The Price of Politics - Softcover

Woodward, Bob

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1451651112 ISBN 13: 9781451651119

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2013

Synopsis

See how and why Washington is not functioning.

Bob Woodward's freshly reported, thirty-five-page Afterword to his national bestseller, The Price of Politics, provides a detailed, often verbatim account of what happened in the dramatic "fiscal cliff" face-off at the end of 2012 between President Obama and the Republicans.

Now it's happening again. In fall 2013, Washington faces a new round of budget and fiscal wars that could derail the American and global economies.

"We are primarily a blocking majority," said Michael Sommers, Speaker John Boehner's chief of staff, summarizing the House Republican position.

It was the land of no-compromise:

On health care cuts over ten years, Boehner suggested to Obama, you are $400 billion, I'm at $600 billion. "Can we split the difference here? Can we land at $500 billion?"

"Four hundred billion is it," Obama replied. "I just can't see how we go any further on that."

After making $120 billion in other concessions, Obama pleaded with Boehner, "What is it about the politics?"
"My guys just aren't there," Boehner replied.
"We are $150 billion off, man. I don't get it. There's something I don't get."

The Price of Politics chronicles the inside story of how President Obama and the U.S. Congress tried, and failed, to restore the American economy and set it on a course to fiscal stability. Woodward pierces the secretive world of Washington policymaking once again, with a close-up story crafted from meeting notes, documents, working papers, and interviews with key players, including President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner. Woodward lays bare the broken relationship between President Obama and the Congress.

About this title

Review

"A highly detailed dissection of the debt-limit negotiations. ... A remarkable achievement. ...Woodward, being Woodward, digs deeper and draws more out of the protagonists than anyone else has." --Jeff Shesol, "The Washington Post"

"Almost every bookshelf in the U.S. capital holds a thin volume called "13 Days", Robert F. Kennedy's account of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Memo to Washington: Make room on those shelves for Bob Woodward's latest behind-the-scenes book, "The Price of Politics", which might as well have been called "44 Days". The centerpiece is a riveting account of the tedious negotiations to reach a 'grand bargain' on the federal budget." --David M. Shirbman, Bloomberg Businessweek""

"Groundbreaking" --David Gregory, NBC's Meet the Press

"Takes us inside the room once again." --Charlie Rose

"Fabulous book and great reporting." --Norah O'Donnell, CBS This Morning

"Bob Woodward, in characteristic fashion, does his competitors one better by filling in blanks and providing even finer detail." --Miranda Green, "The Daily Beast"

"A book everyone is talking about." --Diane Sawyer, ABC

"A very revealing, insightful book." --Sean Hannity, Fox News, "Hannity"

"Required Reading" --Elizabeth Titus, Politico

About the Author

Bob Woodward is an associate editor at The Washington Post, where he has worked for forty-seven years. He has shared in two Pulitzer Prizes, first for the Post's coverage of the Watergate scandal with Carl Bernstein, and second in 2003 as the lead reporter for coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He has authored or coauthored eighteen books, all of which have been national nonfiction bestsellers. Twelve of those have been #1 national bestsellers.

About this edition

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1451651112
• ISBN 13: 9781451651119
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 480