Chances of a Lifetime

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Christopher, former secretary of state under President Clinton and a veteran Washington insider, has led an interesting life, yet his account of that life is not consistently so. The diplomatic skills of probity and discretion, which Christopher wields so well in the public arena, are not necessarily assets in memoir writing. Christopher offers cursory descriptions of his early years and early mentors such as William O. Douglas, giving over the lion's share of the boook to his years as secretary of state. He offers detailed accounts of the many international crises and negotiations during his watch--the Israeli-Palestinian peace accords of 1993, efforts to bring peace among the warring states of the former Yugoslavia, Clinton's decision to fully normalize relations with Vietnam--and explains well the complex nature of these episodes. Yet many details are missing. There is little discussion, for instance, of policy disputes within the Clinton administration or of the policy-making process. Also, with certain exceptions such as Boris Yeltsin and Slobodan Milosevic, Christopher merely sketches the personalities of the leaders he encounters. Discretion prevails, and we are left with an informative yet dry history. Only occasionally does Christopher let his guard down so that we might get a glimpse of who he really is--as when he expresses, with great humor, his discomfort at being publicly bear-hugged by the ever exuberant Clinton. This is certainly a work of value, but there is more r sum than revelation here. Illus. (Feb.) Forecast: Christopher becomes the latest Clinton insider to give the public a look behind the scenes--but Christopher's circumspection will keep this from appealing beyond the ranks of foreign-policy wonks, despite his recent very public appearances as one of the point men in Al Gore's quest for the presidency. Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

With a visage sometimes described as that of a "worried squirrel," Christopher often underwhelms those around him. But they should not be fooled. An exceptionally sharp and calculating mind sits atop his slight frame, and for nearly four decades, this quiet man has served a series of Democratic presidents, beginning with Lyndon Johnson and culminating with Bill Clinton as Secretary of State (and representing Democratic nominee Al Gore in his post-election challenges in Florida). Christopher writes in a low-key and self-effacing manner, so the reader has to work a little to appreciate the wide variety of assignments he has undertaken over the years. These include managing the 1980 Iranian Hostage situation, especially after Cyrus Vance's abrupt resignation, as well as the various diplomatic endeavors of Clinton's first term. About half of the book deals with Christopher's years as Secretary of State (which is probably what most people are most interested in anyway). In spare prose, the author outlines the basic issues underlying diplomatic initiatives in China, the Middle East, Yugoslavia, and all points in between. Christopher has written a surprisingly good book that will serve as a solid starting point for future investigations of Clinton's foreign policy. Recommended for most collections.--Ed Goedeken, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Still the diplomat (in more ways than one), former Secretary of State Christopher delivers a promising but ultimately unsatisfying memoir on his service under three Democratic presidents. In addition to advising California Governor Pat Brown and leading a task force that investigated the LAPD in the wake of the Rodney King beating, Christopher served as Deputy Attorney General under Lyndon Johnson, Deputy Secretary of State under Jimmy Carter, and Secretary of State under Clinton. As such, he has followed the advice of Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas (whom he served as clerk):"Get out into the stream of history and swim as fast as you can." Some of the best moments in this autobiography record his reactions to the 1967 race riots in Detroit, the terrorist attack on US military barracks in Saudi Arabia, and the civil war in Sarajevo—moments when his instinct to stay in the background paid off. The problem is that Christopher's lawyerly reserve and discretion are evident in other situations—when more revelation and reflection are called for. He has an eye for the intriguing anecdote (such as his advice to Bill Clinton in 1992 that Mario Cuomo would be"high maintenance" as a running mate), and is capable of delightful flashes of irony (slapping the"gall in Gallic" after describing a contemptuous parting birthday gift from a French foreign minister). But his coverage of topics is narrow and his description of personalities shallow. While devoting whole chapters to Russia, China, Vietnam, the Mideast, Bosnia, and terrorism, he says nothing about other major events on his watch—including unrest in Haiti and Somalia, genocide in Rwanda, the NorthernIrelandpeaceprocess, and tensions between North and South Korea. Moreover, he conveys the humanity of foreign leaders such as Yeltsin, Rabin, Assad, and Hussein more vividly than presidents he served (perhaps reflecting his attorney's urge not to divulge a client's secrets). The gray eminence of his party (most recently spotted in the wrangle over Florida's electoral returns), Christopher has allowed circumspection to shade close to colorlessness at times in this memoir.