The Price of Politics (58 page)

87
It would be “catastrophic and unpredictable”:
Victoria McGrane and Damian Paletta, “Dimon: Hitting Debt Ceiling Would Be ‘Catastrophic,’ ”
The Wall Street Journal
, March 30, 2011.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with six firsthand sources and contemporaneous notes by a participant.

88
“We’re all connected”:
Compilation of Presidential Documents, “Remarks at George Washington University,” April 13, 2011,
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=CPD
.

89
Ryan took out his BlackBerry:
Press release, “Paul Ryan Responds to President’s Disappointing, Partisan Speech,” Office of Representative Paul Ryan, April 13, 2011,
http://paulryan.house.gov
.

90
Ryan’s presence at the George Washington University speech:
Lori Montgomery, “Obama Address Was Surprise Attack, GOP Lawmakers Say,”
The Washington Post
, April 14, 2011; Mark Landler and Michael D. Shear, “Obama’s Debt Plan Sets Stage for Long Battle over Spending,”
The New York Times
, April 13, 2011; editorial, “The Presidential Divider,”
The Wall Street Journal
, April 14, 2011; see also Jackie Calmes, “Obama’s Deficit Dilemma,”
The New York Times
, February 27, 2012.

91
“I was not aware when I gave”:
On the record author interview with President Barack Obama, July 11, 2012.

92
The three free trade agreements:
Binyamin Appelbaum and Jennifer Steinhauer, “Congress Ends 5-Year Standoff on Trade Deals in Rare Accord,”
The New York Times
.

93
Two days later, on October 14, Obama traveled:
Compilation of Presidential Documents, “Remarks at General Motors Orion Assembly
Plant in Lake Orion, Michigan,” October 14, 2011,
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=CPD
.

CHAPTER TWELVE

The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with eight firsthand sources and contemporaneous notes by six participants.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with six firsthand sources and contemporaneous notes by two participants.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with five firsthand sources and contemporaneous notes by two participants.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with five firsthand sources and contemporaneous notes by two participants.

94
On Saturday morning, June 18:
On the record author interview with Speaker John Boehner, June 7, 2012.

95
“The president and I whupped ’em pretty good”:
Excerpt of a Playbook Breakfast video interview between Mike Allen and Speaker Boehner, December 14, 2011,
http://www.politico.com/playbook-breakfast
/.

96
Later, the president recalled the conversation:
On the record author interview with President Barack Obama, July 11, 2012.

97
He noted that McConnell had said:
Corbett B. Daly, “Schumer Questions GOP Sincerity on Job Creation,”
Face the Nation
, CBS, June 19, 2011,
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-3460_162-20072389.html
.

98
“REVENUE” was the dreaded word:
Author obtained copy of document.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with six firsthand sources and contemporaneous notes by a participant.

99
“I came in through the South Entrance”:
On the record author interview with Speaker John Boehner, June 7, 2012.

100
Asked about the conversation with Boehner:
On the record author interview with President Barack Obama, July 11, 2012.

101
A few hours later, the president appeared:
Compilation of Presidential Documents, “Address to the Nation on the Drawdown of United
States Military Personnel in Afghanistan,” June 22, 2011,
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=CPD
.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with eight firsthand sources and contemporaneous notes by a participant.

102
Early on the morning of Thursday, June 23, Cantor gave:
Janet Hook and Corey Boles, “Tax Dispute Stalls Debt Talks,”
The Wall Street Journal
, June 24, 2011.

103
“I can’t,” Cantor said:
see Ibid.

104
“Deficit talks in danger”:
David Rogers, “Deficit Talks in Danger as Eric Cantor Bails,”
Politico
, June 23, 2001,
http://www.politico.com
.

105
The next day, the
New York Times
editorial board:
Editorial, “Their Temper Tantrum,”
The New York Times
, June 23, 2011, p. A24.

106
“I understand his frustration”:
Benjy Sarlin, “With Ball in Speaker’s Court, Boehner Doubles Down on Anti-Tax Rhetoric,”
Talking Points Memo
, June 23, 2011,
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/with-ball-in-speakers-court-boehner-doubles-down-on-anti-tax-rhetoric.php
.

107
In a press conference, he laid out:
Felicia Sonmez, “Boehner: Tax Hikes in a Debt Deal Proposal ‘Cannot Pass’ House,” 2chambers blog,
The Washington Post
, June 24, 2011,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/2chambers/post/boehner-tax-hikes-in-debt-deal-cannot-pass-house/2011/06/24/AGtLj8iH_blog.html
.

108
On June 29, 2011, President Obama appeared:
Compilation of Presidential Documents, “The President’s News Conference,” June 29, 2011,
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=CPD
.

109
A statement released by the speaker’s office:
Press release, “Speaker Boehner Statement in Response to Remarks by President Obama,” office of Speaker John Boehner, June 28 [
sic
], 2012,
http://www.speaker.gov
.

110
At the White House, Nabors, Lew and Sperling:
Author obtained document.

111
On July 1, the White House sent:
Ibid.

112
In bold type on the first line:
Ibid.

113
On Sunday, July 3, Boehner had a bunch:
On the record author interview with Speaker John Boehner, June 7, 2012.

114
It was a brutally hot summer evening:
Historical weather for Washington, D.C., Farmers’ Almanac,
http://www.farmersalmanac.com/weather-history/20052/2011/07/03
/.

