A fascinating look at life within the Clinton White House - from the perspective of someone young and idealistic at the time. I've heard that Aaron Sorkin based some characters of "The West Wing" on the decriptions in this book and I can see why. It held my attention from beginning to end. ( )

4876. All Too Human A Political Education. by George Stephanopoulos (read 8 Nov 2011) The author was with Bill Clinton from 1991 to 1996, and thus went through two campaigns and at times he was in a very influential position in the first Clinton administration. I found this book extremely readable and felt I was living through the pressure-cooker years as they were being lived by the author. I also found the account very persuasive and full of information which I felt was being told frankly and to some extent baring the author's inmost feelings. Though the book is 12 years old I felt it was very pertinent and revealing even as to today's world. I was struck by the fact that many of the issues facing the Clinton Administration are similar to today's issues, though the Republicans today are even ;less reasonable than were the Republicans in 1995. Clinton was being pilloried by liberal Democrats even as Obama is today. So I did not have the feeling that I was reading mere history rather than an insight into the White House of the 1990's. The account of the years 1995 and 1996 is a bit hurried, compared to the full recital of earlier years. I can certainly see why the author was burned out by the constant crises he was living through. A most worthwhile and revealing book, ( )

Really interesting and insightful, not only into the Clinton campaign and presidency, but politics at that level in general. ( )

After a very brief synopsis of his childhood, this book follows George Stephanopoulos' political career from the 1991 Clinton campaign through his resignation shortly after the 1996 election. Most of the book deals with his recounting of events and circumstances. Still other parts deal with his thoughts on certain situations. It is important when reading the book to discern between the two. He tries to pass off these thoughts as factual. Among those thoughts are:
- Republicans are evil and nasty, and practice dirty politics.
- The media were essentially snoops and gossips.
- The public never got to know the good the Clintons were trying to do.

Stephanopoulos is a liberal. He admits it over and over again. To me, his political involvement boils down to a man who had strong ideals and wanted them carried out. Bill and Hillary Clinton were the means to that end. He fought for them and protected them tooth and nail as their senior advisor. He advised them not to give in to the mean Republicans. Combat the media since they are only trying to divert attention from the Clinton's noble cause by instead focusing on petty and insignificant scandals.
Then along comes Dick Morris. His job is to get Clinton re-elected in 1996. His poll-driven philosphy is for Clinton to run to the center and abandon the Democrats. He and Stephanopoulos have numerous conflicts. Both want to be Clinton's main policy maker. For a while, Morris wins.

Whether intentional or not, Stephanopoulos repeatedly shows how policy decisions were decided not based on personal principles or what was right for the country. They were based on what would be popular with the American people (i.e. voters). After the 1994 Congressional revolution, Clinton needed to get re-elected.

Just because I thought a lot of what Stephanopoulos said was wrong doesn't mean I think it's a bad book. It's quite good and it's easy to read. He does a good job of looking at some of the Clinton administration's more popular issues (Health Care Reform, Balanced Budget, Welfare Reform, Affirmative Action, Gays in the Military, etc) from a liberal insider's point of view. I'm sure a Republican/Conservative like myself has thought on several occasions that Clinton and the Democrats were evil and the Republican platform has the answers to all the country's problems. You just have to put yourself in his shoes and keep this in perspective while reading the book. ( )

This is an extremely good book. While it might be self-serving in some ways, it is also honest and forthright. A very enjoyable read. ( )