Rating: 
Summary: strives for balance
Review: Kati Marton knows Washington, and high powered marriage. In Hidden Power, she gives a serious, but not overly scholarly look at the ways the White House changes marriages. It seems to make decent marriages better, and fractures marginal ones.Marton strives for objectivity, and comes very close. However, I found her section on the private pain of Pat Nixon to be touching, and very real. I am not a Republican. I have more empathy now for Pat Nixon. I admired her, but had no idea.The chapter about the Kennedys is well written, and not sensationalized at all.This is a well-written piece of medium-weight journalism.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating, but not always accurate
Review: Kati Marton's book, HIDDEN POWER, examines the marital relationships of twelve couples who occupied the White House between 1916 and the present. This book has a number of good aspects. First, it is fascinating and holds the reader's interest from the introduction through the epilogue. Second, Ms. Marton succeeds in humanizing some larger than life personalities (for the first time, I saw an appealing, sympathetic and human side to FDR). I constantly found myself relating to the couples featured in this book. Third, Ms. Marton draws interesting comparisons between the presidential marriages and discusses the impact of those relationships upon history.I must say that I noticed a surprising number of factual errors, exaggerations and authorities cited out of context. For example, Ms. Marton begins her chapter on the Nixons with an anecdote that Pat Nixon had a cup of cottage cheese sent up to her bedroom on her first night in the White House while Richard Nixon had a celebratory steak dinner with his daughters and their husbands (Nixon did not have two sons-in-law in January 1969 -- Tricia didn't marry until August 1971 in memorable Rose Garden ceremony). I understand that Ms. Marton was trying to demonstrate the pathos in Pat Nixon's relationship with her husband. However, the obvious misstatement in that anecdote made me wonder what else was erroneous. Also, Ms. Marton cited J.B. West's UPSTAIRS AT THE WHITE HOUSE out of context in at least one instance. There were additional inaccuracies and exaggerations in the chapters on the Wilsons, Nixons and Fords. HIDDEN POWER is an insightful and enjoyable work in spite of the inaccuracies. Read this book for the general themes, but double-check the facts before quoting this book or using it as an authority for a research paper or thesis.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating, but not always accurate
Review: Kati Marton's book, HIDDEN POWER, examines the marital relationships of twelve couples who occupied the White House between 1916 and the present. This book has a number of good aspects. First, it is fascinating and holds the reader's interest from the introduction through the epilogue. Second, Ms. Marton succeeds in humanizing some larger than life personalities (for the first time, I saw an appealing, sympathetic and human side to FDR). I constantly found myself relating to the couples featured in this book. Third, Ms. Marton draws interesting comparisons between the presidential marriages and discusses the impact of those relationships upon history. I must say that I noticed a surprising number of factual errors, exaggerations and authorities cited out of context. For example, Ms. Marton begins her chapter on the Nixons with an anecdote that Pat Nixon had a cup of cottage cheese sent up to her bedroom on her first night in the White House while Richard Nixon had a celebratory steak dinner with his daughters and their husbands (Nixon did not have two sons-in-law in January 1969 -- Tricia didn't marry until August 1971 in memorable Rose Garden ceremony). I understand that Ms. Marton was trying to demonstrate the pathos in Pat Nixon's relationship with her husband. However, the obvious misstatement in that anecdote made me wonder what else was erroneous. Also, Ms. Marton cited J.B. West's UPSTAIRS AT THE WHITE HOUSE out of context in at least one instance. There were additional inaccuracies and exaggerations in the chapters on the Wilsons, Nixons and Fords. HIDDEN POWER is an insightful and enjoyable work in spite of the inaccuracies. Read this book for the general themes, but double-check the facts before quoting this book or using it as an authority for a research paper or thesis.
Rating: 
Summary: Junk read
Review: Marton's effort doesn't rate as very good journalism or gossip. No historian, and not much of a pseudo intellectual, Marton offers simply a round up of some Presidential marriages without particularly keen psychological insights other than the fact that either one or other ( in the case of the Clintons, both) partners is hung up on the quest for power, and what that obsession means for the marriage. Marton should know, since she's the former wife of ABC anchor Peter Jennings and currently Richard Holbrook, what it's like to stand subordinate to a bigger presence and the subject of this book - as well as the shallow depth of the analysis and lack of original reporting - certainly (albeit poorly) reflects on her own life experience. Save for the paperback, this is definitely summer beach reading.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining read
Review: There wasn't much new in this book, but it was a lively tale nonetheless and there were some things. I enjoyed reading about how Nancy Reagan as First Lady tried to (and did) minimize Barbara Bush's role on several occasions. Also, Marton's perspective on the Nixon relationship and the Kennedy's too, ones that I'd never really seen before. Goes fast because you'll want to keep reading.
Rating:
Summary: Superficial, liberal left propaganda
Review: This book is a wimpy, liberal left waste of time. The analysis is superficial and strictly liberal left. For example the book says that JFK was a wonderful, devoted husband but does not mention he was fooling around with the girlfriend of a mafia boss, and Marilyn Monroe and was unfaithful on many other occasions and that Joe Kennedy had to pay off Jackie so that she would stay with JFK and not go public about his infidelities. Then there is another great husband in LBJ who was also notoriously unfaithful and used to brag about having sex with his secretary on his desk etc. Meanwhile Nixon is portrayed as the worst presidential husband ever, even though he never cheated on his wife. It's true that Nixon largely ignored his wife and did not much involve her much in political decision making. HOwever, that is a lot different than having your girfriend (Marylin Monroe)sing "Happy Birthday Mr President" to you on national TV.
