On The House might be the most delightful political memoir I've ever read. Speaker Boehner is
so direct and emotionally transparent. Even when you don't agree with him, he just builds up a
rant, like Rowdy Roddy Piper, and you just feel his contempt or affection or whatever. He is the
son of a bartender, as Obama pointed out when he took over the Speaker's chair in 2011, and
shows the rough lifestyle of smoking, red wine, and golf. This is in contrast with his successor
Paul Ryan, who is famously healthy. But Boehner also has a poignant memory of his high school
football coach Gerry, at a Catholic school who later went to Notre Dame. My track coach and
English teacher Mr. P, who had a similar mentoring role, died yesterday. Most political books
have a lot of "expletives deleted," but unlike most of them, Boehner is creative, and knows how
to time his metaphors effectively.
This is a great introduction to politics and how it works. Boehner began with the House bank
scandal in the late 80s and early 90s. So early on, he was shaking up the system and known
as a reformer of the system. But in these days of populism right and left, he makes a defense
of the establishment. As Teddy Roosevelt said, it's a lot easier to be a critic than to be actually
getting things done out in the arena. Boehner's not saying that the system is all good, just that
it is what it is, and you have to work with it if you want to get things done and make a positive
impact in people's lives. For instance, bureaucrats and lobbyists cause all kinds of problems,
but the Constitution does state that lobbying is a right.
I knew that this book would be great, because Boehner always has amusing takes on his fellow
politicians, such as Pelosi, McConnell and Reid. He fully concedes that he is, well, another word for
a donkey. The point isn't that his takes are right or wrong, just that he's so good at them. He discusses every President since Jerry Ford, whom he finds underrated. It was Reagan who got him into politics,
and he was viewed as "too old, too Hollywood, too right-wing" and the media expected Bush. But
Reagan understood that if you can get 80%, you make a compromise and get things done, rather
than being a purist and doing nothing. Clinton of course is the subject of amusing anecdotes, such
as when he was playing golf and gave an autograph to Boehner's wife. But his political skills
were undeniable. George W. picked on Boehner for not being able to keep his conference in line,
so sometimes he really made him mad, but he was a friend. Of course Cheney and Rice were critical
to the Bush administration. Obama was a great communicator and a good person, but Boehner shows
the conventional wisdom that he was unable to relate effectively to legislators. Regarding Trump, Boehner is highly critical of his claiming the 2020 election was stolen. When he met him, "I thought many things, but I never said, there goes the future President of the United States".
The House leaders include Bob Michel (old establishment), Newt Gingrich ("you may have heard
of him" "absent minded professor with bad ties"), Dick Armey ("pal"), Tom DeLay (not a fan in
general), Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan and Mike Pence. In 2010 Boehner had the highlight of his career becoming speaker, but his conference had become "crazy town" with Michele Bachmann, Steve King, Louis Goehmert, and later on the Freedom Caucus with Jim Jordan, Mark Meadows and Mick Mulvaney.
Of course he is equally critical of AOC and the Squad. On the Democratic side were Tip O'Neill,
Tom Foley, Dick Gephardt, Nancy Pelosi, John Dingell, Henry Waxman and George Miller.
Senators include Jesse Helms, Joe Biden, Ted Kennedy (with an extensive review of No Child Left
Behind), Bernie Sanders (he actually believes all the crazy stuff he says, he's nuts but not cynical),
John McCain (and Sarah Palin), Chuck Schumer, Lindsay Graham and Ted Cruz (whom he famously
compared to Lucifer). In discussing the media, Boehner has fine stories about Tim Russert and
Lesley Stahl. I'm always interested in someone's faith. He doesn't talk about it much, but when
he does it is deep and heartfelt. He went to Catholic high school, and when he met Pope Francis
in September 2015, he decided not to wait and to announce his resignation the next day.
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Reviews with images
Top reviews from other countries
M Clark
A marvelously entertaining look at the institution of the House of Representatives
Reviewed in Germany on October 24, 2022Mr. Samuel A. Leigh
He is not as important as he thinks
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2021
