Rating: 
Summary: The Fly on the Wall
Review: David Gergen was not exactly a fly on the wall. He was more involved with the four presidents he served than that. But he had a front row seat in four White Houses, giving him a unique perspective that he almost is obliged to share for history's sake. Unfortunately, history must wait longer for his memoirs. Fortunately, EYEWITNESS TO POWER is an enjoyable and useful book on presidential management with practical implications for readers involved with less grand management schemes. EYEWITNESS TO POWER is ostensibly about presidential leadership, but there is a distinction between leadership and management, and this is really more a book about management with some anecdotes added from Gergen's well of stories. This is not meant in any way to disparage the book - Gergen's observations about how four presidents ran their shop is valuable and engrossing. I found that some of his observations could be generalized and used as lessons in other management settings. Gergen does not, however, delve too deeply in how the presidents helped bring the country along where it wouldn't necessarily have gone without their leadership, drew attention to tough issues, or inspired the people to address adaptive challenges. Sure, Gergen touches on Nixon's trip to China, and he explores Ford's pardoning of Nixon, but he really dissects the Nixon/Haldeman strong chief of staff style of management, and the evolution of Ford's "spokes of the wheel" style into something more workable. Gergen seems more emotional when writing about Reagan and Clinton. His admiration for Reagan is so strong as to leave his assessment of the Reagan White House highly unbalanced. Meanwhile, his deep disappointment in Clinton renders his attempt at balance an exercise of damnation via faint praise (coupled with unambiguous damnation, too). Gergen's account of the Ford administration, in contrast, is most fair. Since he seemed to be in the dark about much of what was going on in the Nixon White House, his treatment of Ford is really the best in the book. EYEWITNESS TO POWER is a short book and I was left wanting more. More stories, more observations, and more about the actual leadership of these presidents (or, perhaps an acknowledgment that they didn't practice leadership much at all). But this sense of wanting more is not hollow- I liked what I got with this book and simply hope that there's a sequel.
Rating:
Summary: GERGEN KNOWS WHERE POWER RESIDES
Review: Davie, you've given away the store on us Public Relations guys .Anyone who reads your book will now see that you are the quintessential PR officer. One day you're pushing the image of a republican, then shining up a democrat . One day you're in the Ehite House, the next week you're doing infotainment duty on TV with the likes of Larry King and Babawawa . Of course a PR officer with lots of stripes knows that the power behingd the White House is the top PR guy on staff--- AND NOW EVERYONE KNOWS THAT'S YOU, BABY!....Oh, well. Here you are cashing in with a best selling book that'll bring you to North Dakota, Seattle and who knows what towns as a talking head par excellence , like old Bill Buckley . By the way, Davie . On page 207 you point out that while Reagan was in the White House " the federal debt jumped from $1 trillion to $4 trillion." Golly gee, so the reagan years were championship inflation years ? That's not much to do with leadership, is it ? Any idiot could have said : " Let's spend out way out of this mess . " ...On page 241 you say you had a hand hiring " conservative" writers to pump out Regan's speeches . Jeepers, baby, if the federal debt jumped from $1 trillion to $4 trillion, how can you call them speech writing folks " conservatives ." But I get it Davie . The book's a big leg pull, right . You've been a PR honcho for so long, you saw nothing wrong with Republicans hiring Bob Hope's joke writers to keep the American folks laughing at the political follies !. Great Davie . Keep the morons marching-and laughing .
Rating:
Summary: Great Book With Keen Insight!
Review: EYEWITNESS TO POWER is an excellent book on several levels. One, David Gergen is obviously a pro who has, "been there, done that," and has some truly fascinating insights into the daily workings of the White House under Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton. I was most taken with his fair treatment of all of these leaders.He tells many tales of the men - warts and all. Gergen offers praise that might surprise you at times and gets tough at times on presidents he clearly admired. Two, Gergen does a remarkable job of describing the Nixon White House - before, during and after Watergate. He has plenty bad to say about the demons that haunted Nixon and the hurt it did our country. However, he also looks at Nixon in a balanced perspective that stresses the intellect of the former president and his truly amazing abilities in the international arena. It is during Gergen's look at the Nixon presidency that we see the highs and lows all equally presented and Gergen telling it as he saw it. It is clear he had a great respect for Nixon's strategic mind. At the same time, he gives us an intriguing look at Nixon's personality that foretold his downfall. Three, This is a book about leadership. EYEWITNESS TO POWER should be read by all of those in positions of leadership - whether in the public sector, private enterprise or running a local organization. He focuses on the leadership abilities of all four of these men and has some very astute observations that will benefit men and women to become better and more effective leaders. Four, Gergen comes from the communications field. This brings a superb look at these presidents from the perspective of a speechwriter and offers much help to those starting out in public relations and/or journalism. Finally, Gergen, as a Republican, had an interesting tenure with President Clinton that is described with wit and with a sense of disappointment with what might have been. He is clear about his respect for Bill Clinton's political mind and calls him one of our brightest presidents. On the other hand, he saw a president not quite grown up and "settled down" (no further explanation necessary). However, the bottom line on Bill Clinton is he thinks he is a good man who has a few character flaws that prevented him from being a possibly great president. This portion of the book is very fair and balanced from a lifelong Republican political operative. I can highly recommend EYEWITNESS TO POWER, not just for political or history junkies, but for anyone who is looking to lead a company, an organization, or maybe even a nation! Gergen, with great insight - gives us a great read.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book With Keen Insight!
