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What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception | 
 enlarge | Author: Scott Mcclellan
Publisher: PublicAffairs
Category: Book
List Price: $27.95
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Rating:  194 reviews
Sales Rank: 1630
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st. EDITION
Pages: 368
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.3
ISBN: 1586485563
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.931
EAN: 9781586485566
ASIN: 1586485563
Publication Date: May 28, 2008
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Product Description
Scott McClellan was one of a few Bush loyalists from Texas who became part of his inner circle of trusted advisers, and remained so during one of the most challenging and contentious periods of recent history. Drawn to Bush by his commitment to compassionate conservatism and strong bipartisan leadership, McClellan served the president for more than seven years, and witnessed day-to-day exactly how the presidency veered off course. In this refreshingly clear-eyed book, written with no agenda other than to record his experiences and insights for the benefit of history, McClellan provides unique perspective on what happened and why it happened the way it did, including the Iraq war, Hurricane Katrina, Washington's bitter partisanship, and two hotly contested presidential campaigns. He gives readers a candid look into who George W. Bush is and what he believes, and into the personalities, strengths, and liabilities of his top aides. Finally, McClellan looks to the future, exploring the lessons this presidency offers the American people as we prepare to elect a new leader.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 189 more reviews...
 An intrguing glimpse... June 3, 2008
J.H. (Beaverton, OR)
75 out of 95 found this review helpful
I'll admit up front that I'm not a G. W. Bush fan in the least. I didn't vote for him twice, and consider myself a true blue Democrat. So, you might be saying, "Of course, he's going to give the book five stars" because of his political beliefs. In actuality, as I will mention later on in the review, this book managed to somewhat change my picture I have of our current president for the better, all the while, giving an intriguing glimpse into his administration.
"What Happened", written by Scott McClellan, former press secretary to the Bush White House, provides a very interesting look at the operations within the everso secretive machinations of the house on 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. McClellan describes in a brief and accessible way his experiences as he worked his way up to his position. The "secrets" he revealed aren't stunning to anyone who's spent time reading the newspapers or following the coverage on the Plame scandal, or the build up to the Iraq War. What's interesting is that someone who had inside knowledge, "was in the know" about so much of this, confirms and denies much.
I won't go through a laundry list of claims that Scott tells in the book. The overt coverage, and other reviewers, have done that enough. I will tell you that, despite his accusations and thoughts about his time in the White House, the story paints a far broader picture than these "stunning revelations".
As with many political memoirs, the author recounts his childhood life and his lead up to his current position in a slow, detail orientated, tedious way. Not McClellan. He jumps into the story feet first, and provides one, maybe two chapters dealing with his early life, and most of it pertaining to when he began to work with then Gov. Bush. Thankfully, 95% of the book solely focuses on the White House years.
McClellan fully admits, throughout the book, to what he saw and didn't see, knew and didn't know. People looking for evidence that Bush rushed to war right after 9/11 will be disappointed. I appreciated his candid thoughts about people still currently serving in the White House, from Condi Rice to Vice-President Cheney. His discussion on the Valerie Plame scandal is extremely thorough, mainly because he became press secretary during that time.
However, and this is near revolutionary, I admired McClellan's discussion on a topic covered extensively by the media: the personality of Bush. It's clear that at first he admires the man, and throughout his time, I believe that admiration deepens. But McClellan's admiration isn't blind; he's able to view Bush as a person, complex and whole. I spent the last few years demonizing the man, thinking his public persona of being inflexible and resolute, was truly what he was like. However, after McClellan telling about Bush visiting the military wounded, and other actions done in the privacy of the White House, I've come around a bit and (here is where I gulp), see Bush as more of a whole person now.
And for that alone, I give the book five stars. History will judge the Bush Adminstration for it's actions. "What Happened" gives us an inside peek at the man at the center of the storm, and what is a peek it is.
stop brainwashing May 29, 2008
S. Lu (S.CA)
131 out of 203 found this review helpful
since words of this book came out, the "red guards" of bush are questioning scott mcclellan why didn't you say so back then?(so we could fire you years ago?) you supported bush before, now you are criticizing bush government. if you didn't support bush, you shouldn't work for him. etc.
this further proves what this book says is very close to the truth and the bush people are totally pissed. they can't deny facts so they have to find something to attack so they don't look like a bunch of donkeys which they are.
even all those attacks were true, mcclellan indeed worked in bush cabinet againsted his political opinions, even he's writing the book just to make some bucks, so what? bush cannot deny he dragged this country into a stupid war for nothing. he says there were WMDs, oops wrong. he says they were linked to al-qaeda, oops wrong. he says mission accomplished, oops wrong. he says we need to bring democracy to iraq, oops not happening. he says we need to continue to spend BIG money and stay there, oops you are out of office. one thing he accomplished well, 1,000,000 iraqi civilian killed, 4000+ us soldiers killed. and counting.
BEING A MEMBER OF THE MEDIA, I GIVE IT AN A+ May 29, 2008
M. Navarro (los angeles, california)
102 out of 152 found this review helpful
Unlike these Bush lovers who call Scott a traiter and evil without even reading the book, this book really shows the true colors of the administration. Scott has held this guilt for years and has finally let it out.
Bush and his secret police will do anything and everything to discredit him. As they have done for every other aide who has written scathing memoirs on Bush.
Before you bash him, read the book!! (I have) Just because you miserable people say its all lies doesnt mean they really are.
The NeoCons are shooting the messenger May 30, 2008
J. Stockmar
49 out of 76 found this review helpful
This is an extraordinary look into the machinations of the Rovian Bush machine and its efforts to turn our Country into an authoritarian regime.
Note that the critical comments are efforts to shoot the messenger, not to debunk the message. Perhaps the right-wing cannot successfully debunk the message.
fascinating read June 2, 2008
Book Mom (Maryland)
33 out of 48 found this review helpful
I will admit to not liking Scott McClellan when he was working for the Bush administration. I felt like he knew what he was saying was less than truthful, and it turns out I was right. But to read in his own words why he did it - what he knew and how he was told to spin it - is very interesting. It makes me wonder what I would have done in his situation. It is easy enough for skeptics to say he should have quit his job, but reading about his life and beliefs and his torn loyalties you see that this was not a black & white situation. It is his insight into all the shades of gray that make this a worthwhile read. If you don't want to give him your money, fine, but definitely wait in line for it at the library. You may be as pleasantly surprised as I was, and less judgemental (as I was) when you're through.
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