Rating: 
Summary: Short-Cut to Understanding Eight Years
Review: The Natural by Joe Klein will surprise few people, particularly those who have read his fictional Primary Colors, but it is a wonderful introduction to eight very strange years in American politics. Bill Clinton's biggest tragedy as a president was that he did not live through a time of crisis (beyond those sordid ones that he created for himself) because the evidence suggests he could have risen to the challenge with the utmost skill. He was a truly fascinating politician with an a amazing and powerful love of the game of politics. This book hits all the high (and low) lights of his reign and often gives a balanced and intelligent assessment. The author touches effectively on the changes brought to goverment by the arrival of Baby Boomers into government, such as Clinton and his easily bested foe, Newt Gingrich, in order to supply a context for the narrative. The book is short so it does not dwell on policy issues and cabinet ministers much but it is a nicely done remembrance piece.
Rating:
Summary: Natural flow
Review: I enjoyed the book thoroughly. From its dramatic opening till its end I never once lost interest reading. The text has all the qualities one might expect from a good New Yorker article -- depiction of events, environment surrounding the events, and analysis that are more in the nature of posing questions rather than of definite, authoritative answers (in fact Klein was a staff writer for The New Yorker). Through this book I've learned for example about Clinton's involvement with DLC (Democratic Leadership Council), the formation of the "New Democrats," why his (or Hillary's) health care reform failed (for pushing welfare reform at the same time -- due to inexperience), a brief history of the Gingrich revolution, his stance on globalism, plausible reasons behind his sudden resolution to shoot missiles to suspected Al Qaeda camps in Sudan and Afghanistan (to avert attention from the Lewinsky scandal), and plausible reasons behind his decision to grant a presidential pardon to Marc Rich. The book put events that occurred throughout Clinton's two terms nicely into perspective.
Rating:
Summary: An even-handed account...
Review: Considering that this book was written by the noted liberal journalist Joe Klein, this book gives the reader a surprisingly even-handed account of the Clinton Presidency. Unlike most Clinton fans, Klein does not simply focus on the high points of Clinton's years in office. He also does a good job of highlighting the failings of what could have been a great Presidency. Overall, this book is a good, early draft of the history of the Clinton Administration.
Rating:
Summary: A Quick But Informative Study of Bill Clinton's Presidency
Review: Although not terribly detailed, this is an exceedingly readable book about the flawed presidency of Bill Clinton. It is an even-handed approach to his years in office, how people did or did not influence him, his strengths, and his weaknesses. Admittedly I still like Bill Clinton, so I'm probably biased in this regard, but Klein does a good job in incorporating the negative aspects of Clinton with his positive skill in exercising leadership.
Rating:
Summary: Finally... a fair assessment of the Clinton presidency!
Review: I'm happy to report that this book isn't another smearing of Clinton or a book about how great he was. It doesn't ignore Clinton's foibles (so Republican readers can't say it's one-sided), but it also doesn't ignore the good policies that Clinton passed during his 8 years in office.Too often these Clinton books only speak of how morally bankrupt the former president was... they're all about Whitewater and Monica. It's good to see a book that doesn't gloss over those events, but puts them in perspective alongside the successes of the Clinton administration. Yes, Clinton had sexual relations with Lewinsky and then lied about it... but many other politicians have extra-marital affairs too, and they're not all Democrats. Yes, there may have been some impropriety involving Whitewater... but there's improper things like that going on all the time in politics, involving both Democrats AND Republicans. (Dubya lied about his history with Enron, and Cheney's friends stand to profit big-time from the war with Iraq.) This book is an overview of the ENTIRE Clinton presidency, not just the scandals. This is how Clinton should be remembered in American History... as a man with many foibles, but as a man who brought the country an unprecedented 8 years of peace and prosperity. All of the Clinton-bashing books neglect to mention that: 1. During his first year, Clinton passed a $5.5-billion increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit, essentially giving a tax cut to millions of middle-class families and helping to jump-start the economy.
2. Clinton passed the welfare reform bill and NAFTA - which should've pleased the Republicans big time - but, unplacated, they continued trying to undermine him at every step.
3. Clinton passed a balanced budget that actually gave the federal government a SURPLUS for the first time in 40 years. And by eliminating the deficiit, interest rates went down, and the economy took off.
4. Fourteen million new jobs, the lowest unemployment rate in over two decades, the lowest inflation in three decades, a big increase in home ownership, yearly decreases in crime rates, etc. By every conceiveable indicator, the country was better under Clinton than it was before he took office. Ask a Republican what was so awful about Clinton and the response will be something relating to his personal scandals. But what about his political record?? Shouldn't the president's voting record and the policies he enacts be more important than his personal life? (BTW, I feel the same way about Republican presidents... I could care less about Dubya's scandals - cocaine use, Enron, etc. The man's voting record is more important. But look at his voting record while he was governor of Texas... it's appalling!) This book is a good and objective overview of the ENTIRE Clinton presidency. I hope history remembers him this way, not just for the personal scandals. And Dems take note! In one of the earlier chapters, Klein gives sound advice on how we can reclaim political power over the GOP. The voters don't want a liberal democrat, they want a moderate (or "New") democrat... that's a big hint.
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.
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