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Down & Dirty: The Plot to Steal the Presidency
Acclaimed journalist Jake Tapper explains what actually happened, who got away with what and how both sides, Democrats and Republicans, plotted to steal the presidency in 2000.
536 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2001
81 people are currently reading
549 people want to read
About the author
Jake Tapper
17 books971 followersJake Tapper is the best-selling author of six books, his most recent being All the Demons Are Here, to be published July 11, 2023 by Little Brown & Co.
On April 24, 2018, Little, Brown and Company published Tapper's first novel, a political thriller entitled The Hellfire Club. The novel follows a fictitious freshman Congressman discovering corruption and conspiracy in 1950s Washington, at the height of the McCarthy era. The book debuted at Number 3 on the New York Times Best-Seller List for Hardcover fiction, and remained on the Best-Seller list for four weeks total. The Associated Press called The Hellfire Club "insightful...well-written and worthwhile." Tablet Magazine called the novel "startlingly good." USA Today said the author "sizzles" and "proves he has the page-turning knack in his entertaining debut novel."
The sequel to The Hellfire Club, The Devil May Dance, was released in May 2021, and continues the story of the lives of Charlie and Margaret Marder.
Tapper is also the author of The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor, a critically acclaimed book about U.S. troops in Afghanistan that debuted at number 10 on The New York Times Best Seller list for hardback non-fiction. Bob Woodward described the book as "Brilliant, dedicated reporting by a journalist who goes to ground to get the truth. A sad, real tale about this war, America and the brave warriors who live—and die—at the point of the spear" and Jon Krakauer called it "a mind-boggling, all-too-true story of heroism, hubris, failed strategy, and heartbreaking sacrifice. If you want to understand how the war in Afghanistan went off the rails, you need to read this book."
In 2014, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society recognized Tapper for the book and his reporting on military topics in general with the Tex McCrary Award for Excellence in Journalism. A Rod Lurie-directed film adaptation of The Outpost was released in July 2020, starring Milo Gibson, Orlando Bloom, Scott Eastwood and Caleb Landry Jones.
In addition to The Outpost, Tapper is the author of Down and Dirty: The Plot to Steal the Presidency, based on the 2000 Presidential election, that The Washington Post called "lively", the Chicago Tribune "a churning effusion well worth reading" and The Daily Telegraph "engrossing". He also wrote Body Slam: The Jesse Ventura Story (St. Martin's Press) that was excerpted by The Washington Post Magazine.
On April 24, 2018, Little, Brown and Company published Tapper's first novel, a political thriller entitled The Hellfire Club. The novel follows a fictitious freshman Congressman discovering corruption and conspiracy in 1950s Washington, at the height of the McCarthy era. The book debuted at Number 3 on the New York Times Best-Seller List for Hardcover fiction, and remained on the Best-Seller list for four weeks total. The Associated Press called The Hellfire Club "insightful...well-written and worthwhile." Tablet Magazine called the novel "startlingly good." USA Today said the author "sizzles" and "proves he has the page-turning knack in his entertaining debut novel."
The sequel to The Hellfire Club, The Devil May Dance, was released in May 2021, and continues the story of the lives of Charlie and Margaret Marder.
Tapper is also the author of The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor, a critically acclaimed book about U.S. troops in Afghanistan that debuted at number 10 on The New York Times Best Seller list for hardback non-fiction. Bob Woodward described the book as "Brilliant, dedicated reporting by a journalist who goes to ground to get the truth. A sad, real tale about this war, America and the brave warriors who live—and die—at the point of the spear" and Jon Krakauer called it "a mind-boggling, all-too-true story of heroism, hubris, failed strategy, and heartbreaking sacrifice. If you want to understand how the war in Afghanistan went off the rails, you need to read this book."
In 2014, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society recognized Tapper for the book and his reporting on military topics in general with the Tex McCrary Award for Excellence in Journalism. A Rod Lurie-directed film adaptation of The Outpost was released in July 2020, starring Milo Gibson, Orlando Bloom, Scott Eastwood and Caleb Landry Jones.
In addition to The Outpost, Tapper is the author of Down and Dirty: The Plot to Steal the Presidency, based on the 2000 Presidential election, that The Washington Post called "lively", the Chicago Tribune "a churning effusion well worth reading" and The Daily Telegraph "engrossing". He also wrote Body Slam: The Jesse Ventura Story (St. Martin's Press) that was excerpted by The Washington Post Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 14, 2020
Reading this book two decades after the event and in the middle of another (endless) US election counting season was interesting for various reasons. The author pulls no punches about his dislike for both candidates.
For me there is a number of observations with the benefit of hindsight. One being that Florida has fixed its voting system and became a beacon of responsible reporting in the 2020 election. Reading about Ron Klain's role coordinating the Gore legal effort in the week he is announced as White House Chief of Staff was also interesting.
A question relates to John McCain's candidacy and loss in the South Carolina primary. The Bush campaign in South Carolina would seem to make the latter day remarks by Donald Trump seem fairly tame. I have watched a number of persons linked to the Bush presidency wring their hands about these remarks by Trump, but no reflection on the Bush campaign. So what would the world have been like if John McCain had won the South Carolina primary and been the potential nominee and president in 2000?
I also think that his loss may have been a blessing for Al Gore who found his cause in climate change where he appears to be genuinely invested and is able to be the authentic.
At the end of the book, the author lists some of the main issues in US politics especially the role of money, special
interests and the media and he makes the case that US voters need to take responsibility for their choices. Unfortunately none of that has changed or improved in the ensuing period.
I watch US elections from a different continent and hemisphere away and it is always baffling for those living in democracies where every vote counts to watch the US process unfold. However it does feel like a more innocent era compared to the current state.
Well worth relooking in hindsight.
For me there is a number of observations with the benefit of hindsight. One being that Florida has fixed its voting system and became a beacon of responsible reporting in the 2020 election. Reading about Ron Klain's role coordinating the Gore legal effort in the week he is announced as White House Chief of Staff was also interesting.
A question relates to John McCain's candidacy and loss in the South Carolina primary. The Bush campaign in South Carolina would seem to make the latter day remarks by Donald Trump seem fairly tame. I have watched a number of persons linked to the Bush presidency wring their hands about these remarks by Trump, but no reflection on the Bush campaign. So what would the world have been like if John McCain had won the South Carolina primary and been the potential nominee and president in 2000?
I also think that his loss may have been a blessing for Al Gore who found his cause in climate change where he appears to be genuinely invested and is able to be the authentic.
At the end of the book, the author lists some of the main issues in US politics especially the role of money, special
interests and the media and he makes the case that US voters need to take responsibility for their choices. Unfortunately none of that has changed or improved in the ensuing period.
I watch US elections from a different continent and hemisphere away and it is always baffling for those living in democracies where every vote counts to watch the US process unfold. However it does feel like a more innocent era compared to the current state.
Well worth relooking in hindsight.
February 19, 2025
A total slog and Tapper is way too smug for my liking
June 21, 2020
Read this twice in 10 years. Objective, fact-based account of a very emotional time in the U.S.
The repercussions of this election are still being felt today.
The repercussions of this election are still being felt today.
September 14, 2018
Another great book by Tapper. This is a no holds bar account of what happened in Florida in the Bush v. Gore presidential race. This book was an honest look at all the players, all the mistakes, all the plotting that took place. He takes no prisoners in this one, no one gets a sympathy vote, Jake Tapper presents the facts. As the reader you can take a side if you want, we all know the final verdict. We lived and spent 8 years with what happened.
February 12, 2021
This was a solid, thorough read that gave me a ton of insight not only into the 2000 election but into a lot of the terminology & electoral processes that we've been hearing over the past month.
Tapper gave a great account - but phew, this was a beast to get through. There are so many names I felt like I needed a spreadsheet with me while reading and it was quite dry and technical at times. But it was accurate, fair, and detailed so i suppose it comes with the territory.
Tapper gave a great account - but phew, this was a beast to get through. There are so many names I felt like I needed a spreadsheet with me while reading and it was quite dry and technical at times. But it was accurate, fair, and detailed so i suppose it comes with the territory.
May 15, 2012
One of THE best political books because no one is spared! Republican, Democrat, guess what - you're both politicians! Tapper tells it like it is. Thoroughly researched, well written, and NEVER boring!
July 22, 2023
Sorry Jake. Way too much detail. Eventually go lost in the details.
However it was enlightening in the fact that the Republican Party is a win at all costs. Lie, cheat and even steal to win. Unfortunately nothing has changed.
However it was enlightening in the fact that the Republican Party is a win at all costs. Lie, cheat and even steal to win. Unfortunately nothing has changed.
November 30, 2023
Bitter, brutally honest, very well-researched, often first hand, Jake's book pulled no punches. I had forgotten so much of the time line. If I could have dinner with anyone, Jake Tapper would be my favorite male guest.
June 21, 2021
Incredible detail on the election of 2000 and from reading this the reader gets some insight into how the claims that 2020 was stolen were fabricated.
Read
August 25, 2021Stopped reading after a few chapters... realized it wasn't something I needed/wanted to read right now.
August 25, 2025
Interesting but pretty dry read. I realize the subject matter could be thought of as dry - Tapper's writing voice has certainly improved.
November 21, 2007
Do you hate everybody in Washington? Then this is your book. A break down of the 2000 Florida election debacle - but the author hates everyone in the process regardless of politcal affiliation. He's a funny, charming madman.
Want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews