Rating: 
Summary: Overall an easy and enjoyable read
Review: Joe Klein, journalist and author of "Primary Colors," has written a very light and easy-to-read book about the Clinton presidency. This book is not a tell all, nor does it document all the facts of Clinton's two terms. Instead, in broad strokes, Klein wants to capture a fairly big or overall portrait of the Clinton presidency. With some exceptions, he seems to do a fine job.The book essentially reads like an extended Newsweek article. It is not very meaty, the sentences are short and simple, and one could easily read this book on a longer plane ride. Klein takes us from Arkansas where Clinton was preparing for the primaries, though two terms at the White House, and through key moments of the Clinton Presidency such as healthcare reform, reelection, Lewinsky, and legislative battles. In short, it is a broad overview and not a detailed account of Clinton's eight years. Somewhere in the middle of the book Klein takes a serious right turn for about twenty pages and discusses Newt Gingrich's rise to power. Frankly, I thought the subject could have been handled in half the pages. The tangent is interesting, but I really don't see how it adds much to Klein's account of Clinton's presidency. The twenty pages might have been better used by looking at another aspect of a presidency that continues to ignite debates and stir emotions. The other disappointing aspect of this book is the author's word choice. The book is easy and light reading, but every five or so pages, like clockwork, we see some odd language use that is seriously out of place. We hear about "North Carolina's antediluvian Visigoth senator..." somewhere toward the end of the book. This is but one example, but many more can easily be found throughout. Other reviewers provide such examples and I won't reiterate. I'll just say that nobody talks like this, and I can't help but wonder why an accomplished writer would want to write like this. The language is seriously out of place relative to the rest of the book. That said, Klein's view of the Clinton presidency is interesting even if there are no new arguments or insights. Klein is certainly one of a small number of people in a position to write such a book. He was there, alongside Clinton in a sense, from start to finish. As a result, we get an interesting perspective and an enjoyable read. This book is certainly worth reading. Little annoyances aside, I am glad I took the time to learn more about this presidency. In a sense, it makes me look forward to Clinton's autobiography. I suspect the story of Bill Clinton is far from finished.
Rating:
Summary: Still in the Confessional
Review: Joe Klein is still muttering mea culpas for the oft-denied, nown-admitted "anonymous" Primary Colors. The book was a hoot (much better than the movie) in its depiction of Bill Clinton as a fascinatingly, repellant character. I suppose to prove that he really didn't mean all those snide, mean things he's been telling everyone who'd listen that he really likes the guy. If anyone is a natural polician it is the man from Hope. Even in the depths of his scandals (his falling asleep during hours of phone sex was the latest headline) I told my boys that he epitomized the American dream. Klein agreed. Where else can a poor chubby boy from the most backward state in the Union with a dysfunctional family become the leader of the country? His native intelligence and curiousity was both a curse and a blessing. It enabled him to succinctly explain his point of view and simultaneously become paralyzed in analysis. Klein shows the good and the bad - there was plenty of both. He always wanted to do great things but personal habits, ingrained years before, kept destroying that goal. His daily obscenity-filled tirades have been described by aides; his lifelong filandering has been documented but almost as well known is his deep religious faith. Klein briefly discusses the enigma of Hillary who both made and broke the man. In the end, one is left wondering what Bill Clinton believes - his wide-ranging interests led him into new and different directions while his political genius recognized the latest trend for political use. He was the Natural - an excellent title and description.
Rating:
Summary: a natural number two!
