Synopses & Reviews
"In his nearly seven years as president, Mr. Bush has rarely let his guard down with journalists to reveal much of his personal side. But over the course of six roughly hourlong interviews with Mr. Draper, Mr. Bush shared his inner life at the White House. He at times mused philosophically and introspectively, and at others spoke forcefully about his confidence in his own decisions." The New York Times
In this ambitious work of political narrative, Robert Draper takes us inside the Bush White House and delivers an intimate portrait of a tumultuous decade and a beleaguered administration. Virtually every page of this book crackles with scenes, anecdotes, and dialogue that will surprise even long-time observers of George W. Bush.
With unprecedented access to all the key figures of this administration from six one-on-one sessions with the president, to Laura Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleeza Rice, Karl Rove, and perhaps 200 other players, some well known, some not Draper has achieved what no other journalist or contemporary historian has done thus far: He has told the story of the Bush White House form the inside, with a special emphasis on how the very personality of this strong-willed president has affected the outcome of events.
Review
"While there are many aspects of the Bush presidency that Mr. Draper completely neglects...what Dead Certain does do and does very nimbly is give the reader an intimate sense of the president's personality and how it informs his decision making." Michiko Kakutani, New York Times
About the Author
Robert Draper has been a national correspondent for GQ magazine for the past decade, and prior to that was senior editor at Texas Monthly. He lives in Washington, D.C. He is author of a novel, Hadrian's Walls (Knopf), and the biography Rolling Stone Magazine: The Uncensored History.
Table of Contents
Contents
Prologue: December 12, 2006
Part I:
BAPTISM
Chapter 1: New Hampshire
Chapter 2: Texas
Chapter 3: South Carolina
Part II:
"THROUGH OUR TEARS"
Chapter 4: The Building of Bushworld
Chapter 5: Doing a Few Things Right
Chapter 6: Then...
Part III:
DARK CITY ON A HILL
Chapter 7: Nightmare Scenario
Chapter 8: Drumbeats
Chapter 9: The Grid
Chapter 10: Thanksgiving
Part IV:
A CHOICE, NOT A REFERENDUM
Chapter 11: The One-Legged Runner
Chapter 12: "You Know Where I Stand"
Chapter 13: Ask President Bush
Chapter 14: "Stand with Me"
Part V:
COMEUPPANCE
Chapter 15: Eight-Year Men
Chapter 16: Big Ball, Long Bomb
Chapter 17: Heck of a Job
Chapter 18: "This Is Not Your Daughter!"
Part VI:
THE THUMPIN'
Chapter 19: The Bolten Bounce
Chapter 20: The Phantom Fence
Chapter 21: "I Owe You a Strategy That'll Work"
Chapter 22: A Fine Line Between Realism and Pessimism
Epilogue
Source Notes
Author's Note and Acknowledgments Index