Title

What it takes : the way to the White House

Description

Cramer tells the life stories of the principal primary candidates, including Bush, Dole, Biden, Dukakis, and Gary Hart.

Identifier

401827

394562607

Creator

Cramer, Richard Ben

Format

1st ed.

Source

Brian Lamb Booknotes Collection

Gift of Brian Lamb, 2011.

Catalog record

Language

eng

Date

1992

Program air date: July 26, 1992.

Publisher

Random House

George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives

Text

Transcription of Annotations
Notes on front endpaper: Washington white men. Bonus men--Secret Societies/CIA, Christmas cards--codes under stamps. Agreed to let candidates see text. Duke was always on time, never lost control. Gephardt--CRS-opposition research. Underlinings/notes: Greatest regret Jesse Jackson. Story as fascinating as others, did not get to essential level of candor, better not to write about someone he did not know. Book begins with two older men, Republicans Bush and Dole. Book II includes the four Democrats; Book III stage set, race begins--epilogue lives after the race. 1000 interviews. Every section of book read back to candidate, family member or knowing aides. Three years of reporting, dozens of institutions, more than a thousand individuals. On table of contents, chapter titles annotated to indicate the candidate highlighted. Living in the bubble--art perfected by George Bush. Talent, genius for friendship , accommodation and personal discipline. Dole's hair, suit, shirt, bills, press releases, letters, everything had to be perfect. Bob never had a bad word for anybody--he was always happy when headed out to do his thing--nothing got him going like a crowd. Work of Washington is knowing...knowledge is power, and the capital is a city built on power. Veteran capital personage--longtime practitioner of Washington arts--Vice President Bush. Gnome from CIA. Did George Bush know? George Bush joined first secret society at age 14. Ollie North was a cowboy--Ollie shaking every tree looking for money for contras. Bush out of the loop on Iran-contra, knew but had not been involved/ informed. Bush did not sleep night Meese told him money from arms deal went to Contras. NSC meeting--normalcy driving Bush crazy. At Alibi Club--told staff why he'd taken things out of speech--talked about loyalty. Khedouri went to Bush through Bar. Bar did not respond--she never shared her opinions. No guest supposed to be on Face the Nation more than twice a year--policy changed for Dole. Bush always had something to say, funny moment to recall, teasing needle. Bar had 4-5,000 file cards on "friends." Friendship depended on what they thought of him--if the thought well of him, they were friends. Mike Dukakis--on time, always on time. Probed for government implications on every bill. Gephardt--shit happens. Opposition research--used CRS--Congressional Research Service to research Dukakis. Biden speech driven. Following election--Dukakis took trolley to work, Kitty drank four ounces of booze and went back to bed. Boston talk-radio began calling Dukakis Pee Wee. "What kind of access did you have?" Hart--with Mondale and Dukakis as nominees--election was a waste of time--should have never gone into politics.

Subject

"Presidents--United States--Election--1988."

"Presidential candidates--United States--Biography."

Relation

Original Booknotes interview

Rights

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