The Big Chill: The Great, Unreported Story of the Bush Inauguration Protest (Paperback)

by Dennis Loy Johnson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Entirely unreported in the national media, the landmark protests of president George W. Bush's inauguration day are spotlighted in this firsthand journalistic account of the massive crowd that gathered in Washington, D.C. After the chaotic and much-disputed 2000 election and subsequent recount, hundreds of thousands of protestors stood in the freezing rain for hours and attracted an unprecedented police and military presence, causing the new president to abandon the traditional walk along the parade route. Crisp, telling details capture the scenes of violence between the police and protestors, the sharpshooters lining the roofs, the ominous chants of the group known as the Black Bloc, the wacky protest signs, and the diversity of ages and backgrounds represented by the protestors.

About the Author
Dennis Loy Johnson has contributed to Salon.com and USA Today. He is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize and a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship. He is a former professor of creative writing and journalism at Carnegie-Mellon University and the University of Iowa. He lives in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Melville House; illustrated edition edition (August 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974960977
• ISBN-13: 978-0974960975
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,696,402 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AN IMPORTANT BOOK, January 22, 2005

By	Frank Burke (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This is the only reporter, besides Michael Moore, who ever even mentioned the fact that President Bush couldn't get out of his car at the 2001 Presidential inauguration, because there were too many protestors lining the entire parade route. This little book is like a classic pamphlet from colonial times, telling the story the mainstream wouldn't tell -- because they used a staged photo, as this book documents! You didn't hear about this book because it also documents how and why the media was also the target of protests that day in Washington. But this one really tells it like it is. It's also amazingly well written. Well worth it.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Author, Well Researched, October 25, 2004

By	E. Dolnack (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I worked with this author before in his role as multi-media producer in the edutainment industry in Pittsburgh, PA. He is a very talented writer and an insightful person. It makes me glad to see his work being published and receiving national noteriety here.
This is a well-researched book on an important topic that our corporate news media purposely ignored. It is crucial to telling the story of this Presidency. I recommend Dennis Johnson's book.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Underground Journalism at its Best, January 29, 2005

By	Bo (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

This book is a knockoutt, telling the real story of dissent in America -- the administration is suppressing it, and the mainstream press isn't reporting it. Not only a revealing book, but an interesting one -- the story of the 2000 inaugural protests is fascinating, full of odd characters and military occupations and wild dissent and even great good humor. And you have to admire the author's bravery -- he obviously didn't care if the New York Times gave him a good review!