Review: The author Joe Klein describes Al Gore as "a natural number two", which is synonymous with "dookie", when you think about it. So is this book. I lived in DC trhoughout the Clinton presidency and remember all of the events described in this book (from 1993 to 2000 and beyond), and was looking forward to an in-depth analysis of what The Washington Post didn't tell you. Instead, it felt gossipy and poorly written. What serious author writes in "teenspeak"? At one point, the author writes "Bush's popularity was at like 80 percent ..." That was annoying. At other times, he got flowery with euphemisms like "Gingrich's successor, Robert Livingston of Louisiana, also resigned after rumors that he, too, had experienced moments of untoward humanity with women not his wife in the past." How many nebulous phrases do you need to say "people thought he had an affair"? He also gets facts wrong -- he says the hairdresser rumored to cut Clinton's hair at LAX, tying up air traffic for hours, is "Christo". It is actually "Christophe" -- "Christo" is the artists who wrapped the Chrysler Building in papier maiche. He should have hired a college student to check his facts. Once you get through the overwritten, underedited mess, there is a relatively good analysis of the presidency, but it still doesn't feel like it was worth the effort.
Rating:
Summary: Charismatic and Imperfect, Human
Review: I've been a big fan of Klein's previous work on Primary Colors and was looking forward to reading a book that might shed some light into Clinton's strengths and weaknesses. Although the book was interesting and informative, there were no surprises or new insights. If you are looking for an introduction to the Clinton administration or just a new perspective on his character, The Natural was great.
Rating: 
Summary: Straight portrait of a presidential dissembler.
Review: Absorbing, incisive account of what makes Clinton the Devil or a saint in opposing camps and why his wife Hillary seems destined for the White House.
Rating: 
Summary: A Concise, Balanced History of the Clinton Presidency
Review: It is nearly impossible to think objectively about Bill Clinton, the man or his administration. In THE NATURAL, Joe Klein, the once-anonymous author of PRIMARY COLORS, gives us a concise, balanced history of the Clinton presidency. He provides a fair account of Bill Clinton: we are not spared his self-pity or the scale of his appetites and indulgences, but we also see the seriousness and vision he brought to the nation's leadership. The Clinton administration had a rocky beginning, noted for its naïve political blunders. Remember Travelgate? How about the mere possibility of universal health care? The Clintons relied heavily on their friends, who were not always the wisest or most capable choices. One of the strengths of THE NATURAL is its portrayal of key relationships. We learn a lot about the former president through Mr. Klein's account of his complex marriage and Mrs. Clinton's formidable, imperfect influence. He also describes the similarities and differences between Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich, who led the failed Republican revolution and masterminded one of the nastiest, most counter-productive political arenas in American history. It is unfortunate that Bill Clinton's comprehensive understanding of economics will not be what history remembers about his presidency. Mr. Klein points out that balancing the budget was a tremendous gamble and the budget surplus Clinton left the next administration was unprecedented. His sound policies --- welfare reform, Internet commerce, the earned income tax credit --- provided a base for financial prosperity that we are unlikely to see again. One of the melancholy notes of the book is the sense of squandered talent and opportunity. What else might Bill Clinton have accomplished if he had not been so distracted? Bill Clinton was under constant attack from the right wing and the scandal-hungry media. He fended off investigations into his avoidance of the draft during the Vietnam War, his use of marijuana, his finances, his extramarital affairs, his wife's law practice and not one of the fanatics determined to destroy him made the slightest impact until he lied under oath about his affair with a White House intern. Why did he give his assailants such a wealth of ammunition to use against him? How could such a smart man make such a stupid mistake? We may never know what he was thinking, but the disappointment and disillusionment of the president's staff and supporters practically soak through the page. The strange thing about THE NATURAL is how distant the Clinton presidency seems. September 11, 2001 was a moment of such enormous import in American history that the overwrought peccadilloes Bill Clinton became known for now seem trivial. Bill Clinton never faced a challenge to the presidency like al-Qaeda's attacks; he made his own challenges. It will take a much longer, more in-depth book to really examine Bill Clinton's complicated character, but THE NATURAL captures his administration, a time that is simultaneously recent history and a long time ago. --- Reviewed by Colleen Quinn
Rating:
Summary: Bill Clinton is [bad]
Review: In reading this book, I am reminded of what a complete scum Bill Clinton is. If you really want to read up on the Clinton presidency, go buy a Playboy. That will get you close to the depth of Billy-boy. If you would like to look for the legacy of his presidency, take a look at today's news events: missed economic opportunity, international turmoil and general moral depravity. If you would like to dream of the days when this guy was president, drop some acid and lock yourself away from the rest of us - say, for twenty years or so. The only redeeming thing about the book's subject is that the author does imply Hillary is a lesbian and even more power hungry than her "husband." For you liberals, go ahead and dog my review. I don't care. I am happy knowing my children are no longer having to look at Bill every night. My only horror is that he is likely to be Sec. General of a worthless UN and his "wife" is likely to be elected president some day. When that happens, you should come back and read the review I will give her book!
