The Price of Politics (56 page)
(
38
) Representative Jeb Hensarling of Texas, left, number four in the House Republican leadership, and Senator Patty Murray, of Washington, number four in the Senate Democratic leadership, were the co-chairmen of the supercommittee. It was supposed to find $1.2 trillion in additional deficit reductions, but failed in November 2011.
(
39
) “There’s no process for making a decision in this White House. There’s nobody in charge,” Speaker Boehner, left, said about the failure of the debt limit negotiation to cut spending. “John was in a tough spot. He couldn’t get it done,” said President Obama. “I think that him trying to spin it is understandable.”
©
LISA BERG
Bob Woodward
is an associate editor at
The Washington Post,
where he has worked for 41 years. He has shared in two Pulitzer Prizes, first for the
Post’
s coverage of the Watergate scandal, and later for coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He has authored or coauthored twelve #1 national nonfiction bestsellers.
He has two daughters, Tali and Diana, and lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife, writer Elsa Walsh.
ALSO BY BOB WOODWARD
Obama’s Wars
The War Within: A Secret White House History, 2006–2008
State of Denial
The Secret Man
(
with a Reporter’s Assessment by Carl Bernstein
)
Plan of Attack
Bush at War
Maestro: Greenspan’s Fed and the American Boom
Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate
The Choice
The Agenda: Inside the Clinton White House
The Commanders
Veil: The Secret Wars of the CIA, 1981–1987
Wired: The Short Life and Fast Times of John Belushi
The Brethren
(
with Scott Armstrong
)
The Final Days
(
with Carl Bernstein
)
All the President’s Men
(
with Carl Bernstein
)
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J. Scott Applewhite (Associated Press):
15
Bryant Avondoglio:
23
Jahi Chikwendiu (
The Washington Post
):
17
Haraz N. Ghanbari (Associated Press):
19
Harry Hamburg (Associated Press):
33
Marvin Joseph (
The Washington Post
):
28
David Lienemann (Official White House Photographer):
8
Melina Mara (
The Washington Post
):
7
,
13
,
18
,
29
,
34
Gerald Martineau (
The Washington Post
):
2
Mandel Ngan (AFP/Getty Images):
24
Bill O’Leary (
The Washington Post
):
12
,
16
,
38
Jewel Samad (AFP/Getty Images):
32
,
39
Pete Souza (Official White House Photographer):
1
,
4
,
5
,
9
,
10
,
11
,
14
,
20
,
21
,
22
,
30
,
31
,
35
,
36
,
37
Susan Walsh (Associated Press):
3
Tracy A. Woodward (
The Washington Post
):
6
PROLOGUE
The information in this chapter comes primarily from author’s notes and recollections of the 2006 and 1981 Gridiron dinners.
1
“This is a true story”:
Lynn Sweet, “Best of Gridiron: Obama, Lynne Cheney and Bush,”
Chicago Sun-Times
blog, March 12, 2006,
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet2006/03/best_of_gridiron_obama_lynne_c.html
.
CHAPTER ONE
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with six firsthand sources and contemporaneous notes by a participant.
2
After the meeting, Senator McConnell told reporters:
Jeff Zeleny and David M. Herszenhorn, “Obama Seeks Wide Support in Congress for Stimulus,”
The New York Times
, January 6, 2009, p. A15; Jim Puzzanghera and Christi Parsons, “Obama Sweetens Stimulus for GOP,”
Los Angeles Times
, January 6, 2009.
3
Pelosi announced that it was “a new day”:
Jon Ward and S. A. Miller, “Obama Pushes Stimulus Plan on Capitol Hill; GOP Open to $800 Billion Relief,”
The Washington Times
, January 6, 2009, p. A1.
4
It listed five unambiguously conservative proposals:
Author obtained copy of document entitled “House Republican Economic Recovery Plan.”
CHAPTER TWO
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with five firsthand sources.