115
“The more I got into this”:
On the record author interview with Speaker John Boehner, June 7, 2012.

116
That’s exactly right:
On the record author interview with President Barack Obama, July 11, 2012.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with nine firsthand sources and contemporaneous notes by two participants.

117
On Tuesday, July 5, the president made a short statement:
Compilation of Presidential Documents, “Remarks Prior to White House Press Secretary James ‘Jay’ Carney’s Briefing,” July 5, 2011,
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=CPD
.

118
In a statement released later, Boehner said:
Press release, “Speaker Boehner on President Obama’s Comments Regarding His Request for a Debt Limit Increase,” Office of Speaker John Boehner, July 4 [
sic
], 2011,
http://www.speaker.gov
.

119
Loper handed them Boehner’s counterproposal:
Author obtained document.

120
“Listen, $788 billion was real simple”:
On the record author interview with Speaker John Boehner, June 7, 2012.

121
On the morning of Thursday, July 7:
Carl Hulse and Mark La Landler, “President Looks to Broader Deal in Deficit Talks,”
The New York Times
, July 7, 2011, p. A1.

122
“Okay, so, he wants to get reelected”:
On the record author interview with Speaker John Boehner, June 7, 2012.

123
The president spoke to the media at about 1 p.m.:
Lori Montgomery and Paul Kane, “Obama Calls Debt Talks ‘Constructive,’ Invites Parties to Reconvene Sunday,”
The Washington Post
, July 7, 2011.

124
Afterward, Pelosi expressed concern:
David Rogers, “Debt Talks Turn to Tax Reform,”
Politico
, July 7, 2011,
http://www.politico.com
.

125
“Oh, hell yeah!”:
On the record author interview with Speaker John Boehner, June 7, 2012.

126
“Don’t insult us,” Pelosi retorted:
Jonathan Allen, “Nancy Pelosi’s Back at the Negotiating Table on Debt Ceiling,”
Politico
, July 8, 2011,
http://www.politico.com
.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with six firsthand sources and contemporaneous notes by a participant.

127
At 8:30 a.m. on July 8, the Labor Department announced:
Annalyn Censky, “June Jobs Report: Hiring Slows, Unemployment Rises,” CNN Money,
July 8, 2011,
http://money.cnn.com/2011/07/08/news/economy/june_jobs_report_unemployment/index.htm
; see also Employment Situation News Release, “The Employment Situation—June 2010,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, July 2, 2010,
http://www.bls.gov/schedule/archives/empsit_nr.htm
.

128
“After hearing this morning’s jobs report”:
Press release, “Speaker Boehner: Tax Hikes on Job Creators Would Make Things Worse,” Office of Speaker John Boehner, July 8, 2011,
http://www.speaker.gov
.

129
Asked about the prospects:
On the record author interview with Speaker John Boehner, June 7, 2012 and Ibid.

130
Though Conrad had been the impetus:
Conrad’s letter to author, April 26, 2012.

131
Most of them had signed a pledge:
See “What Is the Taxpayer Protection Pledge?” Americans for Tax Reform,
http://www.atr.org/taxpayer-protection-pledge
.

132
While serving on the Simpson-Bowles commission:
“Conrad Remarks at Hearing on President’s FY 2012 Defense and International Affairs Budgets,” March 10, 2011,
http://budget.senate.gov/democratic/index.cfm/speeches-and-remarks?ContentRecord_id=61ce0ef9-6f41-4dee-9a8e-3bf1b0f60aa2
.

133
He handed Sperling one sheet of paper:
Author obtained document entitled “Individual Income Tax Reform,” dated July 8, 2011.

134
He decided to leave no doubt:
Author obtained two-page document dated July 9, 2011.

135
In an interview, the president recalled:
On the record author interview with President Barack Obama, July 11, 2012.

136
They began drafting a pessimistic memo for Boehner:
Author obtained document entitled “Tax Reform Principles: Key Areas of Disagreement.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with seven firsthand sources and contemporaneous notes by a participant.

137
That same morning, Cantor read:
Editorial, “Boehner’s Obama Gamble,”
The Wall Street Journal
, July 9, 2011.

138
The
New York Times
story on $1 trillion in revenue:
Carl Hulse and Mark La Landler, “President Looks to Broader Deal in Deficit Talks,”
The New York Times
, July 7, 2011, p. A1.

139
The memo was titled:
Author obtained memo.

140
In an interview, the president recalled:
On the record author interview with President Barack Obama, July 11, 2012.

141
“Despite good-faith efforts”:
Press release, “Statement by Speaker Boehner on Debt Limit Discussions,” Office of Speaker John Boehner, July 9, 2011,
http://www.speaker.gov
.

142
In an interview later, Boehner described his decision:
On the record author interview with Speaker John Boehner, June 7, 2012.

143
Asked about Boehner’s explanation for pulling out:
On the record author interview with President Barack Obama, July 11, 2012.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with six firsthand sources and contemporaneous notes by a participant.

144
In an interview, Obama later recalled using:
On the record author interview with President Barack Obama, July 11, 2012.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO