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Joseph E. Persico

The Imperial Rockefeller: A Biography of Nelson A. Rockefeller Paperback – April 1, 1983

by Joseph E. Persico (Author)

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The former Rockefeller aide and speech writer recreates the life and several careers of the man whose resources, long public service, charm, and political power and energy never won him the one office he desired, the presidency

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Product details

Paperback
Publisher: Pocket (April 1, 1983)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0671471465
ISBN-13: 978-0671471460
Package Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
Customer Reviews: 7 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,761,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #257954 in Biographies

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Leonard Resto

Outstanding Read!

Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Joe Persico has written a riveting book which was hard to put down. The quality of his writing shows why he was a speech writer for Governor and Vice President Rockefeller for many years. What I didn't know and found quite interesting was how Rockefeller thought on such a grand scale; yet, he was so unfamiliar with the popular trends going on right around him. I shook Governor Rockefeller's hand once as he campaigned for his last term as Governor and he came across as a common, friendly guy. Joe Persico's book tells a story of an irresistable force behind that facade. A fascinating book and a must read for those interested in the Rockefeller family and politics in general. Well done, Joe!

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Arthur M. Brown

... New York State and the Rockefeller years will really enjoy this book

Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Any person interested in the political history of New York State and the Rockefeller years will really enjoy this book.

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Three Stars

Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Just the facts biography that, as the author acknowledges, strays into autobiographical territory.

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david brown

More Personality Profile Than Biography

Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2011

Format: Paperback

While I would strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in the life and career of New York Governor (1959-1973) and American Vice President (1974-1977) Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller (1908-1979) I would add the caveat that this book is more of a personality profile than an in-depth biography. Joseph E. Persico (1930-) worked closely with Rockefeller, as his speachwriter, from 1966-1977. The strenght of this book is Persico's up close observation of his subject for many years and the uniqueness of the book is that Rockefeller's aides have generally not written books about the experience.

My definition of this book as primarily a personality profile versus a biography is not to split hairs but simply to set the expectations of the reader. What Persico does not see, such as Rockefeller family background, is covered but is fairly flat in style and "canned" in terms of content. Similarly, what would have to be covered in depth in a full biography, such as Rockefeller's expansion of the New York State university system, is here given all of one paragraph! However, what Persico sees of Rockefeller up close, and it is a lot, is rendered vividly.

Rockefeller was an interesting figure: interested in big ideas and programs, constantly positive and upbeat, able to interface with all types of people and cultures, with great stamina, generous under the right circumstances etc. However his staff both loved and feared him. He demanded twenty four hour support, dissent had to be handled very carefully and Rockefeller was cold to any perceived disloyalty. The list goes on and on in Joe Persico's insightful book.

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Dr. M. W. Jackson

More a memoir than a biography but insightful and well written.

Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2014

Format: Hardcover

The Rockefeller in these pages is full of energy, enthusiasm, and good will though not always well disciplined. Among his many attractive features is a complete lack of self-consciousness about his own singularity as an incredibly wealthy titan who chose, repeatedly, the hard and often unrewarding work of public life: many years on commissions and committees and seventeen years in elected office. He never expected anyone to thank him for his sacrifices, and just as well because no one did.

Equally impressive is Rockefeller’s interest in evidence and argument about public affairs, domestic and foreign, which translated into talent scouting consultants, researchers, speech writers, and retainers of many stripes, notably Dr. H. Kissinger. Rockefeller generated a blizzard of position papers, reports (often to himself), assessments, public hearings at his own expense and more. He was, on this account, a whirlwind to work for and often thoughtless in driving his staff to produce more and better.

Many billionaires keep it to themselves, including some far wealthier than Rockefeller, but Nelson followed his father in philanthropy and his commitment to art and architecture are another side to the man. He sought out, bought, and on this account seemed to enjoy contemporary art; it was more than an investment for him. There is a charming account of Nelson walking past an 'objet d'art' in an office building, stopping in his tracks to study it, causing a pile-up of the following entourage, and quivering with excitement Rockefeller sent an aide to find the artist. In due course, Rockefeller, driving a hard bargain, bought the work and kept it in his private office for years. A reader is left In no doubt that Rockefeller loved the expression, the creativity, the provocation he found in painting and sculpture.

In architecture he thought big, witness that colossus at Albany that now bears his name.

He was critical in bringing the United Nations to New York and donating the land on which the building now stands.

Less appealing is his Hamlet procrastination about seeking the presidential nomination. He could never quite go for it. Perhaps his easy life made it but an option for him, one among many others, rather than a desperate lifelong quest as it was for his nemesis Richard Nixon. Rockefeller had no fear of losing because win-or-lose, he was always Rockefeller, but Nixon had nothing else so he committed himself completely to the task. All of this is my speculation for the book sheds little light on the inner man, despite the title "Biography" there is little about his life. It is more a memoir of the author's experience of working for Rockefeller.

Rockefeller is quoted saying in later life that he was too busy being governor to devote three of four years to mounting a presidential campaign. In his case that meant setting up a national organization and going anywhere and everywhere to support Republican candidates. But his heart would not have been in it, and he would jhave been unable to conceal it. He wanted to do things himself not lead cheers for others, though that is what Nixon, Barry Goldwater, and Ronald Reagan did and they got nominated.

Rockefeller was a completely unrepentant Cold Warrior and a 100% Hawk on Vietnam, and never changed.

