Title

The System : the American way of politics at the breaking point

Description

In this remarkable book, two of America's best-known journalists use their unparalleled access to the major players to examine The System, specifically as it operated during the ferocious battle over the Clinton effort to provide universal health insurance for Americans - and they come to some startling conclusions about America's future.From the beginning of the struggle, Johnson and Broder gained the confidence of more than one hundred of the participants, including the President and the First Lady; key congressional leaders like Bob Dole, Newt Gingrich, Ted Kennedy, and George Mitchell; the many competing special interests; and, outside the Beltway, ordinary citizens and workers on the battlefront of medical care. The authors have written a brilliant chronicle of the battle - of lost opportunities in the White House and of the savage determination and cunning tactics of the Gingrich forces, who plotted secretly for more than a year in advance to kill health care reform in an attempt to regain control of Congress and lead a conservative Republican Revolution that would fundamentally alter American government, privatize public function, and dismantle progressive programs and policies established over the last sixty years.Filled with stunning disclosures about the President and his supporters and adversaries, The System is an extraordinary portrait of democracy under siege, providing one of the most candid looks at American politics and government ever written. It is a book of vital importance to every American and is certain to become a classic in years to come.

Identifier

805305

316469696

Creator

Johnson, Haynes

Format

1st ed.

Contributor

Broder, David S

Source

Brian Lamb Booknotes Collection

Gift of Brian Lamb, 2011.

Catalog record

Language

eng

Date

1996

Program air date: May 5, 1996

Publisher

Little, Brown & Co.

George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives

Text

Transcription of Annotations
Notes on front endpaper: Why didn't Clinton get opposition in the primaries? Underlinings/Notes: Underlinings: nature of government, reactions to health care. Lamb marks references to people such as Ted Kennedy, Pat Moynihan and Robert J. Dole, Phil Gramm, John Chafee, Haley Barbour, Newt Gingrich and others. Notes: "Pres.," "Clinton 1995," "Gingrich," "3 years," "tapes, transcripts," "Dayton, OH," "stellar performance," "John Rother," "75 aides," "War Room," "Delivery Room," "Clintoncare," "Jay R.," "Boorstin," "Karen Tumulty," "arrogant," "the President," "no resources," "Ickes," "O'Donnell," "veto," "Greenberg dial group," "Dole/Moynihan," "Limbaugh," "Medicaid," "Medicare % of Budget 1970-3%, 1974-11%, 2005-17%," "Chip Kahn," "AARP and Simpson," "Bradley leaves," "Kean," "why tax reform succeeded 1986," "our view," "The System failed," "W.H. task force a mistake," "Mrs. Clinton failed," "secrecy," "Planet Ira," "Bob Byrd," "3 ways weakened presidency 1. 100 day pledge; 2. Mrs. Clinton, Ira M.; 3. power of the presidency," "Pres, lie," "TV," "most stunning fact 1993-94," "system operated as it supposed to," "pro-business groups too powerful," "always out gunned, business v. labor-consumer groups, liberal organizations," "media found wanting," "Hilary Stout," "Fallows," "the press," "Chafee," "hatred of gov.," "at no point destructive, cynical," "young people coming back in 1992."

Subject

"Health care reform--United States."

Relation

Original Booknotes interview

Rights

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