Mass media and the public eagerly awaited the recent publication of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bob Woodward’s new book, Rage. Woodward’s first book on Donald Trump, Fear — Trump in the White House, was released almost a year to the date of Woodward’s current book. One of the major differences between the two is that first time around, Woodward worked from outside sources, never talking to the president. Apparently, Trump aides felt it would be better if the president did not talk directly to Woodward.
This time, Trump should have taken his aides’ advice. He insisted on being interviewed, consenting to 18 interviews, demonstrating each time his proclivity to insert his foot into his mouth, twist facts and turn every situation into an occasion to heap praise on himself. Since the interviews were all recorded, it is difficult to claim that Woodward twisted Trump’s words, but even actual recordings of his voice do not prevent Trump and his supporters from claiming that Trump was misquoted.
Much of the first part of Rage deals with Trump’s relations with former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, former Defense Secretary James Mattis, and former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats. “Former” is the operative word in each description.
In a nutshell, Woodward tells the story of three well-intentioned men who thought they could work in the Trump administration and do what they thought was in the best interest of their country. All failed because Trump would not listen to their advice.
As for Tillerson, he was probably in over his head. Although he had worked in international business and interacted with many foreign leaders, especially Russian President Vladimir Putin, he had no experience in government and diplomacy. Woodward infers that Tillerson got the appointment because of his alleged close relationship with Putin, something Trump saw as a great asset. As for Mattis and Coats, they just were not allowed to do their jobs.
The balance of the book deals with Trump’s mishandling of the government’s response to the coronavirus. I could spend a lot of time itemizing the specifics of the boondoggle that has been labeled the government’s response to the virus, but it is easier to say that more than 200,000 Americans are dead, and we are still counting. Dr. Anthony Fauci comes across as somewhat weak and spineless, and either unwilling or unable to stand up to Trump. My level of respect for him went down after reading Woodward.
The amount of influence that son-in-law Jared Kushner has over the President is startling. He seems to be the Rasputin of the Trump administration, dealing with any and all problems no matter what his experience or lack of experience in a particular area. But his influence is enhanced by the fact that he is usually the last person to talk to Trump. In Trump world, the last person to talk to the president is the one whose advice is usually followed.
Many of the interesting and provocative comments by the president to Woodward have been played by the media in conjunction with interviews with Woodward. So, to that extent, reading the book is repetitive. And as with most books that reflect negatively on Trump, the author is preaching to the choir. Trump supporters are not sitting by their fireplaces reading Rage.
The nuances of Trump’s adoration of Russian President Putin, his naivete in dealing with Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, along with his lack of knowledge of American history, is beyond belief. Trump treats world leaders like contractors who built his many office buildings and hotels. He sees everything in terms of dollars and cents, so important military decisions are decided by Trump based on what they cost, not based on diplomatic relations or international affairs.
Quotes from the letters that were exchanged between Trump and Korean Dictator Kim Jong Un clearly demonstrate that Trump was and is being played like a sixteen-year-old girl having her first fling with an upper classman. While Trump believes that the letters come from the hand of Kim Jong Un, it is more likely that they were drafted by a North Korean mastermind who is fully aware of Trump’s proclivity to reward those who praise him. The readers almost wants to hold your breath when you realize how close we have come to war with North Korea under the Trump presidency.
In every conversation between Woodward and Trump, in response to legitimate questions, Trump manages to turn the conversation from legitimate answers to himself and wallow in his own self-aggrandizement — what a great job I have done. The examples of the flip-flops and changes of position are too numerous to mention.
The final sentence of the epilogue summarizes the whole book: Trump is the wrong man for the job. Coming from a journalist who has studied every president from Nixon to Obama, those are powerful words.
Add Rage to your reading list. If you love America as I do, reading this book will give you nightmares. It demonstrates that our country is on a dangerous path, especially considering the most recent declarations by Trump that he may not accept the results of the upcoming election.
In my travels I have visited a lot of ancient ruins — the Pyramids in Egypt, Angor Wat in Cambodia, and Machu Pichu in Peru. You walk around and wonder, what happened to the people who lived there? What happened to make this great civilizations fall? Who was the last person to turn out the light? It feels like someone is about to turn out the lights of American democracy as we know it. According to Woodward, Trump is leaning on the switch.
C. Ellen Connally is a retired judge of the Cleveland Municipal Court. From 2010 to 2014 she served as the President of the Cuyahoga County Council. An avid reader and student of American history, she serves on the Board of the Ohio History Connection, is currently vice president of the Cuyahoga County Soldiers and Sailors Monument Commission and president of the Cleveland Civil War Round Table. She holds degrees from BGSU, CSU and is all but dissertation for a PhD from the University of Akron.