Shop Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Buy used:
$17.37
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime
FREE delivery January 12 - 22 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery January 10 - 16
Used: Good | Details
Sold by FindAnyBook
Fulfilled by Amazon
Condition: Used: Good

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and Amazon Prime.

If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. Learn more about the program.

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Added to

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

John M. Barry
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Ambition and the Power: The Fall of Jim Wright: A True Story of Washington Hardcover – November 30, 1989

by John M. Barry (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 11 ratings
See all formats and editions
Profiles the man whose thirty-five-year congressional career ended ignominiously in the spring of 1989
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    768 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Viking
  4. Publication date
    November 30, 1989
  5. Dimensions
    1 x 1 x 1 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0670819247
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0670819249
  8. See all details
Next slide of product details
Books%20with%20Buzz
Books with Buzz
Discover the latest buzz-worthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor and nonfiction. Explore more

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous set of slides
  1. Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How it Changed America
    John M. Barry
     
    Paperback
    -47%$11.77
    List: $22.00
    Get it as soon as Tuesday, Jan 7
    FREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by Amazon
    Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
  4. War
    Bob Woodward
     
    Hardcover
    -50%$16.00
    List: $32.00
    Get it as soon as Friday, Jan 3
    FREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by Amazon
Next set of slides

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
11 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Top reviews from the United States

  • James Fraze
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ambition and power can too often backfire
    Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I read this book when it first came out and time has done nothing to dim my memory. John Barry did an excellent job of chronicling the fall of Jim Wright. One cannot help but draw comparisons to what is going on in current Congress and wonder if John Boenher will wind up in the same boat. Wright's downfall was brought about by an unscrupulous fellow congressman (Newt Gingrich) who mislead the 'facts' against Wright and was aided by fellow members on the Ethics Committee who were led around by a power-hungry, glory seeking investigator. Ultimately though, Wright was his own worst enemy in trying to push an agenda that rivaled that of then-President Reagan. While no fan of Reagan, it was clear Wright stepped across the line in promoting his own agenda, especially with the Contras. Congress does not have to agree with a President's policy and has the right, and constitutional duty to confer or reject such policies. But put an alternative up? Definitely crossing the constitutional line, much as what is happening today. Makes one remember that old saying, "The more things change the more they remain the same." Wright was felled, Gingrich later brought down by his own ethics conflict and those who made a name for themselves in this whole episode have moved on. Mr. Boehner watch out, you are next
    Excellent book on the inner workings of Congress, especially within the power structure of the then-Democratic majority in the House. Definitely worth reading.
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Mark Greenbaum
    5.0 out of 5 stars No book better on the inner workings of Congress
    Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    For all the thousands of politics books out there today, it is hard to understand why this book has gone out of print and is so hard to find. This is probably because Jim Wright's tenure as Speaker of the House was so brief and he came between more outsize personalities Tip O'Neil and Newt Gingrich.

    That's unfortunate, because this is the best book I've read on the true inner workings of Congress. Jim Wright was a hard personality and not the warm and fuzzy type, but he was toppled probably because he was too effective and too driven, and when Republicans ganged up on him, he did not have the support of his squeamish caucus.

    In the end, the operation of Congress and congressional leadership pivots on delicately handling the enormous egos of Members, and John Barry's book does an incredible job teasing that out by chronicling Wright's brief, but nonetheless fascinating two-year run in the Speaker's rostrum. If you're a politics junkie, get your hands on a cheap copy of the book and you'll plow through it in a week or two. Well worth your time.
    10 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • susan
    2.0 out of 5 stars Not up to very good listing
    Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This book was listed as being in very good condition. No mention was made of the very yellowed pages, torn cover or broken spine. Very disappointing.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Alexander Robinson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
    Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The downfall of Speaker Jim Wright is not well remembered. There are some moments that still very much speak today. For instance a Christmas party where Senators Bob Dole and Joe Biden discuss the state of their Iowa campaigns for President. There are also many lessons and "what ifs."
    Helpful
     Report
  • Gio
    5.0 out of 5 stars Long, Slow, and Sordid
    Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2007
    Long (760 pages), slow, and sordid might sound like a back-handed title for a five-star review. Since the book is out of print, and only one used copy is available, it hardly matters. Nevertheless I want to congratulate John M. Barry for researching and writing the most detailed and accurate description I've ever read of how Congress and the American political system functions. It doesn't build confidence, but it's knowledge that all citizens should confront before they toot and vote. Partisans, don't worry! The portrayal of Demublicans is no more wart-free than that of Republirats. If you believe, as my American Grandfather did, that the electoral process usually sends people of above-average ability and character to Washington, you'd better not read this book lest you become morose and disillusioned.
    Barry's more recent books, Rising Tide & The Great Influenza, are a good deal more readable for intellectual recreation -- excellent books, in fact -- but this is his masterpiece of reportage.
    8 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Publius
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Best inside Congress book in recent years
    Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2000
    This book is incredible in depth of research, interviews with key players in the House of Representatives, a balanced approached, and analysis. It reveals more of the inner workings of the House of Representatives than any other single source. A must read for anyone who wants to understand how the House works, and at the same time how Speaker Jim Wright lost the speakership.
    9 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report