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The Shadow President  By  cover art

The Shadow President

By: Michael D'Antonio, Peter Eisner
Narrated by: Robert Fass
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Publisher's summary

In this well-rounded, deeply investigated biography, the first full look at the vice president, two award-winning journalists unmask the real Mike Pence.

Little known outside his home state until Donald Trump made him his running mate, Mike Pence - who proclaims himself a Christian first, a conservative second, and a Republican third - has long worn a carefully constructed mask of Midwestern nice. Behind his self-proclaimed humility and self-abasing deference, however, hides a man whose own presidential ambitions have blazed since high school. Pence’s drive for power, perhaps inspired by his belief that God might have big plans for him, explains why he shocked his allies by lending Christian credibility to a scandal-plagued candidate like Trump.

In this landmark biography, Pulitzer Prize winner Michael D’Antonio and Emmy-nominated journalist Peter Eisner follow the path Pence followed from Catholic Democrat to conservative evangelical Republican. They reveal how he used his time as right-wing radio star to build connections with powerful donors; how he was a lackluster lawmaker in Congress but a prodigious fundraiser from the GOP’s billionaire benefactors; and how, once he locked in his views on the issues - anti-gay, pro-gun, anti-abortion, pro-big-business - he became laser-focused on his own pursuit of power.

As The Shadow President reveals, Mike Pence is the most important and powerful Christian right politician America has ever seen. Driven as much by theology as personal ambition, Pence is now positioned to seize the big prize - the presidency - and use it to fashion a nation more pleasing to his god and corporate sponsors.

©2018 Michael D'Antonio and Peter Eisner (P)2018 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"It presents an entirely damning portrait of Pence. You've seen his colors before, but not so vividly and in this detail." (Frank Bruni, The New York Times)

"Producing a biography of a living, controversial politician is always difficult. D'Antonio and Eisner have succeeded in this well-documented, damning book." (Kirkus Reviews)

What listeners say about The Shadow President

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Excellent, well researched

I found this a through well researched and documented book on the man who has staffed the Trump administration and seeks to establish a theocracy and undermine the civil rights of Americans as week as influencing world politics in an extreme direction.

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Riveting!

I’ve had major reservations about Pence all along, but this book had me nearly sick with disgust when I realized my suspicions were correct. We can’t let this guy become President; he’s dangerous!

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  • 10-05-18

We have been warned

A truly engaging read. The authors effectively assembled a body of facts that lay bare the peril of Pence.

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"Blank Check" meets "Pet Semetary"

Awesome!! The driver of the truck ran over a guy on a bicycle, the driver throws the bike rider & his bike into the bed of he truck then takes him & the bike to bury but it turns out it he buried em in an Indian Graveyard, that the KKK has been using..So now he no longer is dead, he was a lawyer out making a difference, making sure kids are safe after school (or he just wanted a lawsuit) & he might become President unless people find and demand that Zombies aren't allowed to Run for Presidency.

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Unbelievable

For as boring as Mike Pence is, this book conveys his righteous agenda. Pence plays puppet very well. But he’s definitely a terrifying figure with the religious right in his corner.

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The Ultimate Pharisee

As a life long Hoosier myself, I really didn't learn anything about Mike Pence I didn't already know. He was a terrible Governor, and is the ultimate pharisee and hypocrite. Just listening to Pence speak, you realize what a fake and phony he is. Pence sets himself up as the authority on everything moral, while inside, he is empty and hollow. There is not a shred of care, compassion or empathy in his being. The irony is, for all his loyalty to Trump, he will never be the Republican nominee for President. His political life is over, as it should be.

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Everything you need to know about Mik Pence

I've lived in Indiana almost all my adult life and like many progressives, I don't like Mike Pence. I listened to this book hoping I would find an objective biography of him and it delivered. It hasn't changed my opinion of him but I feel like I gave it a good try!
The narrator is very good and the story works well as an audio book.

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Very informative

It is very important know in deep who are the people we elect. This book present a person as he really is.

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All American horror story

All too true all American horror story. Honestly after hearing this book the Cheeeto must stay in office...... a derp is far easier to manage than a cold calculating man.

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Awesome Book

what a great book. i plan to listen again and I will send to my dad. He said Pence was off his rocker.

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