited Access: An FBI Agent Inside the Clinton White House (Thorndike American History)

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

This book made me angry .. yet I couldn't put it down. Rumors from many sources had reached me prior to reading this book .. the Monica bit made me sick .. yet I've noted that this book was written prior to the Monica affair...most curious for a "fabrication"as some would like us to believe. Living here in DC folks often come in contact with those who give you "tidbits".. when I add up the tidbits .. and the known facts, this mess slams me in the face. An interesting note.. at present, Clinton is immune from prosecution and civil suits until he leaves office...BUT what if his wife becomes a Senator? Isn't a Senator's spouse immune too? Seems a convenient way to avoid prosecution. I guess what makes me even angrier is that I am trying to teach my students to be good citizens, to have faith in the system ... how do I answer their challenges when the White House has so little reguard for common decency? I'm A single parent who works hard, pays taxes, and finds that my dollars are squandered. This book is REAL .. that's the scary part .. and it's only the tip of the iceburg. This is a must on the read list .. thank you Gary for having the guts to write this ... most are too afraid.

I found this book very interesting. I'm British, but I take an interest in American politics. In this book ex-FBI agent Gary Aldrich relays his impressions and experiences of the Clinton White House.

AS is obvious from some comments in reviews here, the fact that the book has the political arena as its background means some strong reactions will be stirred almost by default.

But I did not find Aldrich was trying to score political points. His is actually something of a matter of fact analysis of more nuts and bolts issues surrounding the functioning of the White House. And he obviously cares very much about the dignity, efficiency and security of the place. And indeed, through his work he is obviously very knowledgeable about it. Which was one reason I found the book interesting, because it allows a glimpse into some of the basic mechanics of the place at the centre of American politics.

But even though I guess political loyalties will be fired up, it is quite plain to me that the book transcends these, and is in fact about what endures in the system of government beyond them. And although some individuals might get hot under the collar because of political considerations, nevertheless I suggest persons of any political persuasion should really be able to see the issues run deeper.

As for the reliability of the book, surely, the obvious basic fact of the matter is that Aldrich is an eminently credible and authoritative source. His job was to dispassionately and meticulously assess character in the highest office in the land for the sake of the standing of that office. A job he evidently took pride in, took very seriously indeed, did well and was respected for. It's obvious to me the man had Public Servant written all over him. I suggest he has proven a faithful servant to his nation.

I do not sense political opprtumism in this book, but moral courage. Aldrich seems to me to be a decent guy who felt it wrong to just shut up. And in so doing he offers an affirmation of the existence of bedrock decency in law enforcement agencies, itself no small matter.

I can't imagine he took the decision to publish lightly. It seems there was something very wrong in the corridors of power and Aldrich felt duty bound to alert the country. No matter what actual political persuasion Aldrich himself may have, this book is not in itself about that, and I think it's only reasonable to recognise this in assessing it.

I think the book is actually well written, which is part of its effectiveness. But it's not the fancy writing of the novella, its that of the informed, matter-of-fact report. Aldrich cuts to the chase, and his style is fluid and concise, making it very easily readable.

I highly recommend it. It obviously raises specific concerns, but more than that I think it raises fundamental questions about the nature of government in the USA; questions, for instance, pertaining to distinctions between process and personality, important issues when considering the mechanics of democracy.

I think every American should read this book! It shows what really goes on in the White House. This book is very believable and yet I wanted for it to be untrue. It is terrifying to find out how the national security of this country is being compromised on a daily basis. How is it that the American people have been so completely wrong about the President and his wife. And why is Congress, the FBI and CIA overlooking the problems within the Clinton administration. Mr. Aldrich gives facts not only on the unprofessionalism of the white house staff but also on their refusal to complete the necessary background checks and the fact that many of them have used drugs numerous times and may still be using them while working there. The counsel for the president actually allows this behavior. Then there is the president and first lady who often compromise their own safety by not allowing the Secret Service to protect them. The first lady allowed sex and drug paraphenilia to be hung on her Christmas tree. What kind of message is that to be sending the American youth. The list of atrocities goes on and on.

The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars is that it gets a bit redundant at times. Mr. Aldrich tends to make the same point over and over. Other than that, it is a must read. My husband is reading it now and I have at least 6 friends who also want to read it. Thanks Mr. Aldrich for the information and thanks for having the "guts" to publish it.

This is not a literary masterpiece, however this is a must read. I was simply amazed by the content of this book. Aldrich has done this country a fine service by chronicling the shenanigans at the Clinton White House.
I too recognize the singular incident which critics have taken Aldrich to task on, but clearly this book is a first hand account of the Clinton disorganization. Throughout my reading of this book I kept asking myself "where is/was the media?" For instance, Aldrich details the sex and drug activities
in the White House (a charge made by the Speaker) and the media turns a blind eye. After reading this book you will understand the courage it took to write this account.

The more I read the book, the angrier I became with the
Clinton administration.
Unlimited Access will lead the reader to come to one of two
comclusions: either the author is a malicious liar, or the
Clinton White House has many serious problems which must be
investigated immediately. As for myself, I trust the word of
a decorated FBI agent over that of a President and
administration clouded by scandal after scandal.
Before you go to the polls in November, I highly
recommended that you read Aldrich's book. Voters will find
it extremely informative, and essential if one is to make
an informed choice. Those who do not think character matters
in our elected officials will probably reconsider after
reading Unlimited Access.

