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The X-President
A masterful blend of political satire and edgy social commentary, here is a wildly entertaining trip through recent American history and into the impending future. An incisive look at how we love and hate our political leaders, and how they love and hate us back, The X President touches the very heart of what it means to be president—and what a president means to America.
It is the year 2055 and America is entangled in a devastating world war—and losing badly. As the threat of homeland invasion grows stronger, the United States is desperate to change the tide, anyway it can.
Enter Sal Hayden, official biographer of a former president known as BC, now 109 years old and all but forgotten. Charismatic, controversial, and always willing to feel another person’s pain, BC’s political career, like his personal life, is marked by both uncanny triumphs and key blunders—some of which may have doomed the U.S. to defeat. Recording his story has not always been easy, but it has been straightforward. That is, until the day Sal is asked to rewrite it—and not just on the page. For Sal will be granted a biographer’s most fantastic dream, one that will thrust her into the greatest moral dilemma of her life—and the world’s most daring, dangerous, and spectacular spin job. . . .
It is the year 2055 and America is entangled in a devastating world war—and losing badly. As the threat of homeland invasion grows stronger, the United States is desperate to change the tide, anyway it can.
Enter Sal Hayden, official biographer of a former president known as BC, now 109 years old and all but forgotten. Charismatic, controversial, and always willing to feel another person’s pain, BC’s political career, like his personal life, is marked by both uncanny triumphs and key blunders—some of which may have doomed the U.S. to defeat. Recording his story has not always been easy, but it has been straightforward. That is, until the day Sal is asked to rewrite it—and not just on the page. For Sal will be granted a biographer’s most fantastic dream, one that will thrust her into the greatest moral dilemma of her life—and the world’s most daring, dangerous, and spectacular spin job. . . .
369 pages, Paperback
First published November 4, 2003
3 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Philip Baruth
12 books7 followersPhilip Baruth is a novelist, and has spent twelve years as a regular commentator for Vermont Public Radio. His commentary series, “Notes from the New Vermont,” focused on both the national and the local, the deeply political and the undeniably absurd.
In addition to Vermont Associated Press awards for commentary on Howard Dean and the effects of 9/11, Philip won a national Public Radio News Directors Award for “Lonesome Jim Does Totally Gnarly,” a spoof of Jeffords’s split with the GOP. “Birth Rate Blues,” his satirical take on Vermont’s low fertility stats, shared a 2009 Edward R. Murrow Award in the Overall Excellence category, then won a Public Radio News Directors Award several months later.
His 2003 novel The X President took this penchant for satire to new lengths: the book follows the desperate attempts of a 109-year-old Bill Clinton to re-write his historical legacy. The New York Times selected The X President as a Notable Book of 2003.
Philip lives in Burlington, Vermont, and has taught at the University of Vermont since 1993. Before that time, he earned a B.A. at Brown University, and his Ph.D at the University of California, Irvine. His latest novel, The Brothers Boswell (Soho Press), is a literary thriller, tracing the famous friendship between James Boswell and Samuel Johnson, author of the first modern dictionary. The Washington Post eventually selected Brothers Boswell as one of the Best Books of 2009.
In addition to Vermont Associated Press awards for commentary on Howard Dean and the effects of 9/11, Philip won a national Public Radio News Directors Award for “Lonesome Jim Does Totally Gnarly,” a spoof of Jeffords’s split with the GOP. “Birth Rate Blues,” his satirical take on Vermont’s low fertility stats, shared a 2009 Edward R. Murrow Award in the Overall Excellence category, then won a Public Radio News Directors Award several months later.
His 2003 novel The X President took this penchant for satire to new lengths: the book follows the desperate attempts of a 109-year-old Bill Clinton to re-write his historical legacy. The New York Times selected The X President as a Notable Book of 2003.
