Oh, Waiter! One Order of Crow!: Inside the Strangest Presidential Election Finish in American History

by Jeff Greenfield

Explores Election Night 2000 from the campaign preceeding it to the confusion following it to its final result.

Genres: Politics, History, Nonfiction, American History, Journalism

336 pages, Hardcover

First published May 21, 2001

About the author

Jeff Greenfield (b. 1943) is one of the most prominent political writers in the United States. Born in New York City, he went to college in Wisconsin, and received a law degree from Yale. He entered politics in the late 1960s, as a speechwriter for Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and has covered the beltway ever since, contributing to Time, the New York Times Magazine, Esquire, and, in a lighter vein, National Lampoon. His first novel, The People’s Choice, was released in 1995, and ruthlessly satirized the foibles of the Clinton era. His most recent book, Then Everything Changed, is a series of novellas looking at how American history might have been different if small political events had turned out differently. Greenfield divides his time between New York and Connecticut.

Reviews

[Siobhan Reardon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a wonderful review of the 2000 presidential Election which put "W" into office. Jeff Greenfield writes the story from a humorous and fairly unbiased perspective. It's interesting reliving that night again and all of the raw emotions I was feeling regarding the outcome.

[Andrew Burin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid review of a crazy election from an intelligent (and humorous) perspective. Jeff Greenfield may be a little corny at times, but the Yale Law School degree shines through both in the quality of his writing and his understanding of politics and elections. While it may be difficult to imagine an election wackier than the most recent one (Drumpf/Killary), it's fun to juxtapose this circus of a presidential race with the 2016 race. Whereas one was entirely driven by personalities, mainly Trump's and Hillary's lack of one, this is a race where the real fireworks began once the vote was over, and some of the most serious fighting centered around the minutiae of electoral and constitutional law. There is some interesting insight to be had into the process of reporting on elections and the race to call an election, as well as on Bush, Gore, and the fact that William J. Clinton may have been the most important player of this entire show.

[Paul Whitla · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very disappointing effort from the CNN political correspondent. Retraces the events of the 2000 election but does very little to add anything new. Purports to be full of wit and new insight but sadly devoid of either. Pretty much a straight re-telling of the election victory and the political and legal in-fighting that followed it. Detailed analysis of the legal arguments that followed and consideration of the various alternatives that may have eventuated, but very little of actual interest to anyone who followed the thing as it unfolded.

[Jason Hojnacki · Rating 4 out of 5]

2000 was the first presidential election I voted in and it was while I was studying Political Science in college, so I remember that time vividly. Greenfield does a great job of reviewing that election and admits his own feelings of shock at some of the crazy events that took place during that time.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty amusing retelling of the election of 2000. It really is a shame Bush won.

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy Jeff Greenfield's political commentary because he has a very realistic sense of what he does for a living, and because he approaches the subjects he covers as a political analyst with a sense of humor (whenever appropriate) as well as a fair assessment of political situations. This is not always easy to do, but Greenfield manages to do it time after time when I've observed him. This book is testament to that.

The fiasco presented by the media in reporting the results of the 2000 US presidential election was almost unbelievable in scope, yet Greenfield manages to explain, for the most part, both how and why it happened. For political junkies like me, this is an entertaining and an informative read. Greenfield also follows through on the chaos that developed after the election night coverage was over. He reviews both the Gore and the Bush sides of the election issue and shows why the result of the election came about as it did. It was refreshing to read Greenfield's unbiased conclusions based as they are on political insight and common sense. Besides, who else but Greenfield could manage to bring Festivus, The Airing of Grievances, AND Froggy the Gremlin Moments into a discussion about politics. :)

[Renee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was hoping for a complete expose on the 2000 presidential election, since we were living abroad at the time. This book was detailed as to how an election could turn out in such a unique way but didn't provide the insight I was looking for.

[Brian Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great rundown of the broadcast-TV SNAFU that was the 2000 election. And I needed it, since I was pretty buzzed while the whole thing was unfolding...