In November 1992 Bill Clinton, a relative unknown from Hope, Arkansas, ascended to the highest political office in the United States. His presidency couldn't have had a worse start, as Bill and Hillary bungled near enough every issue to come their way.

The White House was chaotic and disorganised, and under a hail of right wing Republican gunfire Bill looked set to be evicted by the American people at the first available opportunity, after getting a pasting from the voters in Congressional elections.

But both his opponents and the people underestimated the Comeback Kid. President Clinton, as Nigel Hamilton ably narrates, was one of the brightest men ever to hold the office, and the most able political communicator of his generation, and slowly he turned things around.

By the end of his first term, with help from Republican strategist Dick Morris, Clinton found America's centre ground and stood there, rigidly, while Republican leader Newt Gingrich became more and more rabidly right wing, to the point of shutting down the Government. Clinton's polls went up; Gingrich's went down.

Hamilton clearly admires his subject, but is fair throughout, giving credit for free trade and balanced budgets, Clinton's ability to bounce back, convince people of his arguments and, eventually, lead America overseas, notably in Bosnia and the Middle East, and at times of crisis.

Despite the wealth of material, the book never feels leaden, and gets more readable as you go on.

  • Jack Doyle