Review: EYEWITNESS TO POWER is an excellent book on several levels. One, David Gergen is obviously a pro who has, "been there, done that," and has some truly fascinating insights into the daily workings of the White House under Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton. I was most taken with his fair treatment of all of these leaders.He tells many tales of the men - warts and all. Gergen offers praise that might surprise you at times and gets tough at times on presidents he clearly admired. Two, Gergen does a remarkable job of describing the Nixon White House - before, during and after Watergate. He has plenty bad to say about the demons that haunted Nixon and the hurt it did our country. However, he also looks at Nixon in a balanced perspective that stresses the intellect of the former president and his truly amazing abilities in the international arena. It is during Gergen's look at the Nixon presidency that we see the highs and lows all equally presented and Gergen telling it as he saw it. It is clear he had a great respect for Nixon's strategic mind. At the same time, he gives us an intriguing look at Nixon's personality that foretold his downfall. Three, This is a book about leadership. EYEWITNESS TO POWER should be read by all of those in positions of leadership - whether in the public sector, private enterprise or running a local organization. He focuses on the leadership abilities of all four of these men and has some very astute observations that will benefit men and women to become better and more effective leaders. Four, Gergen comes from the communications field. This brings a superb look at these presidents from the perspective of a speechwriter and offers much help to those starting out in public relations and/or journalism. Finally, Gergen, as a Republican, had an interesting tenure with President Clinton that is described with wit and with a sense of disappointment with what might have been. He is clear about his respect for Bill Clinton's political mind and calls him one of our brightest presidents. On the other hand, he saw a president not quite grown up and "settled down" (no further explanation necessary). However, the bottom line on Bill Clinton is he thinks he is a good man who has a few character flaws that prevented him from being a possibly great president. This portion of the book is very fair and balanced from a lifelong Republican political operative. I can highly recommend EYEWITNESS TO POWER, not just for political or history junkies, but for anyone who is looking to lead a company, an organization, or maybe even a nation! Gergen, with great insight - gives us a great read.
Rating:
Summary: An Unexpected Pleasure
Review: Eyewitness to Power was an unexpected pleasure. I have watched Gergen as a pundit for years and thought that he, while articulate, was a little too milktoast for me. I picked up this book on a lark, and once I began to read it, never set it down. I have read countless business books on leadership in business. Most, if not all, paint the picture of the perfect unerring leader. Gergen, on the other hand, writes about what he observed - the strengths and the warts of those he served while in the White House. As a result, he has written what has become my favorite book on leadership. Leaders come in different shapes and sizes, with different skills and experiences. And Gergen shows how each of these Presidents used their unique skills and experience to lead. Some better than others. This is a book that should be a must read in all MBA programs as it tells the story of real leadership and not some fictional, unattainable ideal.
