What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception
by: Scott McClellan
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With unprecedented candor, one of George W. Bush's closest aides takes readers behind the scenes of the Bush presidency, and what exactly happened to take it off course.
Scott McClellan was one of a few Bush loyalists from Texas who became part of his inner circle of trusted advisers, and remained so during one of the most challenging and contentious periods of recent history. Drawn to Bush by his commitment to compassionate conservatism and strong bipartisan leadership, McClellan served the president for more than seven years, and witnessed day-to-day exactly how the presidency veered off course.
In this refreshingly clear-eyed book, written with no agenda other than to record his experiences and insights for the benefit of history, McClellan provides unique perspective on what happened and why it happened the way it did, including the Iraq war, Hurricane Katrina, Washington's bitter partisanship, and two hotly-contested presidential campaigns. He gives readers a candid look into who George W. Bush is and what he believes, and into the personalities, strengths, and liabilities of his top aides. Finally, McClellan looks to the future, exploring the lessons this presidency offers the American people as we prepare to elect a new leader.
With unprecedented candor, one of George W. Bush's closest aides takes readers behind the scenes of the Bush presidency, and what exactly happened to take it off course.
Scott McClellan was one of a few Bush loyalists from Texas who became part of his inner circle of trusted advisers, and remained so during one of the most challenging and contentious periods of recent history. Drawn to Bush by his commitment to compassionate conservatism and strong bipartisan leadership, McClellan served the president for more than seven years, and witnessed day-to-day exactly how the presidency veered off course.
In this refreshingly clear-eyed book, written with no agenda other than to record his experiences and insights for the benefit of history, McClellan provides unique perspective on what happened and why it happened the way it did, including the Iraq war, Hurricane Katrina, Washington's bitter partisanship, and two hotly-contested presidential campaigns. He gives readers a candid look into who George W. Bush is and what he believes, and into the personalities, strengths, and liabilities of his top aides. Finally, McClellan looks to the future, exploring the lessons this presidency offers the American people as we prepare to elect a new leader.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Things I already know.......
I am about 1/4 of the way through this book and so far there is no real new information I didn't already know. The book starts off super slow. I am not really sure of what I was actually expecting but I never thought it would be so slow in its presentation. I sure hope it gets to some real meat and potatos soon. I have been reading it about 3 weeks on and off and so far this book has been very easy to put down, reading only about 15 minute sessions-that's all I can stand.
Rating: 
- Yawn. A vanilla book from a very vanilla man
Yawn. The Bush term is only recently over and the Plame affair already feels like ancient history. And McClellan is such a vanilla, decent kind of guy. The only mystery is how such a nice middle-of-the-roader got to the senior staff of the most ardently partisan administration of the past 50 years.
Rating: - Good read but no bombshell
This intimate account of the George W. Bush years was an interesting read but I was a bit disappointed that there were no bombshells, nothing highly revealing that I didn't already know. The backstory in the first few chapters drags and almost lead me to quit reading but the later storyline gets better. Worth a read if you are interested in the inner workings and challenges a White House press secretary faces daily, especially in this administration, but don't expect anything earth-shattering.
Rating: - Traitor, plain and simple
Scott McClellan was a traitor to the man who gave him his career. McClellan's entire political life, and post-political fame is enirely due to former President Bush's trust in him and his care and help.McClellan is a nave and a fool, in the words of Ann Coulter, he's a retard, and also a traitor. I think the book is interesting, and helps to show the truth of my prior assertions.
Rating: - Dramatizes the Dangers of Personal Politics
Bush's press secretary has written a confessional narrative of the Administration's failure to live up to its bipartisan, uniter-not-a-divider ideals.He concludes that we need to end the "perpetual campaign" adopted by Clinton and Bush and focus more on governing as statesmen above politics.His reform prescriptions are a bit on the milquetoast side:he proposes a "Deputy Chief of Staff for Governance."Gee, shouldn't that be the Chief of Staff's job -- or, God forbid, maybe the President himself ... Read More
- Things I already know.......I am about 1/4 of the way through this book and so far there is no real new information I didn't already know. The book starts off super slow. I am not really sure of what I was actually expecting but I never thought it would be so slow in its presentation. I sure hope it gets to some real meat and potatos soon. I have been reading it about 3 weeks on and off and so far this book has been very easy to put down, reading only about 15 minute sessions-that's all I can stand.
- Yawn. A vanilla book from a very vanilla manYawn. The Bush term is only recently over and the Plame affair already feels like ancient history. And McClellan is such a vanilla, decent kind of guy. The only mystery is how such a nice middle-of-the-roader got to the senior staff of the most ardently partisan administration of the past 50 years.
- Good read but no bombshellThis intimate account of the George W. Bush years was an interesting read but I was a bit disappointed that there were no bombshells, nothing highly revealing that I didn't already know. The backstory in the first few chapters drags and almost lead me to quit reading but the later storyline gets better. Worth a read if you are interested in the inner workings and challenges a White House press secretary faces daily, especially in this administration, but don't expect anything earth-shattering.
- Traitor, plain and simpleScott McClellan was a traitor to the man who gave him his career. McClellan's entire political life, and post-political fame is enirely due to former President Bush's trust in him and his care and help.McClellan is a nave and a fool, in the words of Ann Coulter, he's a retard, and also a traitor. I think the book is interesting, and helps to show the truth of my prior assertions.
- Dramatizes the Dangers of Personal PoliticsBush's press secretary has written a confessional narrative of the Administration's failure to live up to its bipartisan, uniter-not-a-divider ideals.He concludes that we need to end the "perpetual campaign" adopted by Clinton and Bush and focus more on governing as statesmen above politics.His reform prescriptions are a bit on the milquetoast side:he proposes a "Deputy Chief of Staff for Governance."Gee, shouldn't that be the Chief of Staff's job -- or, God forbid, maybe the President himself ... Read More
