Eisenhower or In Justice

Eisenhower: Soldier, General of the Army, President-Elect, 1890-1952

Author: Stephen E Ambros

Dwight Eisenhower was not exactly born into poverty, but the family's circumstances were at least austere. He was one of seven children; his father, a railway worker. But the family was strong and unified, the youngsters energetic and ambitious.

Ike made it to West Point, where he excelled in sports. He was a natural leader. But it was at Leavenworth years later, as a student at the war college, that his intellectual talent showed itself. He graduated first in his class.

The author draws in a wealth of previously unpublished information to give us this beautiful portrait. As a result Eisenhower emerges as complex, one who as the author states, ". . .was a good and great man."

New interesting textbook: Public Relations Handbook or All about Mortgages

In Justice: An Insider's Account of the War on Law and Truth in the Executive Branch

Author: David Iglesias

The inside story of the biggestpolitical scandal of the decade

"A year later, the U.S. Attorney scandal still matters—and not simply because it ties Karl Rove and Harriet Miers to brazen efforts to manipulate both laws and legal processes for partisan ends. It also has legs because unlike so many of the Bush administration scandals, the trail neither begins nor ends with top-secret legal memos but with dozens of small e-mails, meetings, threats, and phone calls being investigated at various levels of government. Iglesias's book reminds us that while his former bosses may shred the e-mails, sack the bumblers, obstruct Congress, and—quoting Sampson again—try to gum this scandal to death, the truth will come out, eventually. His book is a good start."
—Dahlia Lithwick, Slate

"For those of us honored to have served as United States Attorneys, In Justice reminds us once again of the importance and sanctity of the responsibility entrusted to us. For future United States Attorneys, it provides a clear example of how one can and should serve with honor and integrity in this powerful post. For those men and women currently serving, it reveals to them how fleeting can be that power if others in positions of power seek to improperly pressure you and you refuse—as did David Iglesias—to accede to their improper entreaties."
— Bob Barr, former United States Attorney and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives (R-Ga.)

"In Justice is a chilling tale of the subversion of the Constitution for political purposes. What was done to David Iglesias and his colleagues constitutes complete and utterdisregard for the rule of law that underpins our great republic. Americans will rightly be appalled and Republicans ashamed at this abuse of power."
— Joseph C. Wilson, author of The Politics of Truth

"The lasting value of David Iglesias's outstanding book extends far beyond its fascinating, insightful, and candid account of the political firestorm ignited by the simultaneous firings of seven United States Attorneys. Its account of the courageous, principled commitment of these U.S. Attorneys to assess cases according to the facts and the law rather than succumb to political pressure and partisan loyalties reveals how he and his colleagues turned an attempt to corrupt the finest traditions of the Department into a victory for the continued independence of U.S. Attorneys and the rule of law."
—James Eisenstein, Professor of Political Science, Penn State

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review.

A U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico from 2000 to 2007, Iglesias has written an eye-opening account of his role in exposing the Justice Department scandal that began with the firing of seven District Attorneys and ended (arguably) with the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Talented, Hispanic, evangelical, a military veteran and a loyal Bush supporter, Iglesias's star was still on the rise when, in late 2006, he was asked to resign his job. All he could learn was that the decision had come "from on high," and that he was only one of seven asked to resign the same day. On this guided tour, Iglesias claims shocking attempts to "co-opt the Justice Department for political ends" with statements that as early as 2003, U.S. Attorneys were being pressured to purge Democrats from voter rolls wherever possible; Iglesias says he was thrown under the bus after refusing to release sealed details of an ongoing prosecution that would scandalize Democratic contenders in a local 2006 race. Iglesias's text, like his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, implicates a number of big dogs, including Gonzales and Karl Rove, as well as the President. Thorough and troubling, this record is a must-read for anyone who got caught up in the unfolding controversy.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Rachel Bridgewater - Library Journal

The politically motivated firings of seven U.S. attorneys by the Bush administration in late 2006 became a major scandal in the following year. Iglesias, one of those fired federal prosecutors, here recounts the events leading up to and following his ouster. A former Navy JAG and self-professed Republican Party faithful, Iglesias was surprised, angered, and hurt when his party turned against him after he refused to bring indictments against high-profile Democrats in the run-up to the 2006 elections. This anger and hurt comes through in the book, and not to its advantage; the narrative is emotional but not moving, detailed but not compelling. In different hands, this story would likely shock the reader; what Iglesias shares is certainly distressing. Unfortunately, he offers no real additional details, suggestions, or insights into the accounts we already have from the press; instead, we get mostly Iglesias's personal feelings as he endured what must have been an extraordinarily trying time. An optional purchase for public libraries with strong or popular current affairs collections.