The book also glorifies the Roe vs Wade decision. I witnessed several abortions during my residency. The ultrasound transducer is placed on the woman's abdomen and the movements of the baby as well as the baby's heartbeat are documented. Then the baby is killed and then evacuated from the uterus. The fetal parts are examined to document the completeness of removal. This is nothing to be proud of. Anyone that thinks abortion is a good thing should have to watch one.
Rating:
Summary: Superficial, liberal left propaganda
Review: This is a fast read, but also nicely written, and very enjoyable. It is not exactly a scholarly work. A more scholarly work would probably cover all the most influential presidential marriages, or all the presidencies of the 20th century. Instead,Kati Marton pays word service to the likes of Abigail Adams and Mary Todd Lincoln, and assumes (rightly so) that we would have little interest in reading about Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge,or Herbert Hoover. I was a little disappointed, however, that she skipped so summarily over the Eisenhowers. She justifies this by saying that "[Mamie]played no significant role in her husband's administration." (11) However, I can't imagine anyone playing less of a role than Marton attributes to Pat Nixon, and yet their marriage is covered at length. With a few exceptions, I didn't find any surprises here. For the most part it just gave me more details about what I already knew or suspected. The surprises were how badly Richard Nixon treated Pat, to the extent that H.R. Haldeman felt free to send her press secretary scathing memos; how truly "out of it" Ronald Reagan was by the end of his presidency (more than it even appeared); and the stubborn and sanctimonious attitude of Jimmy Carter. Of course, the last chapter, about the younger Bushes, is necessarily dated, having been written before Sept. 11. While this book seems to be based more on heresay, and the author's observations, than in-depth research, to Marton's credit, none of this is kiss and tell expose. Those looking for sordid little details will have to go elsewhere. Even the Kennedys' and Clintons' marriages are handled with decorum. I am an avid reader of history who appreciates tomes based on several years of research. However, as a break, now and then, I enjoy a "light" history, especially when it's based on recent events with which I am familiar. If you feel the same, or if you prefer your history simplified and easy to digest, you will certainly enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Well-written and enjoyable
Review: This is a fast read, but also nicely written, and very enjoyable. It is not exactly a scholarly work. A more scholarly work would probably cover all the most influential presidential marriages, or all the presidencies of the 20th century. Instead,Kati Marton pays word service to the likes of Abigail Adams and Mary Todd Lincoln, and assumes (rightly so) that we would have little interest in reading about Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge,or Herbert Hoover. I was a little disappointed, however, that she skipped so summarily over the Eisenhowers. She justifies this by saying that "[Mamie]played no significant role in her husband's administration." (11) However, I can't imagine anyone playing less of a role than Marton attributes to Pat Nixon, and yet their marriage is covered at length. With a few exceptions, I didn't find any surprises here. For the most part it just gave me more details about what I already knew or suspected. The surprises were how badly Richard Nixon treated Pat, to the extent that H.R. Haldeman felt free to send her press secretary scathing memos; how truly "out of it" Ronald Reagan was by the end of his presidency (more than it even appeared); and the stubborn and sanctimonious attitude of Jimmy Carter. Of course, the last chapter, about the younger Bushes, is necessarily dated, having been written before Sept. 11. While this book seems to be based more on heresay, and the author's observations, than in-depth research, to Marton's credit, none of this is kiss and tell expose. Those looking for sordid little details will have to go elsewhere. Even the Kennedys' and Clintons' marriages are handled with decorum. I am an avid reader of history who appreciates tomes based on several years of research. However, as a break, now and then, I enjoy a "light" history, especially when it's based on recent events with which I am familiar. If you feel the same, or if you prefer your history simplified and easy to digest, you will certainly enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Almost 4 stars
Review: This was an enjoyable light, but informative book about presidencies from a different perspective than most. I differ from one of the panning reviews in that I thought it was refreshingly not leftist liberal journalism. The author seemed to take a non-political view of the characters with an expected sympathetic eye towards the first ladies. I also found some factual discrepancies that a fact checker should have found which - as always - puts a cloud on the author's credibility; i.e.: Ford was an All-American center for Mich, not a star quarterback at Yale. But her countless quotes from insiders were well chosen, very informative and interesting. She did her homework on those. If there were half stars to give, I'd give this a three and one-half. Certainly worth the time.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable and informative
Review: This was an enjoyable light, but informative book about presidencies from a different perspective than most. I differ from one of the panning reviews in that I thought it was refreshingly not leftist liberal journalism. The author seemed to take a non-political view of the characters with an expected sympathetic eye towards the first ladies. I also found some factual discrepancies that a fact checker should have found which - as always - puts a cloud on the author's credibility; i.e.: Ford was an All-American center for Mich, not a star quarterback at Yale. But her countless quotes from insiders were well chosen, very informative and interesting. She did her homework on those. If there were half stars to give, I'd give this a three and one-half. Certainly worth the time.
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