This well-reported book goes deep on the details of James Brady's life. It was fascinating to read, especially about his early life, which I didn't know much about prior to this book. It ties together how that shaped his career. Having lived through the Reagan years, this book gives me the other pieces of the story which weren't something I understood at the time - how James Baker's role as Chief of Staff influenced events in history. Great job by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser - they make the story come to life with great detail as well as humor.

This was so interesting to me. As someone who works in politics, especially on the same side of the aisle as James A. Baker III, I couldn't believe how little I knew about him. I really appreciated learning a lot about his grandparents, parents, and his own childhood. It really shaped him and I really enjoyed his hardworking and dedication to the cause. He is such a success story and it was super interesting to read where his head was at during the 2016 election. I have so much respect for this legend and I can't wait to get this when published.

THE MAN WHO RAN WASHINGTON
CHRISTOPHER S. EMMANUEL
James A. Baker, III, a third-generation attorney, was a political force unmatched in modern American history. He managed presidential campaigns for Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush. He served as the Treasury Secretary where he negotiated the Plaza Accords and the Baker Plan. As Secretary of State, he coordinated the free world’s response to the fall of the Soviet Union. He served as chief legal advisor for George W. Bush during the 2000 recount. As if that was not enough, he was also arguably the most influential White House Chief of Staff in the history of the position and the only person to serve that role for multiple presidents. In their book The Man Who Ran Washington, Peter Baker and Susan Glasser, a Washington power couple with direct experience in international affairs, bring nuance and deep examination to an extraordinary individual worthy of more attention.
As Time magazine once described him, Baker was “a gentleman who hates to lose.” Born the scion of a wealthy Texas family, the third James Baker followed in the steps of the first and the second, practicing law for a competitive and prestigious law firm in the growing city of Houston. His life could have stayed this course if he had not become friends with a young George H.W. Bush. Baker followed his tennis partner into politics, where he approached each problem with the analytical skills of a seasoned litigator. From the campaign trail to the international relations circuit, Baker played “three-dimensional chess” and was always thinking many moves ahead. Through excellent research and dozens of on-the-record interviews, readers get to see what each player thought of Baker’s methods, both contemporaneously and after several decades of reflection.
Baker’s story is filled with many lessons, from the power of preparation to importance of understanding the motivations of each individual player in politics. The reader is constantly reminded about how small the world truly is – individuals who were once political foes become needed partners years later. The history of the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s are completely intertwined with Baker’s professional career and actions. America is a better place because of the steady hand and preparation of this bureaucratic power broker. For members of the Florida Bar, perhaps there is another lesson – more successful lawyers should consider a second career in public service.

This was a wonderful book about a real American patriot, a person who put his own career ambitions to the side in order to take care of his own country.

I was a little disappointed that the author promotes the lies we were all fed about the invasion of Iraq. There were no weapons of mass destruction and we knew it all along. The intelligence given by the CIA was not faulty. It was the White House who lied about the intelligence they were given.