Truth: The Press, The President, And The Privilege Of Power Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
A riveting play-by-play of a reporter getting and defending a story that recalls All the President's Men, Truth puts readers in the center of the "60 Minutes II" story on George W. Bush's shirking of his National Guard duty. The firestorm that followed that broadcast--a conflagration that was carefully sparked by the right and fanned by bloggers--trashed Mapes' well-respected twenty-five year producing career, caused newsman Dan Rather to resign from his anchor chair early and led to an unprecedented "internal inquiry" into the story...chaired by former Reagan attorney general Richard Thornburgh. Truth examines Bush's political roots as governor of Texas, delves into what is known about his National Guard duty-or lack of service-and sheds light on the solidity of the documents that backed up the National Guard story, even including images of the actual documents in an appendix to the book. It is peopled with a colorful cast of characters-from Karl Rove to Sumner Redstone-and moves from small-town Texas to Black Rock-CBS corporate headquarters-in New York City. Truth connects the dots between a corporation under fire from the federal government and the decision about what kinds of stories a news network may cover. It draws a line from reporting in the trenches to the gutting of the great American tradition of a independent media and asks whether it's possible to break important stories on a powerful sitting president.Truth (previously published as Truth & Duty) was made into the 2015 film Truth, starring Cate Blanchett, Robert Redford, Topher Grace and Elizabeth Moss.
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; Mti edition (October 13, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250098459
ISBN-13: 978-1250098450
Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 1.1 x 8.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #186,974 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #137 in Books > Business & Money > Industries > Media & Communications #380 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Professionals & Academics > Journalists #584 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Television Performers
Excellent book. After reading this book and knowing what happened to Mary Mapes' career just for telling the truth, it's not hard to understand why our journalists are reluctant to go up against people who have such limitless power. The story needs to be told. It makes our country stronger. Thank you, Mary! Well done!
I read this book in two sittings. I just could not put it down once I started. It shows Texas in all its political scum and the Bush dynasty's nefarious power to keep George W from being drafted to Viet Nam. There was no doubt that George W. Bush got into the Guard in Texas because of influence. He also never served out his commitment to the Guard and used the Guard to stay out of Viet Nam. I do not fault him for that even though it is unfair and hideous but that is the world. This book is not so much about George W. Bush as it is about Viacom and CBS folding under pressure for the bottom line. We lost Mary Mapes as a journalist. That should never have happened. News today is an entertainment sport and journalists do not dare to buck the money of the Corporate headquarters. If you really want to understand why the news industry is what it is today with talking heads, opinions and out right lies then read this book. Mary is hard on herself, way too hard, because she did not stand a chance with Viacom and their "investigative" witch hunt. We the people of the US have a constitutional right to a free press and that stopped with what happened to Mary Mapes and to Dan Rather. This lady is a journalist hero, nothing less.
Truth can hurt people in power and I don't know who is writing reviews. But, trust your gut feeling to get the truth. See what Mary has to say..Naturally, no Bush 'team' will like the book!!!
Good and necessary reading for anyone who cares about news and what passes for news. Straightforward telling of the Bush-National Guard story, the work that went into it, and the people involved. Far right conservatives and NeoCons caused immense trouble, spineless CBS bosses disregarded their journalists because of their love for money (and fear of the Bush White House), but Mary Mapes has the last and best word ....honesty. This book shows clearly what happens when we forget the reasons for the existence of news organizations....truth.
Mary was treated very harshly and lost job and career because of it. Had she been a man, she would still be at CBS. I firmly believe this. And i also believe that that letter may have not been the authentic one, but that he did get away with every trick in the Guard because of daddy. Very sad and upsetting story.
If you are a dyed-in-the-wool Republican (or imagine yourself to be), prepare yourself in advance with some really good skin cream so you can 'Scratch youself and get over it." If you're a Democrat feeling all smarmy and superior, give it a rest...nobody in politics ever takes the high ground in a white suit.I have no way of knowing if either side of this sad tale is true or if a mixture would be closer to it. I was not there. What really stunned me was that truth of these 'allegations' was (allegedly) never brought into question---and I believe an unquestioning majority of couch juries have wrongly equated cosmetics (typeface, font) with authenticity. This proved to be quite an effective tactic because it worked. And yes, it was a tactic.I am so glad to hear Ms. Mapes' side of things. She was/is a casualty of this too. Most of us lost something intangible in this fiasco. I don't know if there is no word for, if I haven't found the right word, or if I do know what it is and am just afraid to say it. This book was necessary and I certainly hope it eventually brings about a renaissance in critical thinking.
This book should be read by everyone. It tells us how our "news" media has turned into an infotainment industry. Such a sad commentary on how corporate interests have taken over our freedom of the press. Well done to the author.
Did anyone seriously doubt that that George W received preferential treatment to avoid serving in Vietnam? That's what's undue influence is all about - and his family is rolling in it. If you doubt the movie (which I thought was generally spot-on) read Mary Mapes book (Sorry, I didn't buy it from ). She's a top-notch writer, and finally has time and space to discuss all the backup sources she and Dan Rather had.They weren't fired because the story was wrong. They were fired so that CBS could maintain a 'good' relationship with the Bush Whitehouse. The Bush family was ticked that 60 Minutes would dare to tell the truth they'd tried so hard to bury. George W didn't even to bother to show up and do the flying required of a National Guard Pilot - in training. And then he has the gall to arrive for the "Mission Accomplished" speech on the carrier, in a flight suit! Didn't his blank stare ever give you a clue that he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer? During his last two months as President, he couldn't hide the 'deer in the headlight' look that is screaming - "Get me out of here before everything collapses."Mapes is an excellent writer. Read and take notes on 'How to Write a Great Book.' "Couldn't put it down' level of writing.
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