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What It Takes: The Way to the White House
Author Richard Ben Cramer
Country United States
Language English
Genre 1988 United States presidential election
Publisher Random House
Publication date
June 23, 1992
Media typePrint (hardcover)
Pages1,047
ISBN 978-0394562605

What It Takes: The Way to the White House ( ISBN  9780394562605) is a nonfiction book about the 1988 United States presidential election, written by Richard Ben Cramer. [1] [2] It was published in 1992. [3] It follows the campaigns of Republicans George Herbert Walker Bush and Bob Dole and Democrats Joe Biden, Michael Dukakis, Dick Gephardt, and Gary Hart. [4]

The bulk of the book covers the early lives and political careers of the candidates, their campaigns leading up to the New Hampshire primary, and the primary itself. [5] [6] Cramer spent six years researching and writing What It Takes. [7]

The book is frequently cited by political aides and journalists as one of the most influential books on politics ever written. [8] [9]

Editorial reviews

Cleveland Plain Dealer: "Quite possibly the finest book on presidential politics ever written, combining meticulous reporting and compelling, at times soaringly lyrical, prose." [10]

San Francisco Chronicle: "The ultimate insider's book on presidential politics...an unparalleled source book on the 1988 candidates." [10]

References

  1. ^ Ben Smith (30 December 2010) The book that defined modern campaign reporting Politico. Retrieved 20 December 2013
  2. ^ Cramer, Richard Ben (August 2, 2011). What It Takes: The Way to the White House. Open Road Media. ISBN  9781453219645 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "Election by Ordeal : WHAT IT TAKES: The Way to the White House By Richard Ben Cramer, (Random House: $28; 1,047 pp.)". Los Angeles Times. July 12, 1992.
  4. ^ "Nonfiction Book Review: What It Takes: The Way to the White House by Richard Ben Cramer, Author Vintage Books USA $25 (1072p) ISBN 978-0-679-74649-2". PublishersWeekly.com.
  5. ^ Ball, Molly (January 8, 2013). "What I Learned From Richard Ben Cramer". The Atlantic.
  6. ^ Troy, Gil (1995). "Stumping in the Bookstores: A Literary History of the 1992 Presidential Campaign". Presidential Studies Quarterly. 25 (4): 697–710. JSTOR  27551506.
  7. ^ "Book Review: 'What It Takes: The Way to the White House'". EW.com.
  8. ^ Warren, Ellen (15 February 2013). "'What It Takes': A true political classic". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  9. ^ Ball, Molly (2013-01-08). "What I Learned From Richard Ben Cramer". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  10. ^ a b "What It Takes by Richard Ben Cramer: 9780679746492 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com.

External links