Republic of Spin

Greenberg is a terrific storyteller... An education and an engrossing read. -- Christopher Buckley - National Interest Fine, nuanced. -- Michael Beschloss - New York Times Book Review Greenberg neatly weaves a history of public relations into his political tale. -- H. W. Brands - Washington Post This essential book is going to wind up on every politico's shelf. -- Matthew Cooper - Washingtonian In Republic of Spin, David Greenberg opens a new and revealing window on the modern American presidency by showing how the effort to manipulate public opinion has long been a central obsession in the Oval Office. Vivid characters, some very famous and some obscure, bring this important story to life and enlighten us about what presidents can and cannot accomplish. -- Jeffrey Toobin, author of The Oath and The Nine Anyone wishing to understand how our politics evolved from the era of Teddy Roosevelt's bully pulpit to the exquisitely calibrated constructions of today's publicists, pollsters, speechwriters, and snakes needs to read Republic of Spin. David Greenberg's book is everything that a political history should be-vivid, comprehensive, and important. -- Daniel Okrent, author of Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition An utterly engrossing and deeply authoritative examination of spin and the American presidency-its origins, its vital role over the past century, its enduring importance. Greenberg's elegant narrative brings this history vividly alive, as he weaves individual lives and broader societal forces into a major reassessment of modern American political culture. Spin has always been a part of politics, and it always will be; read this gem of a book to find out why that is, and what it means for our democracy. -- Fredrik Logevall, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Embers of War