First published 2006
During the 2004 presidential debates, viewers worldwide noticed a strange rectangular bulge beneath George W. Bush's suit jacket. Theories swirled about radio receivers and remote controls, but the truth was simpler and more damning. Bush carried The Republican Playbook, a comprehensive guide to political dirty tricks commissioned by Richard Nixon in 1972. This satirical manual reveals how Gerald Ford's famous stumbles came from hiding the book in his back pocket, throwing off his balance. It explains how Ronald Reagan mastered the chapter "Deny Knowing Anything About Anything." The Playbook contains detailed instructions for smear campaigns, managing leaks, and planting stories. It even includes diagrams for voting booth ballot shredders designed for battleground states like Florida and Ohio. Required reading for every Republican candidate and operative, this fictional expose demonstrates how scandals, lies, and lawbreaking became standard operating procedure for electoral victory.
Genres: satire, american, political-science, 21st-century, political-thriller
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: political-corruption, satire
Setting: Florida, Ohio
Period: 2004, 1972
160 pages · Hardcover · Hyperion