I'Ve Seen the Elephant: An Autobiography

Rating:
Summary: Saxbe Bio Exceeds Expectations
Review: A lively and witty romp through Ohio and Washington politics by a master of the barb. Saxbe's agile esprit punctures pomposity with glee, which makes his autobiography such an amusing page-turner. The story of his rich and lengthy political career presents a uniquely compelling look at one special man's unstinting service to his country and the time in which he lived.

Co-author Peter D. Franklin, whose previous books have raised corporate biography to new heights of readability, has captured the incomparable Saxbe at his sapient best in a book that will keep you chuckling to the very end.

Rating:
Summary: Always His Own Man
Review: Bill Saxbe's new autobiography, written with expert assistance from Peter D. Franklin, is a lively and illuminating look at one man's long and fruitful political career. Both respected and feared for his outspoken views, Saxbe always said exactly what was on his mind regardless of political fallout. Among the many examples in this absorbing book are Saxbe's opinion, which proved to be prescient, of Spiro Agnew, selected by Richard Nixon as his vice-presidential nominee: "I told them I could think of thousands of Republicans who would be better." And his comment on White House stonewalling during Watergate: "They're like the piano player in the house of ill repute, claiming he doesn't know what's going on upstairs." On the war in Vietnam, which he opposed when few politicians dared: "It's like trying to push a truck up a hill with a towrope." On the subject of that tumultuous era, Saxbe reprints a poignant letter from his son, a Marine Corps officer headed for Vietnam, who tells him "Old soldiers never die -- just the young ones." While telling the story of his eventful career, Saxbe offers timely advice for today's politcos, including a cynical view of campaign contributions: "All those people who gave me money would then come in and tell me what to do." Fortunately for the nation, Bill Saxbe unfailingly listened to his own good judgement. My only criticism of the book is its length -- too short at 276 pages. I read it in two sittings and wanted more. Let's hope the colorful and courageous Mr. Saxbe will give us another volume -- perhaps this time focusing even more on those turbulent Vietnam/Watergate years when he was in the thick of it.

Rating:
Summary: Mechanicsburg's Favorite Son
Review: I have to admit that in the early 90's I lived next door to Bill and Dolly Saxbe for a short time. During that period I got to know the Saxbes and enjoyed their company. Bill is exactly like the person whose life you read about in "I've Seen the Elephant". At a number of social events, I have heard Bill say to Dolly, "Come on Dolly, let's go to bed so these good folks can go home." Bill Saxbe is exactly the kind of person that you would want for a public servant with his common sense, his wit and charm and his love of family. His colorful career and his interesting life make good reading. Bill Saxbe is a man of influence who never forgot his roots and that is why even though he "Saw the Elephant" he is still Mechanicsburg's Favorite Son.

Rating:
Summary: Mechanicsburg's Favorite Son
Review: I have to admit that in the early 90's I lived next door to Bill and Dolly Saxbe for a short time. During that period I got to know the Saxbes and enjoyed their company. Bill is exactly like the person whose life you read about in "I've Seen the Elephant". At a number of social events, I have heard Bill say to Dolly, "Come on Dolly, let's go to bed so these good folks can go home." Bill Saxbe is exactly the kind of person that you would want for a public servant with his common sense, his wit and charm and his love of family. His colorful career and his interesting life make good reading. Bill Saxbe is a man of influence who never forgot his roots and that is why even though he "Saw the Elephant" he is still Mechanicsburg's Favorite Son.

Rating:
Summary: I've Seen The Elephant
Review: If you like a little salt and pepper with your history, this is the book for you. Bill Saxbe has a sharp opinion about everyone, including himself, Richard Nixon, Patty Hearst, Robert Byrd, and everything from AT&T, the Indian government and the wonderful town of Mechanicsburg, Ohio. Some say he used to put his foot in his mouth. I think it's refreshing in this day of the spin doctors to read someone writing exactly what's on his mind in words that are clear, crisp, lively and without any mask of ambiguity.

Rating:
Summary: There Were Six Men From Hindustan....
Review: Just as "the Six Men.." saw the many "sides" of the elephant, Bill Saxbe saw the many sides of the giant governmental process in the US. The essence of his broad experience in local, state and national politics and his unique insight into events which have shaped recent history of the nation have been captured in an interesting, often funny and well written presentation by Peter Franklin. Bill Saxbe is his own man and does not shy from controversy,dodge questions nor keep his opinion to himself. Franklin captured the real favor of Saxbe, his career and his private life in a way that acquaints the reader with the man and illuminates some historic events in a context not previously seen by the public. Saxbe's life has been unique and fast moving, Franklin's recounting of it maintains the same qualities.

