In the Ring: The Trials of a Washington Lawyer

by Robert S. Bennett

Robert S. Bennett has been a lawyer for more than forty years. In that time, he’s taken on dozens of high-profile and groundbreaking cases and emerged as the go-to guy for the nation’s elite. Bob Bennett gained international recognition as one of America’s best lawyers for leading the defense of President Bill Clinton in the Paula Jones case. But long before, and ever since, representing a sitting president, he has fought for justice for many famous (and some now infamous) clients. This is his story.

Born in Brooklyn and an amateur boxer in his youth, Bennett has always brought his street fighter’s mentality to the courtroom. His case history is a who’s who of figures who have dominated legal super lobbyist Tommy Corcoran, former Secretaries of Defense Clark Clifford and Caspar Weinberger, Marge Schott, and, most recently, New York Times reporter Judith Miller and former World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz. Bennett also served as special counsel to the Senate during the ABSCAM and Keating Five scandals and was a leading member of the National Review Board for the Protection of Children & Young People, created by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in response to the sex abuse allegations.

Taking the reader deep within his most intriguing and difficult cases, In the Ring shows how Bennett has argued for what’s right, won for his clients, and effected his share of change on the system. This is an intimate and compelling memoir of one lawyer’s attempt to fight hard and fair.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

400 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Robert Stephen Bennett (August 2, 1939 – September 10, 2023) was an American attorney. He is best known for having represented President Bill Clinton during the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal.

Reviews

[Glen Asbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book that I enjoyed a lot. Bennett is one of the country's top lawyers, and has been for decades, so has some amazing war stories to share. What I also appreciated is his solid sense of family and loyalty and strong code of ethics.

Not a perfect book; the editing is sloppy at times, and I sometimes the narration of the fine points in the cases slogs a bit. But, if you like reading about law with some real warmth and humanity thrown into it, this is a good book for you.

[Robert Wechsler · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was struck by the gee-whiz voice of such a successful lawyer and how unable he was to be self-critical, not so much about mistakes (although he never did seem to screw anything up), but more about his motives and his goodness. He was always better than the others, making for some excellent ethical commentary, but he seemed too good to be true – and others too bad.

[Josh Rothman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took a class in law school with Bob Bennett. He has war stories that are unparalleled. This book shows you some of the wrangling inherent in complex white collar prosecutions, written by a Dean of that bar. A must-read for law students interested in white collar matters.

[Noah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't even remember why I originally had this book on my list. It was OK, but don't bother.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read concerning insight into some of the remarkable nuances b/t law and Washington politics.

[Brenda A. Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and evenly paced

Like having a conversation on a plane with a very interesting person, this is a tale worth reading. Enjoyed it!