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Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership Nixon to Clinton
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.92
EAN: 9780743203227
Edition: 1st
ISBN: 0743203224
Label: Simon & Schuster
Languages: EnglishOriginal LanguageEnglishUnknownEnglishPublished
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 384
Publication Date: October 30, 2001
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: October 30, 2001
Studio: Simon & Schuster
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Editorial Review: Leadership: The Ultimate Guide Few Americans have observed the ups and downs of presidential leadership more closely over the past thirty years -- from Nixon to Clinton and Watergate to Whitewater -- than David Gergen. A White House adviser to four presidents, both Republican and Democrat, he offers a vivid, behind-the-scenes account of their struggles to exercise power and draws from them key lessons for leaders of the future. Taking us inside the administrations of Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton, Gergen reflects on everything from why Nixon was the best global strategist among recent presidents to how the Bill-and-Hillary seesaw rocked the White House during Clinton's tenure as president. Gergen argues that, as the twenty-first century begins, our success as a country will depend heavily upon the success of a new generation in power. Drawing upon his many experiences in the White House, he offers seven vital elements for future leaders. What they must have, he says, are inner mastery; a central, compelling purpose rooted in moral values; a capacity to persuade; skills in working within the system; a fast start; a strong, effective team; and a passion that inspires others to keep the flame alive.
David Gergen is probably the only person to have served at high levels in both the Reagan and Clinton White Houses--not to mention his posts in the Nixon and Ford administrations. He's a consummate Washington insider, a man who appears regularly as a centrist political commentator on PBS's NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and works as editor at large for U.S. News & World Report. Eyewitness to Power, his first book, draws upon this unique experience. It's part memoir, part political history, part portrait of White House culture, but it's mostly a meditation on what it takes to be a great political leader. Gergen focuses on the four presidents he has known best--Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton--and offers pointed assessments of each. He calls Reagan "the best leader in the White House since Franklin Roosevelt," and says Clinton "is one of the smartest men ever elected president and has done some of the dumbest things." Gergen does not hesitate to offer harsh criticism: Nixon was hateful, Ford was overwhelmed by his predecessor's scandals, Reagan was often detached, and Clinton was not in control of his appetites. Yet there's a reflective admiration for each man. What makes this volume rise above the mountain of books on leadership (usually written for executives) is its spot-on observations about the way Washington works, drawn from years of experience: "Republicans like hierarchy and order; they're not like Democrats, as I saw later on, who thrive on chaos and creativity"; the Nixon view of Watergate "was the same as the Victorians had of adultery: the sin was not in the doing of it but in getting caught"; "In most institutions, the power of a leader grows over time. A CEO, a university president, the head of a union, acquire stature through the quality of their long-term performance. The presidency is just the opposite: power tends to evaporate quickly." Gergen concludes by describing the seven leadership qualities a great president must have: personal integrity, a sense of mission, the ability to persuade, the ability to work with other politicians, a strong start after inauguration, skilled advisers, and the ability to inspire. Those traits, of course, will serve people well from all walks of life--and Eyewitness to Power will appeal not just to readers interested in the presidency but to anyone occupying a position of responsibility (or interested in getting there). --John J. Miller
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This is written at least 30 days after I put the book away. It was our monthly book club selection. All of us thought highly of "Eyewitness.." as a journey back in time to the Nixon, Ford, Reagan years and some of the Bill Clinton years as well. The Nixon "fear and trembling" White House staff. The Ford impulsiveness in rushing to pardon his predecessor without adequately prepping the public, softening the public psyche, changing the public mood from "let's lynch him" to "well, let's get past ... Read More
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I liked this book because rather than playing on the politics related to a given President, it focuses on the person and their leadership style. As a student of leadership this was of great interest to me because it also highlighted the administration challenges when a new president enters office.
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Gergen presents a really good, for the most part fair and balanced overview of the four presidencies of which he's been a part. Obviously has a certain nostalgic bent for Nixon and Ford, but never fully pulls his punches on any of them, regardless of party. Particularly interesting that this was written prior to the George W. reign, so you get to see descriptions of Rumsfield and the "talented" Dick Cheney through the rose colored glasses of a decade ago, driving home the point that that administration ... Read More
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I used to always see David Gergen on MSNBC and elsewhere as a pundit, or talking head, and he always seemed to have a lot of integrity. (I haven't seen him, however, for a long time - hope he is alright!)
I rarely read a political book, preferring either fiction or non-fiction related to my hobbies or interests, but after seeing him every night on the news I finally decided to buy his book and found it to be a fascinating read.
He was an adviser to Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush 1, ... Read More
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I was fortunate enough to hear David Gergan speak at my daughter's commencement last month. After hearing him in person, I couldn't wait to purchase his book. I am not normally interested in political history due to the dull reading of most, but David Gergan really makes the information come alive. His elaboration of the former presidents really gives you a tremendous sense of his deep interest & admiration of each of these men. While being truthful with the information, he finds the good to present to ... Read More
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