Hill Rat: Blowing the Lid Off Congress

A depressing and infuriating book about the U.S. Congress, this expose by a man who was an aide to three members of the House between 1978 and 1990 shows legislators as vain and self-important, interested only in money and re-election. A Democrat, Jackley began his Hill-rat career in the office of Rep. Thomas Luken of Ohio, whom he depicts as a near-psychotic. He lasted six months, retreated, returned to the Hill in 1981 for a two-year stint with Rep. Jim Mattox of Texas, then joined the staff of Texas Rep. Ronald Coleman, serving as press secretary for seven years. Jackley portrays Coleman as a legislator bored with his job who left the running of his office to his assistants. In his view, very few members of Congress voted on principle; they tried instead to steer a bland middle course as they garnered pay raises and perks and tried to keep the public from finding out about their chicanery. An eye-opener. $75,000 ad/promo. (May)