Rating:
Summary: Fair and balanced review of the Clinton presidency.
Review: For someone who did not pay much attention to politics before 2000, I found this book very helpful. All I remember from the Clinton presidency is that the President seemed to be entangled in scandal constantly, and that the Republicans seemed to care far more about bringing him down in any way possible than about guarding the welfare of the country. Klein's breezily written book, while it does at points dwell on all of the scandal (how could it not?), fills in many of the lesser-known details about Clinton's vision and both his accomplishments and failures. I came away from this book feeling that the patchwork of disjointed memories I had concerning politics from 1992 to 2000 had now clicked into place in a coherent narrative. I also came away with a much better understanding of why most Americans think Clinton was a good President, whatever they might think about his personal character.
Rating: 
Summary: Hardly the Definitive Work
Review: Primary Colors author Jo Klein seems to be the perfect biographer of former President Bill Clinton. However, this one seems to fall short. Bill Clinton had a very strong personality, like JFK and LBJ before him, and it was that personality and charm that made him so popular, along with the relatively peaceful and carefree years in which he was president. However, Klein, who knows the president's personality so well, make President Clinton come off as dull and boring, relying totally on pollsters and aides like Carville, Begala, and Morris, with the ever present specter of Hillary dominating the scene. President Clinton needs a biography that is as injected with personality as he is, and, sadly, this one fall short of the mark.
Rating:
Summary: Worthwhile, but nothing special
Review: THE NATURAL was an enjoyable enough but misnamed book. "The Natural" seems to refer to Clinton's natural proficiency as a political operator, yet Klein details the up and down, tumultuous presidency that we all remember. Clinton's first two years were not that of a "natural," nor was low point of his presidency leading up to his admission of an affair with "that woman." The subtitle, "the misunderstood presidency," is also misleading. This book reveals no great new interpretation of the Clinton era but rather sums up the conventional wisdom: Bill Clinton was a good, substantive president who failed to live up to his full potential and disappointed a lot of people with his personal behavior. While the title of THE NATURAL creates unmet expectations, the book serves a useful function. In just over 200 pages, it captures the major themes and flavors of the Clinton presidency, gives just enough supporting evidence to back up Klein's instructive but not especially groundbreaking insights, and serves as the outline for what could be a truly great future book. This book serves as a reminder of what the Clinton years were like (seemingly so long ago), but the book itself will probably not endure as especially memorable. THE NATURAL won't endure because it is so short and light on details. Joe Klein is a reporter, not an historian and the book reads like an extended ATLANTIC MONTHLY article. This is not altogether bad - I felt like reading the book pretty much straight through as I would an article. But the potential for a detailed, Robert Caro style biography of Clinton is a tempting future volume waiting for someone else to write. One final note: it bears mentioning that Klein seems admiring of Clinton. Where Klein writes disapprovingly, he seems like a disappointed - almost betrayed - true believer. He's clearly fascinated by Clinton and has a vision for what he could have been. This admiring fascination becomes a little much when Klein begins shilling for the New Democratic movement. Klein's journalistic credentials were hurt with the revelation that he wrote PRIMARY COLORS. THE NATURAL doesn't help, but this kind of a book may be a good medium for his talents.
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