****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
In 1999 George Stephanopoulos decided the public would be interested in his lengthy memoir. I waited eleven years to read it, bought it used, discovered it to be well-written, funny, candid, and now timely, as we compare the Bush and Obama administrations in 2010.After the predictable story of his birth, Greek heritage, teen years, college and his increasing ambition to be "somebody"; the book comes alive with details of his one year on the campaign trail with Bill and Hillary Clinton at the tender age of thirty. He made himself so indispensable to the campaign(his opinion) by catering to the Clintons and expressing loyalty in unique ways; so his reward was a job in the White House where he spent four years at their beck and call. He became press secretary, then advisor, confidant, and friend, until......George's analysis of the Clinton years and his complete devotion to the Clintons which led to clinical depression; his fear of competition (Dick Morris and others) and fear of failure, is, in essence, what makes this self-serving memoir so readable. His energy was fueled by power and in the end, he became "the enemy". Accused of leaking stories, given the silent treatment by the Clintons, he resigns and returns to a more normal life with an unbelievable tale to tell the voting public.Presently, the author is an anchor on Good Morning America, on his way again to higher ambitions, but now more mature and patient as both a husband and father. In this memoir, he disparages himself often, details his mistakes, appears to be naive and humble at times and also resorts to self-pity. He also makes many familiar names, such as Al Gore, more well-known, maybe not as they want to be.Apparently the Clintons took his youth and loyalty for granted but kept him on with deep reservations, only to be shocked later with this telling book! It is a political education taking us back to the Clinton years and leaving the reader with impressions to think about seriously.
