First published 2008
Scott McClellan came to Washington as one of George W. Bush's trusted Texas advisers, drawn by the governor's promise of compassionate conservatism and bipartisan leadership. For over seven years, McClellan served in Bush's inner circle and watched the presidency lose its way during some of America's most divisive moments. McClellan witnessed the Iraq war decisions, the Hurricane Katrina response, and two brutal presidential campaigns from inside the West Wing. He saw how Washington's partisan warfare consumed the administration's agenda. Now McClellan breaks his silence to reveal what he observed about Bush's character and beliefs, the strengths and weaknesses of key aides, and how crucial decisions were really made. He writes without political agenda, seeking only to record his experiences for history. McClellan offers readers an insider's perspective on why events unfolded as they did and what lessons this presidency holds for America's future leadership.
Genres: american, biography-memoir, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: insider-perspective, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Washington, Texas
Period: 2000s
341 pages · Hardcover · PublicAffairs