Rating:
Summary: There Were Six Men From Hindustan....
Review: Just as "the Six Men.." saw the many "sides" of the elephant, Bill Saxbe saw the many sides of the giant governmental process in the US. The essence of his broad experience in local, state and national politics and his unique insight into events which have shaped recent history of the nation have been captured in an interesting, often funny and well written presentation by Peter Franklin. Bill Saxbe is his own man and does not shy from controversy,dodge questions nor keep his opinion to himself. Franklin captured the real favor of Saxbe, his career and his private life in a way that acquaints the reader with the man and illuminates some historic events in a context not previously seen by the public. Saxbe's life has been unique and fast moving, Franklin's recounting of it maintains the same qualities.

Rating:
Summary: He may have seen the elephant- but he shares little about it
Review: Mr.Saxbe and Mr.Franklin have explained the evolution of a politician {Mr. Saxbe}, While showing his inventiveness, strength, and hummaness in an informatable way.We have gotten to know one of our statesman of yesteryear. I loved the book and recommend it as required reading for political science classes, and for all Americans who have an interest in our complicated political system.

Rating:
Summary: This book rocks!
Review: Okay, this book was written by my grandfather, but my high regard is genuine none the less. Bill Saxbe had the good fortune to fall into politics during a half-century of fascinating upheavals, and he managed to get a front-row seat to the Nixon debacle, the fledgling Ford administration, the political maturation of India in the late '70s, the AT&T split, the Sam Shepherd trial, and the financial policy-making of the Teamsters. Throughout, he maintained his straight-shooting sense of humor, his devotion to his family, and his belief in the value of public service. A funny, exciting chronicle of a life in politics as seen through the eyes of an independent-minded scribe.

Rating:
Summary: He may have seen the elephant- but he shares little about it
Review: This book is about a man nutured and steeped in a by-gone rustic era, and ended up thrust into some of the most dramatic changes and events of the century. But it could have been, and perhaps should have been co-authored by someone else, and even better yet, written by another party as a biography, hopfully with access to Saxbe. There is little insight into the man William B. Saxbe or the events in his life.

The honesty of parts of the book is refreshing, Saxbe even alludes to marital infidelity of his father. Many might claim this goes too far, but I think it humanizes the work and the people it is about - except Saxbe seems to remain inwardly indifferent or distant from these matters, as he seems to do in any contraversy. Saxbe offers contradictions in character without notice, again distant and non-self critical - he left his church in Washington DC because the church accepted ' long haired radicals', as if Jesus Christ, the person he worshipped there ?, - was a short haired conservative and a member of the Roman Senate. As with many autobiographies, these contradictions breeze right through the subjects belief system filters - something the co-author SHOULD have noticed and pressed Saxbe on. I refuse to believe Saxbe is as shallow and unthinking as the book presents him.

Another contradiction somewhat glossed over in the book is presenting Saxbe as falling into opportunities by happenstance and coming from humble beginnings. On the pages of his own book he never seems to realize how relativly wealthly and connected his family was, especially during the Depression. The plumb jobs [ as any Depression era job might be ] and early political positions he received are presented as though it was some sort of luck of the draw happening - hardly believable. It is not evident whether this reality wasn't mentioned through ignorant bliss or was absent to maintain some sort of individualist boot strap persona of William B. Saxbe - but even his highest appointments latter in life have the same result - why me? The co-author should have went to third parties to better flesh these situations out. In any event you will gape at the opportunities miraculously afforded Saxbe during the Depression, and again few words of explanation how they actually came about. He went through more money in a spend thrift fashion during the Depression than many families would see in 5 years - you have to remember there were children starving to death and a 25% unenployment rate, yet he seems not to take notice or remember this. Again distant and no critcal self examination of the realities around him. He uses metaphor to explain why he is against the Vietnam War - it is " ... like trying to push a truck uphill with a towrope" and referring to the peace agreement "That pretty much wound up the war as far as I was concerned". The previous 2 thoughts are how the chapter about Vietnam begins and ends, in between are mentions of his Marine son's conflicts of conscience and Saxbe's drumming of non violent change - regarding Kent State, it was due to untrained Guardsmen with loaded weapons. But little introspective illumination of how Saxbe arrived at his thinking. Exacting "common sense" and metaphor are great around a cracker barrel, but tell the reader little about William B. Saxbe. Somewhere within Saxbe are well guarded thoughts and feelings which the co-auhtor was unwilling or unable to bring out.

All in all, the book is very readable, the opening scenes of Mechanicsburg refresh a by gone era, and although Saxbe may be a footnote in political history and offers few new insights, it is a worthwhile attempt - but because of this the co-author SHOULD have used a more critical red pen and pressed Saxbe for explanations or flesh the subject out himself through third parties. The book reads more like an old Bing Crosby/Bob Hope On The Road To .... movie than an autobiography that gets to the core of who this man was - which should not have happened with a credited co-author.

Unless you have a personal interest in the Columbus,Ohio area or Saxbe - you can skip this book on your reading list.