Philip lives in Burlington, Vermont, and has taught at the University of Vermont since 1993. Before that time, he earned a B.A. at Brown University, and his Ph.D at the University of California, Irvine. His latest novel, The Brothers Boswell (Soho Press), is a literary thriller, tracing the famous friendship between James Boswell and Samuel Johnson, author of the first modern dictionary. The Washington Post eventually selected Brothers Boswell as one of the Best Books of 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 20, 2014
How to rate a book where the central character's most substantial action is deciding to make a bankshot on a pool table? The bulk of this sci-fi political romp consists of following a helpless academic biographer that is shanghaied from one scene to another and then through time, all the while a victim of circumstance, never in control or attempting to assert much influence on the flow of events. Not promising for the apparent protagonist of this walkabout narrative. There are a few entertaining or insightful observations dotted here and there, but hardly worth the investment of a novel. Chapters are headscratchingly short, only positive in that the end of the book will seem to be approaching faster. A global conflict instigated by US tobacco sales to the east is meant to be a clever alternate history, but falls flat in our world that actually has been upended by an unending war on terror. Strange when considering that this book arrived in November 2003, quite awhile after beginning the US military adventures in Iraq. The core problem of the story is that it's hard to care much about any of the characters. We are meant to root for Sal the reluctant time-traveling presidential biographer, but she never makes a stab to put her own stamp on history. The remaining players are generally unlikable caricatures that you'll find yourself hoping to fail at odd moments. Readers who come to this book not already having an unhealthy infatuation with US democratic party mythology will not be pleased.
October 25, 2014
Ok, I was oblivious to politics in my teens, so now I need to look some stuff up to see what was fact and what was fiction about BC's presidency :)
I enjoyed the book. I'm not usually too keen on political books, but the time travel/scifi aspect carried me through.
I enjoyed the book. I'm not usually too keen on political books, but the time travel/scifi aspect carried me through.
May 30, 2023
What a weird book. If I could go back in time, I would warn myself not to pick this up at the book sale.
There's a lot that doesn't make much of any sense, and a lot of that has to do with it being a time traveling book, but first and foremost, why is Bill Clinton only called BC. It's annoying. Second, George ends up becoming Carville since he never existed in the past, which would mean that the group traveling to the past had no effect on the future since it was the same outcome. Third, the whole lurker scenario makes no sense-- the CIA wouldn't send a lone operative, they would also send a group. Why does Sal have a boarder at her home? She owns the home, there's an account with money to pay the taxes on it, it doesn't make any sense. Sal's romantic interest with George in 63 and the 90s is dumb.
I think what annoys me the most is we go through this whole story, and we have no idea what effect there is on the future-- we don't even know if Sal will go back.
I'm also really curious if this Baruth guy is just in love with Bill Clinton or what was going on there. I get the idea of using him as a catalyst, but Baruth has Sal just in love with BC from beginning to end.
There's a lot that doesn't make much of any sense, and a lot of that has to do with it being a time traveling book, but first and foremost, why is Bill Clinton only called BC. It's annoying. Second, George ends up becoming Carville since he never existed in the past, which would mean that the group traveling to the past had no effect on the future since it was the same outcome. Third, the whole lurker scenario makes no sense-- the CIA wouldn't send a lone operative, they would also send a group. Why does Sal have a boarder at her home? She owns the home, there's an account with money to pay the taxes on it, it doesn't make any sense. Sal's romantic interest with George in 63 and the 90s is dumb.
I think what annoys me the most is we go through this whole story, and we have no idea what effect there is on the future-- we don't even know if Sal will go back.
I'm also really curious if this Baruth guy is just in love with Bill Clinton or what was going on there. I get the idea of using him as a catalyst, but Baruth has Sal just in love with BC from beginning to end.
May 17, 2024
Not very good at all. The Author seems to have thrown together a bunch of ramblings that have nothing to do with progressing the story, and I had a hard time believing that the main character was a real woman (it is obvious the author is a man trying to write a woman as a main character)
I was entertained slightly during the middle of the book, but ultimately gave up on it before finishing it. Awesome premise, and I think it the author has a better editor this could have been a gem, but instead it's a flop
I was entertained slightly during the middle of the book, but ultimately gave up on it before finishing it. Awesome premise, and I think it the author has a better editor this could have been a gem, but instead it's a flop
February 18, 2022
I barely remember this, but I do know it involves Bill Clinton and time travel in order to avert world disaster. It's stuck in my brain lo these many years. Maybe this brief review will get it out.
September 30, 2014
Is there anything more frustrating than a book with a good idea that has no idea what to do with it? That's the case with this novel, based around the idea that Bill Clinton - through no fault of his own - sets in motion a chain of events that leads the world to unite against America, and his biographer is recruited to go back in time and steer him away from this path.
