Political Science / Government Books

In 1860, in Chicago, Illinois, the Republican Party made a historic choice when it selected Abraham Lincoln to be its candidate for the presidency. The choice stunned each of Lincoln's three rival candidates--William Henry Seward of New York; Salmon P. Chase of Ohio; and Edward Bates of Missouri--all of whom were better known nationally and better connected politically--and each of whom thought he himself would win. Even more surprising, but indicative of his character, is that Lincoln asked these three rivals to join his cabinet, which they did--and they made it work. In a rich historical narrative, Doris Kearns Goodwin brings to life each of these figures, showing their significant individual contributions as well as how they challenged the president and sometimes stung him. What come across is a deep psychological portrait of Lincoln as a great conciliator and man of vision, always putting the greater good before expediency. And while much has been made of Lincoln's melancholy, it is also true that he was good in company, a born storyteller and jokester. Lincoln is perhaps the most written-about president in history, but in this group biography, Goodwin manages to find some new perspectives on Lincoln and his times. A New York Times Notable Book for the year 2005.

Washington insider Richard A. Clarke shares his perspective on the George W. Bush administration's preparedness for, and response to, the events of September 11, 2001. Clarke, now retired after 30 years of public service, worked for several presidents, both Democrat and Republican. Often referred to as the terrorism czar before the Homeland Security Department was created, Clarke's official title, created by President Clinton, was National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counterterrorism. He was retained by the Bush administration until his retirement in 2003. In AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, Clarke provides an insider account of both the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, as well as the events of September 11, 2001, when he ran the White House situation room. He makes several charges--including that the Bush administration, in its first year, was poorly prepared and even unwilling to engage al Qaeda despite Clarke's attempts to apprise them of the threat. And he criticizes President Bush's war on terror, saying that the Bush administration has "squandered" resources by shifting the focus to Iraq, which Clarke says seems to have been a priority from the beginning. A New York Times Notable Book for 2004.

The famed prosecutor and bestselling author Vincent Bugliosi presents a very thorough and damning case for charging President George W. Bush for high crimes for the conduct of the war in Iraq. In Bugliosi's view, Bush is responsible for the deaths of over 4,000 American soldiers, and must be held accountable. Bugliosi's polemic is no modest proposal; We, the jury of readers can decide if this is an airtight case or if it has holes.

The distinguished investigative reporter goes behind the scenes at the White House to report on how the President and his advisors shaped a response to the events of 9/11. Interviews with key players reveal the story of the war on terror and the homeland security initiative. A New York Times Notable Book for 2003.

Plain-speaking commentator Bill O'Reilly looks with outrage at corporate and political entities that he sees as failing the common person. He also looks at the absence of altruism and personal responsibility on the part of individuals. O'Reilly connects the dots and points out how all this adds up to a society in which greed, venality, and cowardice dominate. Finally, he offers solutions to many of these problems.

With a vision and a diction that struck a chord in the hearts of mainstream Democrats at the 2004 convention, Senator Barack Obama offers a platform that reconnects with traditional American values while offering a path to the future. Obama begins with a plea for an end to the toxic partisanship that characterizes business-as-usual in Washington, D.C. He appeals across party lines as he addresses issues of concern to all Americans: economic health, racial harmony, and security of the homeland. Obama advocates a nationwide consensus that reaffirms the Constitution, and a new politics based on those ideals--one that can get things done.

Conservative talk show host Mark Levin takes a prosecutorial stance toward the United States Supreme Court, accusing it of "tyranny." He argues that the court's history of "judicial activism" subverts the Constitution and betrays America, and that its Leftist decisions favor terrorists and illegal immigrants. Levin pores through key decisions in the court's history, including Roe v. Wade, and shows how they constitute what he sees as a liberal agenda.