Out of the Darkness

"NoonebetterunderstandstheinnerBillClinton,thatcreatureofendlessandvexingcontradiction,thanDickMorris.FromtheArkansasgovernor'sracesthroughtheplanningofthetriumphant1996reelection,MorriswasClinton'smostvaluedpoliticaladviser.Now,inthewakeofClinton'smillion-sellingmemoirMyLife,Morrisandhiswife,EileenMcGann,settherecordstraightwithBecauseHeCould,adeconstructionofthestoryClintontells-andthemanymorerevealingstoriesheleavesuntold."WiththesameinsighttheybroughttoHillaryClinton'slifeintheirrecentbestsellerRewritingHistory,MorrisandMcGannuncoverthehiddensidesofthecomplicatedandsometimesdysfunctionalformerpresident.WhereasHillaryisanxioustomaskwhoshereallyis,theyshow,BillClintoninadvertentlyrevealshimselfateveryturn-asbothbrilliantandundisciplined,charmingyetoftenfilledwithrage,willingtotakewildrisksinhispersonallifebutdeeplyreluctanttousethemilitarytoprotectournationalsecurity.TheBillClintonwhoemergesisfamiliar-reflexivelyblamingeveryproblemonright-wingpersecutorsornaiveadvisers-butalsosurprising:passive,reactive,workingdesperatelytosolvealaundrylistofsocialproblemsyetnevertrulygraspingtherealthrustofhisownpresidency.Andwhilehecourteddangerinhispersonallife,theauthorsarguethatClinton'sdownfallhasfarlesstodowithhisprivatedemonsthanwithhisfearoftheonepersonwhocontrolledhisfuture:hisownfirstlady.