5
According to Cao, Emanuel “insinuated”:
On the record author interview with former Representative Joseph Cao, November 30, 2011.
6
On the phone with Emanuel, Hill said:
Rob Garver on the record interview with former Representative Baron Hill, March 7, 2012.
7
The House vote was 244–188:
Jackie Calmes, “House Passes Stimulus Plan with No G.O.P. Votes,”
The New York Times
, January 29, 2009.
CHAPTER THREE
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with six firsthand sources.
8
It took days more:
David Rogers, “Senate Passes $787 Billion Stimulus Bill,”
Politico
, February 13, 2009,
http://www.politico.com
.
9
At a signing ceremony in Denver:
Compilation of Presidential Documents, “Remarks on Signing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in Denver, Colorado,” February 17, 2009,
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=CPD
; “Obama’s Remarks at Stimulus Signing,”
The New York Times
, February 17, 2009,
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/17/world/americas/17iht-17textobama.20261060.html
.
10
“Absolutely, we need earmark reform”:
CNN transcript of the first presidential debate, September 26, 2008,
http://www.cnn.com
.
11
At the same time, he issued a statement:
Compilation of Presidential Documents, “Statement on Signing the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009,”
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=CPD
.
12
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer:
Alex Isenstadt, “Hoyer to W.H.: Hands off Our Earmarks,”
Politico
, March 3, 2009,
http://www.politico.com
.
13
But the 61-year-old
North Dakotan:
“Kent Conrad: The Statistician,”
Time
, April 14, 2006,
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1183973,00.html
.
CHAPTER FOUR
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with two firsthand sources.
14
Republicans were beating hard on the administration:
Email compilation of 27 media references to author from the office of the speaker, April 23, 2012; see also Michael O’Brien, “Pelosi: ‘Where Are the Jobs?’ Was Effective in Bringing Dems Down,”
The Hill
, November 6, 2010, http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/127997-pelosi-where-are-the-jobs-was-effective.
15
In a memo to the president dated December 20, 2009:
Author’s review of the December 20, 2009, memo.
16
Given his three minutes to question the treasury secretary:
“RYAN TO GEITHNER: Why Propose a Budget You Admit Is Not Credible, Not Sustainable?,” Video/audio podcast, February 3, 2010,
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/hearing/wi01_ryan/2310RtG.html
.
CHAPTER FIVE
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with six firsthand sources.
17
In a flurry of nine terse emails:
Author’s review of emails.
18
But the Conrad issues:
Author’s review of emails.
19
He emailed Orszag, “Conrad is intending”:
Author’s review of emails.
20
On January 19, 2010, he won:
Michael Cooper, “G.O.P. Senate Victory Stuns Democrats,”
The New York Times
, January 20, 2010.
21
Brown was sworn in:
Janet Hook, “Republican Scott Brown of Massachusetts Sworn In to Senate,”
Los Angeles Times
, February 4, 2010.
22
It needed 60 votes to overcome:
Senate Roll Call Votes, 111th Congress, 2nd Session, “On the Amendment (Conrad Amdt. No. 3302),”
http://www.senate.gov
.
23
In an interview, President Obama later recalled:
On the record author interview with President Barack Obama, July 11, 2012.
24
Obama unveiled his budget proposal:
Compilation of Presidential Documents, “Remarks on the Federal Budget,” February 1, 2010,
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=CPD
.
25
Senator Orrin Hatch:
Press release, “Hatch Calls Administration’s Budget ‘Toy Fire Truck to Put Out a Five Alarm Fire’ of Unsustainable Debt,” Office of Senator Orrin Hatch, February 1, 2010, http://hatch.senate.gov.
26
He emailed Summers and others:
Author’s review of emails.
27
Later, in the public signing ceremony:
Compilation of Presidential Documents, “Remarks on Signing an Executive Order Establishing the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform and an Exchange with Reporters,” February 18, 2010,
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=CPD
.
CHAPTER SIX
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with four firsthand sources.
