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)

Terrific Read about Empathy & Hope

Where does The Presidents Club rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the top stories-restored my faith in all the men who have held the job of President since Truman. It is high level gossip about the workings of the Presidency and the comradarie that they held for one another, given that only they know how difficult a job it is..I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was disappointed when it came to the end, as I could not listen to any more stories..

What other book might you compare The Presidents Club to and why?

For me there is no comparison - it felt unique.

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

No

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

No - I liked prolonging the read as I used it on my daily walks - it was a treat that I looked forward to every day.

Any additional comments?

I gained more respect for the office and it made me more hopeful about politics overall.

Incredible read

Wow is all I have to say. One of the best books I’ve ever read.

A real look at the Presidents after the White House

A long, long book! But truly fascinating!! Lots of research-digging in to many resources to write a clear view over many years. I may listen to it again. I remember so many of these Presidents-but, did not think of their life after the White House. I was surprised about several of them.
It was an eye opener to me about Carter-making a Big life after the WH. A confirmation of Truman-a humble man- who rose to the terrible times- and took care of what was at hand to do.
RAE

Great insights on the office

The political machinations were sometimes boring and distracting but the foreign policy and foreign diplomatic efforts/stories were fascinating. Overall a great read

Very interesting

Where does The Presidents Club rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I wouldn't be able to give it a rank per se, it's an enjoyable listen - not the best audiobook I have listened to simply because I have interests in other topics as well

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

Understanding the interpersonal relationships that these men had with each other and how they called upon each other's help during times of crises

Which scene was your favorite?

When JFK was assinated and how LBJ called upon Ike for support. It was truly touching to see the country coming together.

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

no, given the fact it is an 18-hour long book, there is no way I could listen to this in one sitting! It took me around 3 weeks to complete the entire audiobook!

Any additional comments?

Well worth the time to listen to if you are interested in American politics.

Walk through modern US history

Would you listen to The Presidents Club again? Why?

Absolutely. Great stories, insight and perspective on historical events. Bob Walter is a perfect narrator - he gives life to the Presidents' words.

What does Bob Walter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

See above.

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

Could be a number of films based on each of the relationships.

Quirky but interesting view of history

This is a fascinating look at history from the end WW2 until the end of Obama's administration. It's obviously not complete and yet it gives the reader insight into modern history.

Didn't know that

What did you love best about The Presidents Club?

Remarkable stories about how former presidents from both sides of the aisle actually help current presidents

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

Impact of Eisenhower and then Nixon on subsequent presidencies was eye opening.

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

well spoken

Any additional comments?

It was kind of reassuring to learn that current presidents can have relatively non-partisan counsel from people who have a unique understanding of the job. Worth listening to twice.

Very informative with new historical information

What did you like about this audiobook?

It combines "behind the scenes" history with a contiguous story & also combines biography and non-fiction which are two of my favorites.

How has the book increased your interest in the subject matter?

The interaction between Presidents which was not previously available in one book.

Do you have any additional comments?

I enjoyed & learned

Searching for a US Presidential family

There are human beings, mere human beings, who could make the choice to destroy our planet. The President of the United States is one of these people. This is an unimaginable burden.

The Presidents??? Club traces the relationships between various Presidents. The main theme is that that only former Presidents can understand the enormity and immense loneliness of the position. There are tears, heartbreak ??? the raw emotions of immense egos, greed, compassion, wisdom, fear, love ??? and that ever present question: how will the future judge me. We are given images of Reagan teaching Clinton how to salute, Clinton???s advice on making speeches being sought by Bush 43, Truman being ignored by Ike, the deep friendship between Bush 41 and Clinton, the personal as well as political challenges presented to Johnson and Ford following the Kennedy assassination, Nixon fixated on self redemption, Carter with almost unrestrained idealism. Of particular poignancy was the relationship between the two Bushes.

The reader is taken through presidential relationships in a calm, factual manner, supported by an authoritative but tired narrator. To my mind, this book amounted to a well researched, very lengthy magazine article. Different points of view were rarely included ??? that would have detracted from the narrative. Instead it sounds like homage to the positive presidential relationships, and almost a dismissal of those who really didn???t want to play the games of this club.

I don???t feel that the disorder, the messiness and brutality, the fears, bewildering information, the brinkmanship, the risks, and the immense decisions emerging from the constant avalanche of advice, were sufficiently explored.

Sentimentality pervades this account. The authors seem driven to discover -- or imagine, or create -- threads of a presidential family.