We Should Have Seen It Coming

June 1, 2020
The executive Washington editor for the Wall Street Journal offers a recent history of the GOP and of Donald Trump. Seib, who has an earlier work on the D.C. establishment, Pennsylvania Avenue: Profiles in Backroom Power (2008), looks favorably on Ronald Reagan and describes the forces that helped him achieve the presidency, which include the formation of the Heritage Foundation and the influences of Grover Norquist and Ayn Rand. The author praises Reagan for numerous accomplishments before moving on to the administration of his successor, George H.W. Bush. Seib sees both of these presidents as admirable men who did good deeds but had a few problems, not always of their own making. Next, the author charts the rise of Newt Gingrich, crediting his astute use and manipulation of media. Likewise, we see the emerging power of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and other conservative media commentators and outlets. The author also has numerous kind things to say about George W. Bush ("an instantly likable man with a quick mind and an air of self-assurance"), words that will no doubt surprise some readers. Seib calls the Iraq War a "misadventure" and argues that the primary problem for Bush regarding Hurricane Katrina was that "the optics were bad." The author writes about the Barack Obama victories, charting the subsequent rise of the tea party, a force that made the GOP increasingly angry and populist. Although the author mentions race as a factor a few times, he does not pursue it thoroughly. The final chapters deal with the rise of Trump and the accommodations many in the GOP made. Seib also discusses those who abandoned him (George Will among them). The author chronicles Trump's political and personal failures but recognizes that he has radically altered American politics. Generously conceived, thoroughly researched, and guaranteed to please no one at the political extremes.

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June 8, 2020
Wall Street Journal reporter Seib debuts with a judicious and approachable chronicle of the evolution of the Republican Party from the Reagan revolution in the 1980s to the rise of Trumpism. Rather than focusing on demographics and statistics, Seib tells a more human story of the individuals and grassroots infrastructure that drove the evolution of the conservative movement. Biographical sketches of key Republican figures including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich sit alongside explorations of under-the-radar tactical developments, such as direct-mail fund-raising, that enabled the development of a sustainable movement. Revisiting the presidential candidacies of Pat Buchanan and Ross Perot in the 1990s and the rise of the Tea Party in the late 2000s, Seib identifies precursors to Trump’s electoral victory and argues that it was less surprising than it first seemed. Avoiding wonkishness while making such policy elements as supply-side economics and the Reagan-era tax cuts comprehensible, Seib draws on his insider perspective to deliver an incisive assessment of “the most important political story of the millennium.” Political junkies will savor this evenhanded, anecdote-rich account. Agent: Raphael Sagalyn.

June 12, 2020

Seib, executive Washington editor of the Wall Street Journal, has crafted an informative overview of U.S. political history since the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980. Although much of the information detailed is not new, Seib's accessible, well-written account will allow all readers to understand better the shifting political environment, especially the popularity of Reagan's conservative ideology in the decades after he left office. Seib emphasizes how the forces that ultimately led to the election of Donald Trump in 2016 had been quietly gathering during the late 20th century, culminating in the Tea Party Movement during the presidency of Barack Obama, as well as the growing sentiment in support of isolationism, nativism, and protectionism that provides the foundation for many actions taken by the Trump administration. Seib also covers figures such as Barry Goldwater and Newt Gingrinch, who both left a lasting impact on conservative ideology as they sparked populist ferment. Consideration is also given to George W. Bush and the War on Terror military campaign launched after the September 11 attacks, as well as the impact of John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign, with running mate Sarah Palin. VERDICT An excellent analysis of modern political history.--Ed Goedeken, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames

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Starred review from July 1, 2020
Surveying the past decades of American political history, Wall Street Journal Washington editor Seib traces the rise of populism and its embodiment in Donald Trump. Republican conservatism triumphed in the 1980s with the election of Ronald Reagan, whose classical conservatism embraced American history and valued robust immigration, free trade, and laissez-faire capitalism. This appealed to a wide range of voters, who appreciated the call to old-fashioned values, but who nevertheless depended on those deeply popular social benefits that Democratic predecessors had installed: Social Security and Medicare. Reagan captured the presidency in 1980, and for a while his proposals to cut taxes and reduce federal government seemed to work. But under George H. W. Bush, things seemed to go awry, and ideologues fumed. The Clinton presidency saw the concomitant rise of Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh, and Rupert Murdoch. Then the culture wars began over abortion and gay marriage. Popular Democrat Barack Obama trod carefully in his administration. The 2016 election of Donald Trump led to an uneasy marriage of conservatism and populism. Followers of contemporary political history will appreciate how Seib gathers together the many strands of people and events culminating in present realities.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)