by John Boehner
First published 2021
John Boehner opens his political memoir by reflecting on his unusual position as a Camel-smoking, wine-drinking golfer who found himself second in line to the presidency. The former House Speaker recounts his journey through the corridors of Capitol Hill, from getting knocked off the leadership ladder to his eventual comeback and rise to power. Boehner shares unfiltered stories from smoke-filled back rooms and his famous tour bus, offering his unvarnished opinions about fellow politicians and the media. He describes encounters with five presidents on the golf course and provides character assessments of leaders from Ford and Reagan to Obama and Trump. The memoir captures Boehner's perspective on how the Republican Party transformed during his tenure and his acid-tongued observations about former House colleagues. Throughout, he presents himself as a regular person who happened to land a big job, someone who genuinely enjoyed the work despite its challenges. The book closes with his reflections on a political era when experienced leaders maintained control of the process.
Genres: american, political-science, politics, biography-memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: insider-perspective, political-memoir
Setting: Capitol Hill, Washington DC
Period: 21st-century
304 pages · Hardcover · Thomas Dunne Books