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The Room Where It Happened cover art

The Room Where It Happened

Written by: John Bolton
Narrated by: Robert Petkoff, John Bolton - epilogue
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Publisher's Summary

John Bolton reads the epilogue!

As President Trump’s national security advisor, John Bolton spent many of his 453 days in the room where it happened, and the facts speak for themselves. The result is a White House memoir that is the most comprehensive and substantial account of the Trump Administration and one of the few to date by a top-level official. With almost daily access to the president, John Bolton has produced a precise rendering of his days in and around the Oval Office. What Bolton saw astonished him: a president for whom getting reelected was the only thing that mattered, even if it meant endangering or weakening the nation. 

“I am hard-pressed to identify any significant Trump decision during my tenure that wasn’t driven by reelection calculations,” he writes. In fact, he argues that the House committed impeachment malpractice by keeping their prosecution focused narrowly on Ukraine when Trump’s Ukraine-like transgressions existed across the full range of his foreign policy - and Bolton documents exactly what those were and the attempts by him and others in the administration to raise alarms about them. He shows a president addicted to chaos, who embraced our enemies and spurned our friends, and was deeply suspicious of his own government. In Bolton’s telling, all this helped put Trump on the bizarre road to impeachment. 

“The differences between this presidency and previous ones I had served were stunning,” writes Bolton, who worked for Reagan, Bush 41, and Bush 43. He discovered a president who thought foreign policy is like closing a real estate deal - about personal relationships, made-for-TV showmanship, and advancing his own interests. As a result, the US lost an opportunity to confront its deepening threats, and in cases like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea ended up in a more vulnerable place. 

Bolton’s account starts with his long march to the West Wing as Trump and others woo him for the national security job. The minute he lands, he has to deal with Syria’s chemical attack on the city of Douma and the crises after that never stop. As he writes early on, “If you don’t like turmoil, uncertainty, and risk - all the while being constantly overwhelmed with information, decisions to be made, and sheer amount of work - and enlivened by international and domestic personality and ego conflicts beyond description, try something else.” 

The turmoil, conflicts, and egos are all there - from the upheaval in Venezuela, to the erratic and manipulative moves of North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, to the showdowns at the G7 summits, the calculated warmongering by Iran, the crazy plan to bring the Taliban to Camp David, and the placating of an authoritarian China that ultimately exposed the world to its lethal lies. But this seasoned public servant also has a great eye for the Washington inside game, and his story is full of wit and wry humor about how he saw it played. 

©2020 John Bolton (P)2020 Simon & Schuster Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about The Room Where It Happened

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Cold and reflective of the worst of American politics

This is Bolton trying to leave with his head held high. Bolton’s ego is on full display in revelling over Twitter fights with world leaders, gratuitous mentions of his security detail and slagging off Democrats whenever possible. He finally quits his job when he finds out he might not be able to use military flights to get around anymore. The worst part is his explanation of his refusal to participate in the impeachment by the House. Basically, he says the House didn’t want to seriously investigate but leaves out any explanation or rationale for not trying to help. I’m left believing that Bolton’s moral compass is as reliable as Trump’s decision making. In fact, I don’t recall and statement of self learning or personal growth I would expect to hear from a mature, intelligent person. Imagine going through that much of the world and those issues and not once reflecting that perhaps you learned something? The level of self importance is astonishing. Felt I had to read to form the view first hand but it really left me the impression he is as vacuous as those he purports to take issue with. The Republicans are a snake eating their own tail on this presidency.

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13 people found this helpful

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A gloriously tedious review of recent US Politics

The narrative is very specific - so precise - each conversation prefaced with who was involved - what was said - by whom - A decent sprinkle of background to give context. It isn't complementry to the subject, but it isn't ham fisted either. There are lots of scenarios that end up praising some decisions that were made. It is written from the Right point of view. There are opinions that object or agree to other President's actions also. I felt brought into the room on each occasion. The recency of the events is welcome as even COViD-19 is brought into the discussion. Insight into the Media's delivery of news and the reputations of various Networks is also opined routinely. If this was any other topic - the deivery & length would be a bit tedious for my taste. In this book's case - that is absolutely perfect in my opinion.

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Don’t waste your time

This is horrible. Dry, boring and only use I could see is to put you to sleep. I’m returning it.

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Another political operator making self look good

While it is interesting to hear John Bolton describe the craziness of the Trump White House, it is a bit disappointing that John Bolton takes no real responsibility for his own enabling of the president. It is simply interesting for the moment but hardly a book that will stand the test of time. I am glad I listened to it at the time, but now feel that it may have been a bit of a waste of money - a bit like buying a summer read's paperback that you leave in the toilet when you are constipated.

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Long and tedious

John Bolton is too busy congratulating himself to give us the information we really want which is the truth about Trump and his corruption. Really long and I lost any respect I had for him along the way...

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It was OK

A little self serving. I wish I had his ability to take notes and recall details.

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Bolton washes his hands

If you like a book about blaming everyone and taking zero accountability for any inaction, The Room Where it Happened is the perfect book. John Bolton tells the story of a bunch of politicians passing blame and taking zero accountability, especially him.

I am impressed that Robert Petkoff kept a straight face narrating this book.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Very credible man.

I came away with great respect for the man although I disagree with his politics

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Not my thing. To dry. Maybe if I followed the presidents closer it would be interesting.

Not much for this kind of political stories rather dry. Not much more to say about it.

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Don’t bother.

Bolton spends far too long praising his own intelligence and patting himself on the back that it’s easy to lose interest. His little digs at democrats is not only cheap and uncalled for, but democrats also buy books (but not the ones I earned, so Mr Smartypants, your cheap shots cost you money) I was so disgusted with his cheap shots that I didn’t even finish the book. I’ve told everyone I know to save their money and spare themselves from this insulting, boring nonsense.

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