Rating:
Summary: Gergen rates the executives
Review: Gergen avoids the usual trap of writing memoirs that pump up the writer while trashing contemporaries. Instead, he provides a useful analysis of the different leadership styles of recent presidents. Political professionals will be reading this book for a long time, particularly when it comes time to plan the look and method of administrations to come.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent observations and keen analysis
Review: Gergen is a communications pro turned academic and that shows in this book. On top of that he has been part of four administrations and is therefore in an excellent position to write about what makes a political leader succesful. The difference between a Presidency and a CEO position in a large company are quite substantial. A CEO, when he takes over, normally finds a structure, manned with people with experience, in place. On top of that, he answers to a Board which shares, in general, the goals and objectives the CEO has. Not so much for a President; when a new man comes in he has to change the whole team and find himself, more often than not, with a constituancy in the Senate and Congress where his own party only holds a minority. A daunting task! Gergen's observations how four Presidents handled this task are very keen and his analysis is profound. He shows clearly that a high intellect and a drive to achieve may be helpful but in no way guarantees succes. Think about Clinton and his ( or her) handling of the health care issue. Gergen establishes clearly that a good organization and command structure is key. In particular in the transition period where the Presidency takes shape. This takes him to an admiring view on President Reagan and, whatever you think about his politics, I think that is deserved. In contrast, the preparation of Clinton was so poor, with many key appointments left open for months, that it has haunted him throughout his first term Secondly, Gergen demonstrates the need for a good balance in the team. They do not all have to agree all the time, a certain amount of tension helps to improve the decision, but clear procedures to resolve conflict and organization in decision taking is key. Again he quotes President Reagan with Baker, Meese and Deaver as achieving this optimally and others like Nixon through Haldeman and Ehrlichman, and Clinton in a quite chaotic three people leadershp structure ( Mr and Mrs and the VP as the top box) failling. Thirdly, he sees the key in Presidential success in the relationship between the White House on the one hand and Congress/Senate on the other. This means that every team needs to have a number of players that are well experienced in dealing with the House. He made it with quite a few examples clear where Presidents Clinton and Nixon where falling short in this respect. Finally, he dwells, quite justified, on the character of the President as a key element for success. Those at ease with themselves and a clear vision on what they want to achieve ( like Reagan) have a much better chance on success than those with flaws like Nixon and Clinton. It is not a guarantee, as he describes in the case of Gerald Ford, but it certainly helps. All these analyses makes the book a very good read. Gergen's sober and reflective observations of the process and the people involved, without being tempted to throw in "juicy details", makes this an excellent work.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Gergen's book is awash with name-dropping, inside baseball, and self-serving reminders of his proximity to power and his influence,,,although the evidence of whether any of the truly powerful accepted his advice or were influenced by him in any meaningful way is scanty. In my judgment, it has been his willingness to pander which has made him a "bi-partisan" figure, rather than true intellect or political savvy (a la Moynihan).I find the book to be the same as the man,,,narcissistic and full of self-promotion. There are much better views inside Washinton.
Rating:
Summary: An un-biased manual for Political power
Review: Gergen's inside knowlegde and centrist political position make him the perfect canidate for writing a book about the strenghts and foibles of our recent presidents. He outlines where each administration went wrong while managing to cast a positive light on each man. Even the scandal driven presidencies of Nixon and Clinton seem semi-victorious. The Nixon presidency is truly and enigma to all who study. Nixon was a brilliant and complex man. He was possibly the best student of history in recent presidential. He knew how to apply the historical lessons of the past and use them advantageously.Unfortunately he overapplied his historical knowledge to situation where no parallel existed. He was a bold president who was not driven by public polling. Yet his paranoi of the media destroyed him.He felt the press was "the enemy" and he waged war with them. Immediate Disclosure of the Watergate Incident would have prevented it from escalating to the level it did. If he had trusted the people around him Nixon would have been able to avoid the caustic review Nixon has received thus far. Ford had no chance. He wanted to do the right thing immediately by pardoning Nixon and by doing so put his head in a noose. He had good people and honesty, but the conditions were against him terribly. Carter wasn't mentioned but he was dumb and he blew it. Reagan in my opinion is the model future presidents should attempt to emulate. He himseld had a good model in FDR. He did a good job of capitalizing on the mistakes of the mistakes of Carter to win. He was a man who ultimately treated all American with respect. He used the medium of Television to communicate his vision to the country. He began with economic vision and that kept his popularity alive. The people also respected his boldness. He survived the attempt of an assassin with dignity. Then he stood up to air traffic controllers when they attempted to strike. He was bold with the soviets and ended the cold war successfully. Gergen did something I never thought I would do. See a good side to President Clinton. But first Clinton had some big problems. He allowed his wife to play too big of a role in his presidency. The people elected him president not her. He also made a fatal mistake in bringing too many rookies in to run the white house. His "nail in the coffin" was never learning too work with the opposition effectively. He never was able to unite with the congressional republicans. He amazing balanced the budget. He was able to cut spending and build a surplus by making tough decisions. He also stood up to his party by getting Nafta thru. He simply couldn't contol those teenage hormones. He ruined his character and crippled his presidency. Even worse his crippled the office of president. The public now distrust the president even more. Great book on these amazing men.
Rating: 
Summary: Zen view of less-than-Zen people
Review: I came away from this book being informed about the characters, but being most impressed by Gergen's demeanor. The book clarifies a number of misconceptions, esp. about Nixon, Reagan and Clinton not by turning black to white, but by painting them the right shade of grey. I am glad to see Nixon's Jekyll side separated from his Hyde. It is gratifying to see someone acknowledge Clinton's almost unprecedented intellect, while not being shrill about the moral issues we already know about. The almost "bulletized" analysis was sometimes a bit dry, and so was Gergen's even (quiet flows the don) style of reporting. That said, the book was a very enjoyable read.
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