He seems, on this account, to have been blind to colour and to the racism of the United States. He mouthed platitudes now and again but it was scripted not felt, say in contrast to Bill Clinton who was absolutely right on race. Likewise he was deaf to the early stages of women's liberation. Not a leader on either of those scores.

The author even ten years later seems star-struck by the The Grand Nelson, and why not? He was certainly one of a kind. Other rich men, I cannot think of a female example, have dabbled in politics, but he was a stayer in New York State politics for sure, four gubernatorial elections and fourteen years in the Governor's chair, and much accomplished in shaping New York, if leaving many bills to be paid later. (He financed many of his state projects by selling bonds that one day had to be paid, long after his tenure - sovereign debt.)

There is a story that in 1968 Hubert Humphrey approached Rockefeller about going on his ticket as Vice-President. He declined, saying "I'm a Republican, and always will be." But what did that mean to him? A tribal loyalty, a second skin that could not be shed, even after that confrontation in 1964 with the mob Barry Goldwater let loose, not even after being comprehensively out maneuvered by Nixon in the 1968 convention. While many Republicans doubted Rockefeller was a Republican, Rockefeller never doubted it. He was what used to be called a Ripon Republican, a breed now destroyed by the Tea Party tail of the Republican Parody. (Intentional.)

In fact, Rockefeller's presidential efforts were few. One primary in Oregon, many position papers and press conferences on national and international issues, but few campaigns to win votes, or systematic efforts to win the support of Republican Party delegates. In 1968 he declared himself a candidate one week and then withdrew the next.

It is a mystery, for the author says Rockefeller dominated any room he entered with the force of his personality. Yet though he often dreamed of being president, Rockefeller said later, he never made the sustained and disciplined effort it needed, though he was quite capable of sustained and disciplined efforts as his other public service shows. Indeed he was quite tenacious over the years in pressing his agenda.

Then in the dark and confusing days after Nixon's unprecedented resignation, Rockefeller accepted Gerald Ford's offer of the Vice-Presidency. There are a lot of questions there. Why did Ford turn to Rockefeller? Why did Rockefeller accept? On that it seems that Rockefeller thought he could make something of the office in the extraordinary circumstances after Watergate. After all Henry Kissinger was his creature, superintending foreign policy. He, Nelson Rockefeller, would throw himself into domestic policy! That ambition sufficed to motivate him to endure a long, embarrassing, and unfriendly confirmation in Congress, but it perished after a couple of meetings with President Ford.

For the first time in his life, Rockefeller had nothing of moment to do. Dutifully he made the best of the hand he held, going to state funerals, opening parks, handing out ribbons and medals, and the like.

When Ford prepared to run for (re-)election, the Republican Party, then dominated by its Southern tail, ruled Rockefeller unacceptable. To his credit Rockefeller accepted that fate, too, and in fact nominated Bob Dole for the job, going quietly into retirement. (Bob Dole has since been demonised by the Tea Party ultras.)

He had worked for every president from Franklin Roosevelt to Gerald Ford in one capacity of another with the exception John Kennedy, both Democrat and Republican. (In fact, he later did a short stint for Jimmie Carter.)

The end of his term as Vice-President marked the end of his life in public service. He spent his last years with his art collection, finding ways to make it accessible to the public through exhibits, reproductions, and publications with introductions which he sometimes wrote himself and his gravelly voice seems to rise from the page to offer his visceral response to many works.

The book ends with Nelson's empty desk in Room 5600 in New York City where he did most of his work with the painting he hung on the wall in front of the chair, Georges Rouault's 'The Old King,' a work I have admired in reproductions over the years. It was a gratifying confirmation to know that Nelson liked it, too.

The old king is remote, glacial, determined, defiant even, and unattractive, but clearly a force. Perhaps it is the measure of what Rockefeller wanted to be.

Pedant's note. Ford was not elected president and Rockefeller was not elected Vice-President but I kept it simple above, because these are elected offices. Weak, I know.

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J. Philip

Fair-minded biography by Rockefeller's speechwriter

Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2008

Format: Paperback

Persico was Nelson Rockefeller's speechwriter for over a decade, and he sheds an even handed light on the former governer and Vice president. While it isn't always flattering, it strives to be fair. Moreover, Persico wrote the tome with a voice that most readers can relate to, which is an understandable awe at the vast resources of the Rockefeller family, and how the fortune is almost the rosetta stone of modern philanthropy. Beyond that, the book is an observation at the brilliance, generousity, obtuseness, egocentricity, & exasperating proclivities that made the late governer such an enigmatic figure. 90% of the material is from his election to governer onward, so you won't get much of his upbringing, but you'll have ample insight of those years to give the later years context. You'll see how his governership shaped NY State today, for better or worse. A very worthwhile read if Nelson or the Rockefellers interest you.

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Jeremy Jones

Interesting man, not such a great book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 7, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Having looked for a Nelson Rockefeller biography for a year or so I was very keen to read this once I came across it. However, despite the writer having been Rockefeller's speechwriter during the late 60s / early 70s, it's not actually written that well. It's not really a biography, more a memoir of the author's time with him. Contains some interesting information, but didn't investigate matters beyond the author's own first-hand observations.

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Jenny

Five Stars

Reviewed in Canada on December 10, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Really enjoyed this in-depth story of Nelson Rockefeller.
I enjoy books by Joseph E. Persico.
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