Skip to main content

Barack and Joe by Steven Levingston: book review

 



 

Barack and Joe: The Making of an Extraordinary Partnership (2019) is about the eight-year relationship between American President Barack Obama and his Vice-President Joe Biden in the White House from 2008 to 2016. This is not a history of the Obama-Biden administration; it is an exploration of a professional and personal partnership between two men in political office.

 

This is about the formation of the unlikely partnership, forged and developed through work and duty, and how it led to a unique friendship – an American ‘bromance’ of brotherly love. 

 

The book begins with their decisions to run for presidency in the 2008 election, both as competing Democrats, and their initial impressions of each other. It begins with their differences. 

 

The author then discusses Obama’s selection of Biden for his vice-president running mate, exploring complementary skills, experiences, and personalities, and searching for commonality. 

 

In the White House, their digital text messages were relaxed, casual, friendly, supportive, and intimate. From digital to email to verbal, the relationship evolved organically and easily. Soon they were collaborating and communicating with cheek and humour: ‘the two men weren’t shy about backslapping and embracing.’ They were the Batman and Robin of the White House.

 

Respect and trust tightened their bonds. As Joe Biden said, ‘We had a genuine relationship … built on top of a genuine personal affection.’

 

The author continues with examples of how their relationship worked – ‘like a newlywed couple’ – while on duty and off. The two presidential families also formed strong ties: ‘kids and adults were all intertwined.’ The world saw the closeness and comfort, expressed on the death of Biden’s son Beau in May 2015 by Obama: ‘one of the greatest gifts of these past eight years is that we’re forever bonded as a family.’

 

This is a great book, unique in its focus on two men and, indeed, their extraordinary relationship. It is well-told and well-structured with poignancy and visual examples in this true, feel-good, uplifting account of their special bond. 




  

 


As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.


MARTINA NICOLLS

Website

Martinasblogs

Publications

Facebook

Paris Website

Animal Website

SUBSCRIBE TO MARTINA NICOLLS FOR NEWS AND UPDATES 

 

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author  of: The Paris Residences of James Joyce  (2020), Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2016 update on Rike Park, Tbilisi: from construction to busy park

From a flat patch of uninteresting dirt, Rike Park in Tbilisi, Georgia, has transformed in four years (from 2014-2016) into a busy park full of trees, flower beds, sculptures, fountains, and events. Rike (Rikhe) Park is on the left bank of the Mt’k’vari River (the Kura River) near the Old City of Tbilisi. The Peace Bridge links the right bank to Rike Park. Rike Park is below the hillside Presidential Palace and, via cable car, it is the starting point for the ride to Sololaki Ridge (with the Narikala Fortress and the Mother of Georgia statue). The glass box-shaped cable car terminus was opened on 23 June 2012, and since then the park has continually developed into a ‘people’s park’ where people can walk around, eat at the nearby restaurants, sit next to the statue of American president Ronald Reagan, climb the steps to Avlabari district, and access the sights of Meidan Square, the Peace Bridge, the Metekhi Church, the Old City, the waterfall, the sulphur baths, and t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pir-E-Kamil - The Perfect Mentor by Umera Ahmed: book review

The Perfect Mentor pbuh  (2011) is set in Lahore and Islamabad in Pakistan. The novel commences with Imama Mubeen in medical university. She wants to be an eye specialist. Her parents have arranged for her to marry her first cousin Asjad. Salar Sikander, her neighbour, is 18 years old with an IQ of 150+ and a photographic memory. He has long hair tied in a ponytail. He imbibes alcohol, treats women disrespectfully and is generally a “weird chap” and a rude, belligerent teenager. In the past three years he has tried to commit suicide three times. He tries again. Imama and her brother, Waseem, answer the servant’s call to help Salar. They stop the bleeding from his wrist and save his life. Imama and Asjad have been engaged for three years, because she wants to finish her studies first. Imama is really delaying her marriage to Asjad because she loves Jalal Ansar. She proposes to him and he says yes. But he knows his parents won’t agree, nor will Imama’s parents. ...
1 comment
Read more

Hop on hop off bus tourism comes to Tbilisi, Georgia

City Sightseeing buses have arrived in Tbilisi. The iconic red double-decker buses, a feature of many cities around the world since the company was established in Seville, Spain in 1999, is now in six continents and almost 100 cities. The company established its Tbilisi business in November 2013, with its operations commencing in February 2014. The 90-minute tour stops at 11 major locations in Tbilisi (with 2 to 5 minute waiting times at each location): the Old City (where it commences), Freedom Square, Rose Revolution Square, Marjanishvili Square, the Dry Bridge, Konka, Avlabari, Metekhi, Akhundov Museum, the Sulfur Baths, and European Square. Passengers can hop off at any stop and see the sights, hopping back onto the next bus at any time. Alternatively, passengers can remain on the bus for the whole tour and take photographs when the bus stops at each location. There are one day (24-hour) passes (for 35 lari – about $20) and 48-hour passes for 55 lari, with family d...
2 comments
Read more