Primary Colors
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| Author | Joe Klein |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | political fiction |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Released | January 16, 1996 |
| Media type | Hardcover and Paperback |
| Pages | 366 (hc) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-679-44859-4 (hc) |
Primary Colors: A Novel of Politics, a 1996 novel by "Anonymous" (later revealed to be journalist Joe Klein), is a roman à clef inspired by U.S. President Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign in 1992. While many characters and events in the novel are based on reality, much of the book is entirely fictional. The book centers on Henry Burton, a campaign aide for southern governor Jack Stanton (thought to represent Bill Clinton). It is thought to be influenced by an earlier roman à clef of American politics, Robert Penn Warren's All the King's Men.
There is a sequel of sorts to the novel (also by Joe Klein but not anonymously), The Running Mate, published in 2000.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
Mixed race campaigner and former Congressional worker Henry Burton is asked to join the campaign of Southern governor Jack Stanton for the Presidency. At the start of the campaign things appear to be going well; while there are some quirky individuals on board and agreement on issues is few and far between, the candidate really seems to care and goes out of his way to appear different from the rest of the Democratic field.
But the situation begins to cloud with details of Stanton's involvement in an anti-war protest in Chicago and alleged affair with his wife's hairdresser. Seeing his political future slip away and fellow candidates preparing to replace him, Stanton makes a last desperate pitch. He survives and manages to tread water the rest of the way, helped by the mistakes of his adversaries. But campaign manager Burton increasingly feels disillusioned and is also seeing a campaign worker on the side. Matters boil to a head and Burton is forced to choose between idealism and realism.
[edit] Anonymous
Prior to Klein's confession, writers for Newsweek and the Washington Post speculated some of the following to be the possible author:
- George Stephanopoulos
- Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau
- former Los Angeles Times editor Mary Louise Oates & her husband, Robert Shrum.
- Mark Halperin
- Sidney Blumenthal
[edit] Related film
- The War Room, a documentary of Clinton's 1992 campaign.
