When Presidents Lie: A History of Official Deception And Its Consequences

From Strand Bookstore

Lying has become pervasive in American life, but what happens when the falsehoods are perpetrated by the Oval Office? Here, Alterman presents a compelling historical examination of four specific post-WWII presidential lies, the consequences of which were of an unforeseen magnitude. Considering the present war in Iraq, instigated by George W. Bush - which comes under scrutiny in the book's conclusion, Alterman's warning is of a dire nature - that the only way to prevent these lies is for the polity to demand accountability, i.e., the truth. Alterman writes the "Stop the Presses" column for The Nation, and is the author of "What Liberal Media?" 384p.

From the Publisher

A distinguished journalist assesses the profound impact of governmental and presidential lies on American culture, revealing how such lies become ever more complex and how such deception creates problems far more serious than those lied about in the beginning, and focuses on four specific instances involving FDR, Kennedy, LBJ, and Ronald Reagan.