cover image Letter to a New President: Essential Lessons for Our Next Leader

Letter to a New President: Essential Lessons for Our Next Leader

Robert C. Byrd, , with Steve Kettman. . St. Martin's/Dunne, $23.95 (192pp) ISBN 978-0-312-38302-2

In this book-length letter to the next president, Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) draws on his 56 years of experience in Congress to offer advice, admonition and encouragement. With frequent references to past presidents, especially his personal favorite, Harry Truman, Byrd claims that his passion for the Constitution is only rivaled by his love for his wife. He presents a readable, if slight, survey of past presidencies and a scathing evaluation of the “greatest crisis” in the nation's history brought about by the “failings” of the Bush administration: the buildup to the war in Iraq and the president's bungled handling of Hurricane Katrina's aftermath. Chapter headings such as “Bring Back the Fireside Chat” and scads of references to Emerson, Jefferson and Thoreau provide a rich philosophical context to Byrd's political thought, even as much of his advice feels familiar and anodyne: “Build Your Presidency Around Accountability.” The book's detailed analysis of the great power and responsibility of the executive branch is timely, and prospective presidents and concerned citizens would be well-advised to read Byrd's book. (July)