At least, that's what the back cover and reviews say. I got to page 80 (out of 369), and not only has our heroine not yet traveled back in time, she doesn't even know time travel is possible, having farted around for 80 pages getting nothing done. I could forgive how long this takes to get going if the writing was excellent, or if interesting things were happening, but neither of these is the case. The most egregious example, to me, is a clutch of pages wasted showing the heroine returning to her house that she's sublet and breaking up a party that her tenant's teenage daughter is throwing. What do we learn from this? That our heroine doesn't like having keg parties thrown in her house? Why should I care? Why are you showing me this? When is something exciting going to happen?
Urgh. Baruth either needs a more forceful editor, or to have more respect for his readers. This brick was thrown with great malice into the donation pile.
At least, that's what the back cover and reviews say. I got to page 80 (out of 369), and not only has our heroine not yet traveled back in time, she doesn't even know time travel is possible, having farted around for 80 pages getting nothing done. I could forgive how long this takes to get going if the writing was excellent, or if interesting things were happening, but neither of these is the case. The most egregious example, to me, is a clutch of pages wasted showing the heroine returning to her house that she's sublet and breaking up a party that her tenant's teenage daughter is throwing. What do we learn from this? That our heroine doesn't like having keg parties thrown in her house? Why should I care? Why are you showing me this? When is something exciting going to happen?
Urgh. Baruth either needs a more forceful editor, or to have more respect for his readers. This brick was thrown with great malice into the donation pile.
January 23, 2009
A science fiction novel about a near future America under strain due to a war with China and an ever growing internal rebellion due to White supremacist militias who eventually control much of the mountain West. And the cause of all of this...a horrific tobacco settlement enacted by Bill Clinton! A historian (and an expert in Clinton who is writing a biography of the then very old Bill Clinton) is sent back in time as part of a military mission to warn the young Bill Clinton of his terrible error and avert the scourge to come.
I know...sound awful! But it isn't!! That alone is remarkable...so many opportunities for this book to fall on its face but it does not. And the reason is that the what if scenarios are so plausible, the book is very funny and satirical and it is an excellent and plausible psychological profile of our former president which places his follies and missteps in an interesting light.
Even if you aren't into science fiction, I highly recommend this one if you are a lover of politics, policy and the thought exercises one must go through to imagine the consequences of important political decisions.
I know...sound awful! But it isn't!! That alone is remarkable...so many opportunities for this book to fall on its face but it does not. And the reason is that the what if scenarios are so plausible, the book is very funny and satirical and it is an excellent and plausible psychological profile of our former president which places his follies and missteps in an interesting light.
Even if you aren't into science fiction, I highly recommend this one if you are a lover of politics, policy and the thought exercises one must go through to imagine the consequences of important political decisions.
December 23, 2014
I loved the concept. It was very creative, and Philip is such a deep thinker--most things he comes up with are well thought out and well researched.
It felt uneven, though. Much of the book felt like writing exercises for the author's benefit that don't necessarily need to be in the finished product: sketches of a particular character's backstory, highly detailed descriptions of a place or technology that aren't consistent with the level of detail elsewhere in the book, character interactions that reveal a lot about the two characters, but don't have a good reason to happen... It was a good ride, but I don't need to see the engine working. Sometimes, I felt like I was seeing his writing process more than I needed to.
It felt uneven, though. Much of the book felt like writing exercises for the author's benefit that don't necessarily need to be in the finished product: sketches of a particular character's backstory, highly detailed descriptions of a place or technology that aren't consistent with the level of detail elsewhere in the book, character interactions that reveal a lot about the two characters, but don't have a good reason to happen... It was a good ride, but I don't need to see the engine working. Sometimes, I felt like I was seeing his writing process more than I needed to.
February 6, 2011
This book has been on my "to-read" list for over 2 years, but none of my local libraries had copies, until last month. I was excited to read it because the premise sounded so intriguing and, don't tell my husband, buy i've always been a closet clinton fan. I know, I know, some people think he's evil incarnate, but i can't explain it. not that i want him to get a 3rd term or be an ANY position of power, but there's something about him i find intriguing.
Anyway, the book really didn't do much for me. I felt that the whole story was too rushed and therefore plot and character development were sacrificed along the way.
a to z challenge title X
Anyway, the book really didn't do much for me. I felt that the whole story was too rushed and therefore plot and character development were sacrificed along the way.
a to z challenge title X
October 2, 2008
ok, i admit, i got through over half the book before i realized BC is supposed to be bill clinton... lol im a ditz we know. this book is about a woman who starts out as bc's biographer, way way in the future when he's about 130 or something. the whole world's at war, even on us soil. the government finds a way to go back in time, and they take her (against her will) to go on the mission, to change the past. i dont know whether bill clinton was that important of a president or not, im bad at politics, but in this book he was. i just liked the whole time travel part, it was a good book, check it out.
