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The Death of American Virtue: Clinton vs. Starr |  | Author: Ken Gormley
Publisher: Crown
Category: Book
List Price: $35.00
Buy New: $12.50
as of 7/31/2010 12:30 CDT details
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Seller: The Book Fairies
Rating:  53 reviews
Sales Rank: 117200
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 800
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.5
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.1 x 2.2
ISBN: 0307409449
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.929092
EAN: 9780307409447
ASIN: 0307409449
Publication Date: February 16, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Ten years after one of the most polarizing political scandals in American history, author Ken Gormley offers an insightful, balanced, and revealing analysis of the events leading up to the impeachment trial of President William Jefferson Clinton. From Ken Starr’s initial Whitewater investigation through the Paula Jones sexual harassment suit to the Monica Lewinsky affair, The Death of American Virtue is a gripping chronicle of an ever-escalating political feeding frenzy.
In exclusive interviews, Bill Clinton, Ken Starr, Monica Lewinsky, Paula Jones, Susan McDougal, and many more key players offer candid reflections on that period. Drawing on never-before-released records and documents—including the Justice Department’s internal investigation into Starr, new details concerning the death of Vince Foster, and evidence from lawyers on both sides—Gormley sheds new light on a dark and divisive chapter, the aftereffects of which are still being felt in today’s political climate.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 53
 Excellent Read Falls Just Short of Objectivity July 2, 2010
Hallauthor (Illinois)
I'm a bit torn after reading Gormley's work. ( And apparently, I'm in the minority of reviewers. How can someone not appreciate the irony of reviewing a book they haven't read, or complaining about price to a forum that has nothing to do with pricing? ) I loved the read, had a hard time putting it down. But I had issues with a few aspects of the book that made it fall short of what it could have been:
1. As with another reviewer, I think the title is erroneously constructed. American virtue ( and I assume the writer is referring to the abject partisanship of the wars between right and left here, not Clinton's fleshly transgressions ) as such, was long dead. The days of the mentality of a "loyal opposition" began vanishing decades ago, and even if the author intended a reference to the lack of moral virtue displayed by Clinton, the record is established and vast about the peccadilloes of JFK, FDR, etc.
2. Gormley implies the objectivity of Ken Starr a little too easily. I found far too many quotes from Mrs. Starr, far too many testaments from Starr committee members to back up that observation. The facts of Starr's pre-appointment activities that Gormley freely documents should have given him more pause in this regard than they did. While Gormley documents the Starr committee's horrific treatment of the Secret Service during this time period, he does not hold Starr's feet to the fire enough for that course of action. This, more than anything, speaks to Gormley's ( albeit slight ) predisposition to accept Starr for what Starr represented himself to be.
3. Gormley takes Henry Hyde's words with near-gospel reverence, and Hyde unquestionably was as partisan as partisan can be. Gormley takes some pains to defend Hyde by questionning the fairness od the revelation that the ranking Republican himself had issues of sexual infidelity in his past, and does not call to account the excuse provided by Hyde of the offense being a "youthful indescretion." Gormley should have used that for what it was; a perfect example of the hypocrisy of Clinton's accusers. Hyde's role in the impeachment was shameful and should have been called as such. This is my biggest objection to the book.
Still, I can say that the book overall is fair and revealing and well worth reading. He documents the fact that Iraq and Bosnia were not "wag the dog" scenarios. He reveals the misconduct alleged by the FBI when they held Monica Lewinsky and refused her access to counsel. On the other side of the ledger, he says that Hillary ( one of the few principals who did not participate in the interviews ) was basically fortunate not to have been indicted. He in no way excuses Bill's dalliances, and reveals that he and Susan McDougall ( who I belive is very fairly portrayed in the book ) did in fact have an affair many years prior to all of these events.
Perhaps the most compelling portions of the book deal with the Secret Service. I found the experiences they endured because of the misconduct of both Clinton and Starr to be more gut-wrenching than any of the other betrer-known players in this unfortunate drama that, as Gormley accurately describes, had plenty of villains with too few heroes.
 Clinton Review June 24, 2010
Lucien S. Mott (New York)
If you are looking for a factual account and don't mind long books, I would recommend this work. If you are looking for an in-depth analysis of the currents and cross currents of the 1990s keep looking. I looked hard and could not find any prejudice what so ever, it is the most objective book I have ever read on such a controversial subject. Gormley lets the participants speak, he uses their works where possible from the period and their recollections ten years later only interjecting facts when necessary. It is as fair and balanced as it possible can be. I must admit it was difficult at times reliving these events; it was truly one of the most stupid affairs in out history.
 Very poorly researched June 15, 2010
Barbara Dierdorff (San Diego, Ca.)
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
For all of the time that Gormley spent researching facts to write this book he writes without conviction. It is a very poorly written account of the scams that were going on during Clinton's time. I put the book down after reading only a third of it. Boring!
 Great Book! May 20, 2010
Beth J. Coger (Danville, Arkansas United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I could not stop reading this book. For a week I let my housework go, would come home from work and start reading. This book goes into great detail about the Kenneth Starr witch hunt. Of course, Bill Clinton is to blame, too, very much so, but the unethical actions of Kenneth Starr and his band of renegrade prosecutors and their prosecutorial misconduct is amazing reading.
 HORRIBLE... May 7, 2010
NOTGONNAPAY!!! (USA)
3 out of 12 found this review helpful
$17.33 for the Kindle Edition of this book is OUTRAGEOUS!!! What are publishers charging so much for? They're not using ink...they're not using paper...there are no man hours involved...it's greed. What happened to the promised $9.99 Kindle books? Amazon, you can't do anything about this?? I realize not every book can be $9.99, but there's a growing trend of e-books being priced higher and higher. You roped me into buying a Kindle with tales of $9.99, now you're raising prices. Classic bait and switch...shame on you and shame on the publishers.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 53
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