Citing his experiences at the White House during the Reagan years and in Bush's cabinet, an insider describes how the policies during those administrations produced a extreme polarization in politics and how the country is currently witnessing the political system's self-correction toward the center. 60,000 first printing.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
A veteran of four Republican presidential administrations, Richard Darman argues that political polarization is causing an "unproductive stalemate" in the democratic process and that politicians must be more receptive to experiential evidence, more tolerant of colleagues with opinions different from their own and more open to compromise. Darman admits that during his service in government, he believed that "the populist tinge could help us achieve our policy objectives by broadening the base of our appeals." Indeed, through historical examples, Darman shows that while public debate of issues often originates in the wings (of both parties), moderation is what brings about a solution.
From Publishers Weekly
In this spirited, if defensive, political memoir, Darman, who held key posts in the Reagan and Bush administrations, argues that the American political system requires an effective center based on constructive compromise. That center, he maintains, has been undermined by indecisive President Clinton and extremist House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who, in effect, preside over "a new odd-couple co-presidency" plagued by frequent stalemate and partisan posturing. Darman calls himself a moderate pragmatist and credits Reagan with upholding the political center against ultraconservatives who wanted to ostracize the U.S.S.R., ban abortion and abolish government intervention in the private marketplace. Darman defends his record as Bush's budget director, arguing that the much-criticized 1990 budget act actually led to an economic upturn in 1991-1992. He offers advice to whoever wins the next presidential race: cap the growth of federal expenditures and decentralize power to the states in education, welfare reform, crime prevention, job retraining and the creation of enterprise zones.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Read and topical,
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This review is from: Who's in Control? Polar Politics and the Sensible Center (Hardcover)
Reading this book that came out in in the late nineties is "deja vu all over again". Prescient does not do justice to what Dick Darman wrote and the sad part is our "leaders" have ignored sane advice.
Read it and weep or learn.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Dull All Day,
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This review is from: WHOS IN CONTROL: Polar Politics and the Sensible Center (Hardcover)
I bought this book because I wanted to find out more about the first Bush administration and thought his comments on his years in the Reagan White House would be an added bonus. I tend to be a sucker for any inside guy memoir and this book is one of the downfalls of this addiction. First off the guy was in the budgeting and finance side of government, which should have been an indication to me about his ability as an author, if you spend all your time working with spreadsheets it might not be an easy transition to word processing. I don't know what bothered me more, the fact that he wrote in a very arrogant way or that he was dull. I don't think I can describe it other then to say that it felt like I was being talked down to the whole time I was reading the book. I will give him credit, he did try to make his job with the budget interesting, but there was just too much head wind and he could not break through. The book turned out to be a bit dry and dull. He did do a good job of covering the major events that took place during his time in both administrations. It was just that he did it in a sleep inducing writing style. This is one of the more positive memoirs around, he could not think of anything negative to say about anyone he came in contact with. He was even nice about Haig and Regan, too guys that get blasted in about every other Reagan administration book. He did try and make out one Republican as a bad guy and that was Newt G. He basically said that the reason Bush 1 lost in 1992 was not the no new taxes pledge dust up, the lack of focus on domestic policy, or even the bland campaign; no it was all Newt's fault. What was so interesting is that he did all this blaming on Newt in a very positive way, you almost had to reread sections to make sure that the author was not somehow stating all this blame was some sort of joke. There was one man that the author saved all his nasty and negative comments for, yes you guessed it, the favorite Republican whipping boy - Bill Clinton. This was the last section of the book where the author tried to make that point that compromise is the only way most political work gets done and the very polarized government we currently have is not getting it done. Fair point, but he then proceeds to blame Clinton for about everything under the sun and simply implies that even though Newt is far more partisan, he is only reacting to Clinton. It was a failed circular argument that reeked of partisan hatred for Clinton. At least it was an interesting attack on the man, a bit different then many others. Overall the book was marginally interesting, but the dullness of the book and the arrogance of the author made it painful to read. The end section that was just a anti Clinton rant was enough to leave a very bad taste in my mouth.
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