"Back from the Dead: How Clinton Survived the Republican Revolution," is a crisp behind-the-scenes examination of how William Jefferson Clinton ultimately defeated a determined Republican Party. To this end, Clinton's extraordinary political skills and a smart move away from the left and to the soft center of American politics paved the way for victory.

Evan Thomas also cites three other critical factors..."it is the economy...stupid," the unpopular personality of Newt Gingrich and the polling genius of Dick Morris as helping Bill Clinton defeat Bob Dole. But the main theme of this book is that the former governor of Arkansas had an enormous appetite for work and an uncanny ability to communicate with the American people. Certain parts of the narrative is a passionate upclose account of Bill and Hillary Clinton as husband and wife as well as political partners. Other parts of this book looks at how the prospects for a second term were shadowed by the scandals of Clinton's first four years in office.

In the final analysis the "Comeback Kid," great man or not...did have a remarkable gift for politics and this won the day. Baby boomers had come of age, moved to the suburbs, borne children, and planted the seeds of a postmodern political agenda. They wanted a president that would help them cope with the cares of everyday life...work and family, schools and doctors, safe streets and clean water. The Republican Party offered a solid political platform but Bill Clinton's colorful promise of a "Golden Age" outlasted Bob Dole's plain "Black & White" strategy for America.

Bert Ruiz

Making the 1996 presidential election interesting and excitingis a difficult task. But Evan Thomas comes very close in this gem ofa book. It focuses not only on the Republican primaries and thegeneral election but also on the Congressional battles in 1995-96 that made Clinton's victory possible. Candidate media strategies are also explored. Thomas also provides insight and analysis throughout the book rather than just at the end like other authors have the habit of doing. These insights, especially concerning the birth of a "Small Deal" in government policy, are fair and accurate. For political readers interested in the 1996 presidential election come here.