September 27, 2010
A fascinating book, true SF/alternate history/time travel stuff written by a literary writer with considerable insight into character. She’s a historian in 2050 or so who’s working on the first and only authorized biography of someone who is NEVER called anything but BC, but is absolutely Bill Clinton: quotes, scandals, and everything. The plot is dense, and there’s a rough info dump at the start that takes a little getting over, but it’s a fascinating mix of political analysis, psychology, and (eventually) action.
I’m a little uncomfortable with how the women come across by the end of the book, but it might just be me. Well worth reading.
I’m a little uncomfortable with how the women come across by the end of the book, but it might just be me. Well worth reading.
July 16, 2012
An amusing summer read, but also choc-a-block full of elements that truly strained my credulity. viz, the US in a war against essentially the entire world based upon a judgment handed down from a World Court over cigarettes? That something like one-third of the country had de facto seceded...and the central government was essentially powerless against them? And I could go on, but the whole book was just too amusing for me to truly hold these and similar items against it. Well, except for the part that would constitute a "spoiler." That truly had me rolling my eyes. But, eh, even that didn't diminish the overall fun. Fluff, but entertaining fluff.
July 28, 2008
Sci-fi plus historical commentary in one. (yay for time travel stories!)
There are a couple of sections that were a bit hard-going, but I'm glad I persisted, cos overall I loved it.
(Made me feel a little stupid because I took way too long to work out who the main historical protagonist was! Obvious in hindsight, but I missed it for the first chunk of the book. Glad I didn't know ahead of time, because the "ah! so that's who he is!" moment was kinda cool.)
There are a couple of sections that were a bit hard-going, but I'm glad I persisted, cos overall I loved it.
(Made me feel a little stupid because I took way too long to work out who the main historical protagonist was! Obvious in hindsight, but I missed it for the first chunk of the book. Glad I didn't know ahead of time, because the "ah! so that's who he is!" moment was kinda cool.)
August 26, 2011
In the year 2055 Bill Clinton is 109 years old. The U.S. is losing the war against the Eastern Alliance (EA) so the NSC kidnaps Cllinton's biographer and takes her back to the year 1963 to kidnap the young Clinton and take him to 1995 to meet himself. Idea of possibilitiy of changing history and inventing historical characters based on reading of history: James Carvel was one of the agents from 2055 who stayed in 1963 to be James Carvel. A lot of details about Clinton and scandals.
February 15, 2008
My only quibbles with this book are that: 1) I could have used more of the 108 year-old bionic Bill Clinton and 2) I will spend the remainder of my life with some sort of uncomfortable, low-level crush on James Carville. Perhaps that will suffice as a suggestion of its awesome powers.
February 1, 2009
mmm mmm good! Terrifically well-written (of course it is...it's Philip Baruth!) I especially enjoyed the twisted historical references, the part of the plot that takes place in Burlington and the fact that one really had no clue what was going to happen next.
February 2, 2021
3 1/2 stars. Read for book group and author came to our meeting. I enjoyed the meeting and the book, it was imaginative, entertaining and food for thought on the Clinton presidential years with some time travel/ sci-fi, Vermont tie-in and political satire thrown in.
January 3, 2010
Another time travel story. Bill Clinton came off better than he deserved.
January 13, 2010
Interesting and entertaining plot, but this wasn't a page turner for me.
July 15, 2010
Just different. Not my cup of tea I guess. Slow in the beginning. Got interesting in the middle, then finished up different.
November 2, 2015
Ok...the ending was WEAK. Interesting concept, a neat blend of recent history and time travel sci-fi. Plenty of better books out there to read.
May 25, 2012
I love a good "what if this happened" book. Read it many years ago so I'll need to reread again to give an accurate review.
October 19, 2011
Really fun book, I suspect I would have liked it even more if I followed politics so the characters were a bit more familiar going in.
January 4, 2012
it's not horribly well written but not bad enough to stop reading... hopefully the plot will go from 'trite' to at least 'remotely interesting'
January 7, 2009
This book was tons of fun, especially fun to imagine that it was true...
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews