The Politician

An Insider's Account of John Edwards's Pursuit of the Presidency and the Scandal that Brought Him Down

By: Andrew Young

Narrated by: Kevin Foley

Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Like a nonfiction version of All the King's Men, The Politician offers a truly disturbing, even shocking, perspective on the risks taken and tactics employed by a man determined to rule the most powerful nation on earth.

Idealistic and ambitious, Andrew Young volunteered for the John Edwards campaign for Senate in 1998 and quickly became the candidate's right-hand man. As the senator became a national star, Young's responsibilities grew. For a decade he was this politician's confidant, and he was assured he was "like family." In time, however, Young was drawn into a series of questionable assignments that culminated with Edwards asking him to help conceal the senator's ongoing adultery. Days before the 2008 presidential primaries began, Young gained international notoriety when he told the world that he was the father of a child being carried by a woman named Rielle Hunter, who was actually the senator's mistress. While Young began a life on the run, hiding from the press with his family and alleged mistress, John Edwards continued to pursue the presidency and then the vice presidency in the future Obama administration.

Young had been the senator's closest aide and most trusted friend. He believed that John Edwards could be a great president and was assured throughout the cover-up that his boss and friend would ultimately step forward to both tell the truth and protect his aide's career. Neither promise was kept.

Not only is The Politician a moving personal account of Andrew Young's political education, but it also offers a look at the trajectory that made John Edwards the ideal Democratic candidate for president and the hubris that brought him down, leaving his career, his marriage, and his dreams in ashes.

©2010 Andrew Young (P)2010 Tantor

Scathing

political tell-all. Sometimes truth is better than fiction - this book gives both from a seething and disgruntled former lieutenant.

The Politician's Acolyte

The parts of his account that he can verify by recorded phone messages are very telling, both about Edwards and his equally ambitious wife. Unverifiable and self-serving accounts, such as those about advice Young allegedly gave at various junctures, must be taken with a grain of salt.

Excellent!

Could not stop listening (especially the final 4 chapters!)

Revealing Tale

I highly recommend this book to anyone that want's a better glimpse at what kind of sleaze that populates politics. Beyond even Edward's affair your get a feel for just how shallow and manipulative these people are. If you love to believe in platitudes, claims of hope, change, fighting poverty and two Americas, and changing the status quo... this book isn't for you.

I aplaude the author who's currently embattled in legal matters for making this revealing book. He put his neck on the line and got nothing for his efforts in helping the disgraced John Edwards. Hopefully his work in writing this book will help people to look for truly genuine, honest, common sense intelligent politicians that represent them and are true to their beliefs... and not just saying something so they can get votes and suckle at the teet of wealthy donors, celebrities and the elite.

WOW!

What a story! John Edwards sense of entitlement and arrogance is simply shocking. To think that as all this tabloid trash is going on he has the nerve to be running for president of the United States - amazing. Let's hope he is the exception to the rule for U.S. politicians.

Two Faced Imposter

I found this book fascinating, a behind the scenes look at the life of a politician.
Andrew Young is detailed in his recollections of working for John & Elizabeth Edward's.
The hubris of this man John Edward's is astounding, a classic example of a candidate running for his own selfish egotistical reasons.
I always found John Edward's reminded me of a used car salesman, I was not wrong.
I hope John Edward's is indicted for misappropriating funds.

Fascinating !!

Excellent read. I couldn't put it down. Now we get to watch the rest of the sordid story play out in the newspapers and tabloids. Almost better than James Patterson.

Self-Serving

Andrew Young was paid $300,000 a year to be a gofer. He is completely amoral. He helped set up Edwards' affair and even agreed to say he was the father of Edwards' mistress' child. Whatever Edwards wanted him to do he did and then he complained about it. If he had any objections to Edwards behavior he should have told him early on. Young was not a good friend of Edwards or a very moral man.honest man

Interesting look

into John Edwards personal/political life. At time's this book doesn't keep your interest.

As someone who knew many of the players....

especially Edwards and Andrew Young, I am happy to see the truth of all of those unfortunate events published. This is likely a more truthful account of the people involved, their personalities, and fallacies (including Andrew's own) than we will ever see otherwise. As someone who deeply supported John in all of his campaigns, these events saddened me. Hopefully, we can all learn what hubris in those in power does! Thanks Andrew for having the guts to tell it like it was.