Books written by Jonathan Alter

The Defining Moment: FDR's Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope

Looker, Earle. The American Way: Franklin Roosevelt in Action. New York: John Day Company, 1933. Louchheim, Katie, ed. The Making of the New Deal. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1983. Lowenthal, Leo, and Norbert Guterman.
The Promise: President Obama, Year One

In The Promise: President Obama, Year One, Jonathan Alter, one of the country’s most respected journalists and historians, uses his unique access to the White House to produce the first inside look at Obama’s difficult debut.
The Center Holds: Obama and His Enemies

Alter relates the untold story behind Obama’s highs and lows, from the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound to the frustration of the debt ceiling fiasco to his unexpected run-ins with black and Latino activists.
The Promise: President Obama

Alter characterizes Obama as a deductive thinker, and a fast one -- eager for action. It is said that Clinton's meetings always ran on too long and that Obama's may be too short.
The Center Holds: Obama and His Enemies

Vice President George H. W. Bush signed the pledge in 1988, which helped him win the nomination and, by Norquist's account, the election. Thanks in part to Norquist, the story of the pledge and the 1988 election would wear heavily on ...
Between the Lines: A View Inside American Politics, People, and Culture

Between the Lines: A View Inside American Politics, People, and Culture
The Defining Moment: FDR's Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope

... 253,265 Coolidge, Mrs. Calvin, 192 Corcoran, Tommy, 147, 181, 219, 233, 242, 278-79 Costigan, Edward, 230 Cotten, ... William E., 16311 Dos Passos, John, 83 Doughton, Robert L., 316, 317 Douglas, Helen Gahagan, 239 Douglas, Lewis, ...
His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life

At first, Carter thought Pennington was fumbling in his presentation of his own religious experience but then realized that people weren't looking for a smooth appeal. He was amazed at the emotional responses to Pennington's personal ...
His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life

... Felice Gaer, Peter Galbraith, Richard Gardner, Leslie Gelb, Michael Giles, Dan Glickman, Boze Godwin, Peter Goldman, Barry Golson, Gordon Goldstein, Douglas Grant, Rex Granum, Gene Griessman, Thom Gunn, Bernard Gwirtzman, Jay Hakes, ...
The Center Holds: Obama and His Enemies

... Shannah Goldner, Bill daley, dan Gross, Al Franken, Gregg cockrell, George haywood, Jim Fallows, Byron dorgan, eric Lesser, Al Sharpton, Alex Gage, rahm emanuel, mark whitaker, calvin trillin, cornel west, Justin cooper, david Lane, ...
His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life

Here is a moral exemplar for our times, a flawed but underrated president of decency and vision who was committed to telling the truth to the American people.
The Defining Moment: FDR's Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope

This is the story of a political miracle -- the perfect match of man and moment. Franklin Delano Roosevelt took office in March of 1933 as America touched bottom. Banks...
The Promise: President Obama, Year One

Barack Obama’s inauguration as president on January 20, 2009, inspired the world. But the great promise of “Change We Can Believe In” was immediately tested by the threat of another...