Pennsylvania Avenue: Profiles in Backroom Power

by John Harwood, Gerald F. Seib

Prizewinning journalists John Harwood and Gerald F. Seib show how today’s Washington power game really works, through stories of people who are making a difference on Pennsylvania Avenue, America’s power street. These new power brokers, some of whom are rarely seen and are largley unknown, have figured out how to make their voices heard, and how to get things done, amid the complexities of today’s gridlocked Washington. With unprecedented access to Washington insiders, and with deep insight into the unspoken rules of the road in the capital, Harwood and Seib explain why progress is so difficult and illuminate what it takes to succeed in the high stakes game of politics.

Pennsylvania Avenue, the 1.2-mile stretch between the White House and the Capitol, is where the influential and ambitious congregate. Through stories of party strategists, money men, policy-makers, fixers, socialites, lobbyists, spinners, deal-makers, and more, Harwood and Seib explore the great political transformations that have altered in a fundamental way the relationship between Americans and their government. A new class of politician and radically different ways of conducting business now exist in Washington. Harwood and Seib showcase such master players as Ken Duberstein (the Fixer), a onetime aide to President Ronald Reagan turned superlobbyist, whose contacts and insider knowledge help clients sidestep Avenue jam-ups; Carlyle Group co-founder David Rubenstein (the Businessman), a new breed of power broker who pioneered the age of “big money” in Washington; Rahm Emanuel
(the Democratic Strategist), whose aggressive fundraising and crisis-room campaign enabled the Democrats to retake Congress in 2006; Debbie Wasserman Schultz (the Rising Star), a first-term Democratic representative from Florida whose meteoric ascent in the House has earned her influential allies as well as critics; Hilary Rosen (the Advocate), a former entertainment industry lobbyist who skillfully reframed the debate about same-sex marriage; and more.

Inspiring and wonderfully written , Pennsylvania Avenue takes us inside America’s center of influence to show how our government really functions, and the insiders who make things happen.

"Through a series of sharp vignettes and character sketches, the authors of "Pennsylvania Avenue," John Harwood and Gerald F. Seib, take the reader behind some of the more imposing facades along the refurbished road, introducing the famous and not-so-famous, and explaining how business gets done in the new Washington. Though they accept the common view that the old rules have changed, their analysis is fresh and stimulating."
-- The New York Times

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2008

About the author

John Harwood is an American journalist who is an editor-at-large for CNBC. He was the chief Washington Correspondent for CNBC and a contributor for The New York Times. He wrote a weekly column entitled "The Caucus" that appeared on Monday about Washington politics and policy. Before joining the Times, he wrote for The Wall Street Journal.

Reviews

[Leew49 · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Pennsylvania Avenue of the early 21st century has brought Americans together in at least one way: disdain for its self-seeking, divisiveness, and inability to solve problems."

Unfortunately, the authors' observation becomes the bottom line for this book, which was meant in part to highlight individuals and institutions who had found ways to overcome Pennsylvania Avenue gridlock. Although the reader is introduced to numerous energetic and inventive people who found ways to get things done in Washington, it is almost always against the backdrop of a city so divided along partisan lines that any small achievement is deemed noteworthy. Written in 2008, the book is already a bit outdated, but the profiles and stories are still interesting in themselves. We meet a large number of behind the scenes operatives who have had varying degrees of success in moving legislation and programs forward: political strategists, fundraisers, businessmen, PAC workers, lobbyists, spinners, party chairmen, think tank participants, and policy advisers. Even the White House social secretary is noted as potentially having a tremendous impact on both domestic and foreign relations. Readers of today will recognize several up and comers from the early 21st Century: Rahm Emanuel, Karl Rove, Elliot Abrams, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz--singled out as a highly effective fundraiser for the Democrats.

No aspersions on Wasserman-Schultz, but the centrality of fundraising in this century is a big part of the problem. Both major parties expect their members to raise funds not only for their own personal campaigns but also for the party--a form of dues. In fact, specific numbers are named and goals must be met. The higher in the party you are, the more money you are expected to raise. The result is that many of our legislators have become part-time workers, spending two or three days a week in DC and then hurrying back to their districts to raise money and identify potential donors. The relative ease of travel in our era compared to past times has made the problem even more acute. Legislators from different parties no longer socialize, exacerbating their political and philosophical division. And in an era when bitter partisanship has replaced collegiality, the chances of Democrats and Republicans working together has grown less likely with each passing year.

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

A somewhat rambling narrative of a variety of "wheelers and dealers" behind the scenes in Washington D.C.. These people are the grease the makes the leviathan of government roll on...minions of corruption, greed, and power lust.

[Carol Hay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nonfiction account of backroom politics. Interesting, but few surprises. It's all about negotiating for power.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should have been a little better than it was. Harwood certainly knows the players, and some of the stories are very telling. But he's a bit too careful with his analyses of the powers-that-be, and the profiles are on the cursory side. Perhaps that's only inevitable given the powers that be..... Still, read this book if you want to understand how power works in Washington, and how it's changed over the past decade. The good news is that anyone with a computer, a sense of how to hook the media, and a large email list can take on anyone in DC -- the power truly has shifted in some ways.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fine, short book on current politics in America. Harwood and Seib both worked for the Wall Street Journal (Seib still does). Their non-partisan approach to the problems and potential cures for what ails the American political process is useful. The chapters are short and each focuses on one or two powerful political folks. Some of them are well known, like Karl Rove and Jim Webb, and others are the backroom players that few people hear much about. A few overriding themes include the influence of money in politics, the nastiness of political fights, and the increasing chasm between the two parties. Well worth it and easy to get through.

[Joy]

Nerdy journalist alert....had to buy this book. And yes, I looked at first pages to see if I got a first edition. (I did!) The secondary author, Jerry Seib, is a fellow journalist from Hays. And he's just always been one of those people I've looked up to, so this is a must read for me. (An added bonus...he recently appeared on Meet the Press.) Ok, this is the end of the nerdy journalist alert for today.

[Steven Kaminski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book that takes very specific episodes where there was media outrage or issues with legislation and showcases the actual people in Washington who work often behind the scenes to get things done. Some examples are like the deal that was blown up over Dubai buying US ports. Also how the Medicare bill was passed primarily by a lobbyist who served as both a Democrat & Republican. Some interesting insights...

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and well-written. John Harwood's lecture at Chautauqua this month was the best I heard all week. Due to my lack of background knowledge, I think I'd have a hard time discussing this, but I'd like to! I do have a much better sense of why nothing seems to get done in Washington these days!

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unbelieveably fantastic read. I actually had to slow down and take notes because I was gobbling up the book. These are the movers and shakers of our times and I recommend this book to read before the next election.

[Delight · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fascinating book of the players (some behind the scene, some not) of how business gets done in DC. Some of the profiles I enjoyed more than others. If you're interested in how DC REALLY works, this is a book worth reading. It's bipartisan as Rs and Ds are both highlighted.

[Tulin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book sounded more interesting than it was. It basically was just profiles of various players in Washington. I would have liked to see more of an integrated book that included a bit more of a narrative.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of the stories were mildly interesting, but there was no coherent narrative to tie it all together and make me want to keep reading.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating view of how modern Washington really works. Intriguing for the political junkie. If you're not into politics and policy making, don't bother.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent collection of profiles of DC power players. Good background info on some of DC's personalities, but probably only interesting to real political junkies.