In this definitive portrait of the political and social life of Georgetown; bestselling biographer C. David Heymann chronicles the dinner parties; correspondence; overlappings; and underpinnings of some of the most influential women in Washington's history. "The Georgetown Ladies' Social Club" -- a term coined by Ronald Reagan -- comprises a list of formidable and fascinating women; among them Katharine Graham; Lorraine Cooper; Evangeline Bruce; Pamela Harriman; and Sally Quinn. Their husbands; government officials and newsmakers among them; relied on the ladies for their sharp wit and sensitivity; refined bearings; and congeniality. In a city characteristically and traditionally controlled by men; the Georgetown wives were; in turn; afforded an abundance of behind-the-scenes political clout. Filled with intriguing and often startling insights into Washington life; from the latter days of the Kennedy and Truman administrations to the Clinton era and the advent of President George W. Bush; The Georgetown Ladies' Social Club is a compelling testament to the sex; lies; and red tape of American politics.
#876330 in Books Simon Schuster 2007-11-06 2007-11-06Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 1.10 x 6.12l; 1.07 #File Name: 0743252225432 pagesGreat product!
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Incredible Historical ViewpointBy Martin Q.As an avid historical reader of the history of events; battles; and stories of the war's participants; this was the first book I've read about the personalities of the admirals who were the dominant figures in the war at sea. It highlights the factors of personal as well as equipment flaws; and luckily; the Japanese admirals often erred on the side of caution; and if not for their mistakes; Admiral Halsey might have cost the allies far more than his desire to "kill Japs" might have. It is a brilliant study of the personalities of the admirals as well as some of their staffs; and I don't believe I've ever read a book of this sort before. I highly recommend it to any student of the history of WWII.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. One of the most accessible naval histories ever. Great for gurus and beginners alikeBy John StewartOne of the most accessible naval histories ever.I loved this book; but two things set this book apart:#1 - the diligent job Evan Thomas did researching the Japanese perspective--one that's typically overlooked given language barriers and that so many Japanese soldiers on the front lines did not survive to tell their stories.#2 - how accessible this is for readers that are relatively unfamiliar with naval tactics; the nuances of battleship design; dense naval terminology; and references to tactics from other naval battles--both famous and obscure.If I was going to wrap this down to one liner; it would be: "The best military history for someone that has never read a military history before"In short; this book stands apart by its ability to tell the evolution of carrier-based warfare through the perspectives of four commanders; two Japanese and two American. It's an easy read that reads like a novel without sacrificing grit and is accessible for anyone with an interest in naval warfare--with no previous experience required.I read a lot of naval histories and have since I was in middle school. As a result; I have no problem wading through dense tomes with lots of detailed terminology with references to obscure battles. The problem is that while some of my friends/family may have that knowledge base to read most military histories; few of them have the patience to wade through something that's either very dense or takes 100 pages to get started. Sea of Thunder draws the reader in quickly; provides historical context; and educates the reader on terminology as the book unfolds.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. The Human Side of the War.By CustomerAdmiral Bill Halsey was an american hero; but he was also subject to all our human foibles. He was certainly brave; and never fled from a fight. But at the Battle of Leyte Gulf; he did make a terrible mistake. He wanted one thing above all else; he wanted to sink jap carriers.That was his undoing in that battle; he was blinded by Admiral Ozawa's empty carriers; and almost created a military disaster. But for japanese indecision; it could have been a disaster. Admiral Takeo Kurita unwittingly helped to save Admiral Halsey from his own mistake. He could have won a great victory over the us forces at Leyte Gulf; but for unknown reasons he turned his ships around; whe they were in sight of victory. No acceptable reason was ever given for his retreat. Admiral Ugaki; served in the shadow of fleet Admiral Yamamoto; until his death in 1943. He was very angry with Admiral Kurita's abrupt retreat at Leyte Gulf. He finally achieved the desire of all Samurai; when he died in a Kamakase raid. He definitely showed the Samurai spirit in hsi actions. Commander Ernest Evans may well have been the most patriotic and the bravest of all four commanders. The selfless decision to confront Admiral Kurita's powerful fleet; knowing that he would not survive the battle; was the bravest act of all. He could have retreated; as Admiral Kurita did; but instead he choose the danger. I can't hepl but feel incredible respect for this brave man. JRV
