The Presidents Club

Inside the World's Most Exclusive Fraternity

By: Nancy Gibbs, Michael Duffy

Narrated by: Bob Walter

Length: 22 hrs

Publisher's summary

The Presidents Club was born at Eisenhower’s inauguration when Harry Truman and Herbert Hoover first conceived the idea. Over the years that followed - and to this day - the presidents relied on, misunderstood, sabotaged, and formed alliances with one another that changed history. The world’s most exclusive fraternity is a complicated place: its members are bound forever because they sat in the Oval Office and know its secrets, yet they are immortal rivals for history’s favor.

Some presidents needed their predecessors to keep their secrets; others needed them to disappear. Most just needed help getting the job done. Truman enlisted Hoover to help him save Europe; Kennedy turned to Ike on Cuba; Nixon sought Johnson’s advice on getting reelected, but then tried to blackmail him; Ford and Carter couldn’t stand each other until they saw what they had in common; Reagan and Clinton relied on Nixon as an off-the-books emissary to Russia; Bush put Clinton and his father to work and they became like father and son; and Obama and Clinton became quiet rivals for the same crown.

Journalists and presidential historians Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy unravel the secret compacts, the shared scars, and the private cease-fires from Hoover to Obama. The Presidents Club will change the way we think about the presidency, for the club itself is an instrument of presidential power.

©2012 Nancy Gibbs, Michael Duffy (P)2012 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

"This is essential reading for anyone interested in American politics.” (Robert Dallek, best-selling author of An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917–1963)

“Forget Rome’s Curia, Yale’s Skull and Bones and the Bilderbergs - the world’s most exclusive club never numbers more than six. Its rules are inscrutable, and its members box the compass politically and stylistically.... Michael Duffy and Nancy Gibbs have penetrated thick walls of secrecy and decorum to give us the most intimate, revealing, and poignant account of the constitutional fifth wheel that is the ex-presidency. Readers are in for some major surprises, not to mention a history they won’t be able to put down.” (Richard Norton Smith, author of Patriarch: George Washington and the New American Nation)

“ The Presidents Club is magnetically readable, bursting with new information and behind-the-scenes details. It is also an important contribution to history, illuminating the event-making private relationships among our ex-Presidents and why we should do a far better job of drawing on their skills and experience.” (Michael Beschloss, best-selling author of The Conquerers)

Extremely Interesting!

What did you love best about The Presidents Club?

I loved how I got a look at the "behind the scenes" aspects of Presidents and former Presidents' lives. It makes the men that have held this highest office more human, and thus, more relatable and likable regardless of their particular political persuasion.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Love the relationship between Clinton and Bush 1. I try to remind myself of these two when I get bent out of shape thinking about or talking about someone else's political views.

Have you listened to any of Bob Walter’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I've listened to two others and all are very good. I'm a fan of his recordings... very excellent.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Emotionally, as a history book, it kept me engaged the entire time. I normally listen to my books while I'm out on a run and I'd find myself running extra or stretching out a bit more afterwards to make sure I came to nice break in the action.

Any additional comments?

Fun, interesting, and entertaining read. Definitely worth picking up!

Must read

Would you consider the audio edition of The Presidents Club to be better than the print version?

I only listen to books because that is better for me

What about Bob Walter’s performance did you like?

Like clear easy to understand

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Don't understand

Narrating distracting

The fact that so few reviews note the narration makes me wonder if I got a different narration. Great insightful book that changes my view of several presidents, but 20 chapters in and the narration cadence with the sing-song delivery of every sentence identical to the last is becoming maddeningly distracting.

Listen to the sample carefully first. This may be one for your Kindle or hardcover.

Tedious

Felt like it skimmed around the club. It seemed to concentrate more on the individual arrogance. I started skipping chapters at 12 & stopped listening at 15.

There actually CAN be bipartisan cooperation in DC

What made the experience of listening to The Presidents Club the most enjoyable?

I really enjoyed this book and looked forward to it each day. I've recommended it to several people already. I tend to shy away from current affairs books of this nature because my experience is that I can never find a balanced non-bias account from both extremes of center. I'm sure listeners could find some fault, but I never felt I was getting force fed the authors agenda or that one party or individual was being portrayed in an unfair fashion. I'm sharp enough to take all with a grain of salt and come to my own conclusions. I love knowing that our leaders actually can work together and seek counsel despite all the polarization today. There truly is a fraternity amongst them because none of us can really understand what it's like.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I'll refrain from naming one individual for fear of closing the minds of readers of this review before they even read the book, but it's fascinating to see what goes on behind the scenes in some of the pivotal events in history. it's also interesting to see who the Presidents leaned on and consider wise counsel, it's going to surprise you.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Bob Walter?

I wouldn't call myself a fan. I would echo what other reviewers say about his odd inflection and strange pauses. I'm willing to give anyone another try but I'd need to be convinced by the audible sample. I suppose if the book is interesting enough like this one I could get past it.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, had I the time to do so I probably would have.

Any additional comments?

There is a couple slow moments where it felt they needed to represent a certain President and had to reach for something to put in, but for the most part it's a really enjoyable book!

Content OK - Narrator is TERRIBLE

Good book overall. The first several sections with Truman and Eishenhower are more political history than relationships within "the club" but this improves as the book goes on and there's more info about the actual relationships and interaction of Presidents.

The biggest downfall of this audiobook is the narrator. He speaks in the same exact cadence over and over again. It doesn't matter if he's quoting someone or simply narrating, the cadence, emphasis, etc. is irritatingly repetitive. I could actually give you a voice example mocking his style if I could upload a audio sample here...It's would be comical if it weren't so repetitive. He also does almost zero voice characterizations (acting) so unless you're paying close attention, sometimes you don't know if a President is speaking or a staffer or another political figure. The only exception I noticed was in characterizing LBJ's voice with a bit of a Texan accent, but it's very slight.

Sadly, it's REALLY hard to listen beyond the narrator. He's so distracting that it's hard to listen for very long.

This is one endorsement that I would NOT recommend the audio version, but would recommend the actual book (read it yourself).

Very interesting!

What did you love best about The Presidents Club?

I loved the "behind the scenes" glimpse this book offered. It was very educational and interesting since I had no idea that there was a club. I will get another book where he reads because he was so good.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Presidents Club?

Nixon and Clinton. Their relationship was very intriguing.

Which character – as performed by Bob Walter – was your favorite?

Bob did such a wonderful job that it is difficult to single out one. He was very even handed in how he portrayed each character. I liked how he read in his voice without trying to mimic any certain president.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No. I was just thoroughly engaged.

Any additional comments?

Bob Walter's performance was excellent. I did not detect any partisanship. He was very interesting reader.

Great book

The book was informative and insightful of the men who have held this office. From Hoover through Bush II. I enjoyed hearing about their lives after being President and their interactions with the sitting President.
The presenter did a great job and was engaging throughout the book.

Reader dull

Good book, but the reader dulls the book and doesn’t articulate well. It’s as if the reader is trying to put you to sleep.

Fascinating

The overall story is fascinating - extremely interesting to find out what goes on behind the scenes with the presidents and their predecessors - communications, friendships and conflicts of personality. Unfortunately, the narrator's style is a little dry and made for a stop and start listen - if I listened too long the narrator's tone and style put me to sleep, literally.