I read this book many years ago (when it first came out), and have since read it again. Seeing the way that Special Agent Aldrich was treated by the Establishment press made me understand what a powder keg of a book it really was! Aldrich was easily dismissed then; but I wonder if his revelations would be as easily cast aside now with the impeachment done with, and yet more scandals looming that could cast a pall on Vice President Al Gore's run for the presidency.

When I read about the Christmas tree being decorated with drug paraphernalia, and stories about how Clinton administration officials weren't too concerned about finishing their FBI background checks (an absolute requirement designed specifically to weed out those who would do harm to national security). Such things have been the status quo of this particular administration. The way in which Clinton reacted to the Waco siege is particularly brow-raising in view of the evidence that has come out since (the use of flammable CS canisters was STILL not enough to bring about possible punishment of federal officers who allegedly lied about its use during the siege).

The reaction by Aldrich to Vincent Foster's supposed suicide is interesting in retrospect as well. Aldrich doesn't have much new to say to that, except when he regards the fact that Foster was not an imbalanced person in his view, and the agent contends that something was not quite right about the president's longtime friend killing himself (reporter Christopher Ruddy ran afoul of Clintonite spinmeisters by maintaining that Foster,indeed, was a victim of foul play. If it was complete tripe, why did Carville and other Clinton godchildren go after him like they did?).

I am well aware that the radical egalitarians and/or moral relativists out there will still call this book a piece of trash, and repeat the old mantra "the book a waste of a tree", or some such nonsense. But I wholeheartedly disagree. Aldrich's take on the Clintons (especially Hillary, who would throw a poisonous glance at anyone who dared look at her, or worse yet, say "Good morning!" to her!) is interesting, and presupposes the era of Monica and the subsequent impeachment on grounds of obstruction of justice and witness tampering (not...ahem...just sex...please...).

I will add to this that I do think Aldrich wrote the book because he disliked the Clintons, not just because of his conservative leanings, which are very evident. The book is deducted a star because I think it was too much a motivating factor; I would have preferred an expose based solely on what he saw. Keeping this in mind, read the book that first opened the eyes of many who wondered just how far the Clintons could go with the Scandal-of-the-Month administration they created.

Yes, folks, character DOES count. This book clearly shows why.

As a career FBI officer, Gary Aldrich was at the pinnacle of his career. Having served with Pres. Reagan and Bush, he found the Clinton Administration to be a stark, horrible contrast.

As one of two FBI agents permanently assigned to the White House, one of his responsibilities was to do the background checks on White House staff and advisors. At almost every turn, he was stonewalled and not allowed to do even perfunctory checks of Clinton's friends and associates... Though it is supposed to be complete within 90 days of the new President assuming office, many people never did get properly "vetted".

Another major disappointment was the crude and vulgar language used by Clinton and his First Lady, the "F" word being quite popular.

Then there was the revulsion he experienced when asked to help decorate the White House Christmas tree, only to discover that the majority of the "ornaments" were sex toys.

There are many other examples of the appaling lack of character exhibited by the Clintons and their cronies... so much so that Aldrich finally had enough, and retired early...

The book isn't a literary masterpiece, it's a litany of the excesses, abuse of power, and moral turpitude of the persons we should be able to look to for leadership and moral courage.

The fact that this book is not particularly well written quickly recedes into the distant background, as the sleazy story of the grimy group that comprised the Clinton Administration captures and holds the reader's attention almost from the very first page.

Published by Washington's Regnery Publishing, Inc. in 1996, the book contains 222 powerful pages of inside information compiled by the FBI agent/author, during his tour of duty at the Clinton White House.

Each of the eleven chapters is introduced by an apt quote from Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals: A Practical Primer for Realistic Radicals", and from "George Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation."

An interesting contrast: George Washington, famous for the cherry tree incident and "I cannot tell a lie" as a personal philosophy, v. Saul Alinsky, famous for nothing at all, but garishly reflecting the Clinton's "adjustable ethics and moral relativism."

The book exposes a White House obsessed with the latter and condemned by author Aldrich, thus: "Without ethical men and women in government, the pomp and circumstance is a sham and power is merely abused." Blow jobs in the Oval Office are not mentioned.

Among the eleven chapter rubrics one finds: Rose Law--North; The Unraveling of Vince Foster; Drugs; The Travel Office Tragedy; all looking at different Clinton Administration scandals.

The Epilogue quotes Hillary Clinton as saying, to the Secret Service: "Stay the f--k back, stay the f--k away from me. Don't come within ten yards of me, or else!" Sounds like a threat to me.

The most remarkable feature of the book is on page 205, where it is revealed that the government's investigation of the Clintons recommended denying Bill and Hillary: 1- security clearance, 2- permanent White House passes, and 3- access to the White House.

Now that the Clinton infection of the White House is ended, and the "most ethical administration in history" slithers off into the sunset -- or to China -- this book remains as a reminder of their eight-year effort to dismantle America.

I read this book years ago, but I recommended it again just today. If even a fraction of it is true (and I suspect it is a whole lot more than a fraction), it is REALLY scary.

This is a MUST READ which for a long time was unavailable.
The FBI (at whose orders?) refused permission for publication.
The book was privately published by brave people in, of all places, California, and was almost impossible to get. It's an eye-opener and really worth owning.