cover image The New Prince

The New Prince

Dick Morris. MacMillan Audio, $17.95 (0pp) ISBN 978-1-55927-542-2

Morris, the strategist who fell from public grace after masterminding President Clinton's reelection campaign, would be expected to come across on tape like an explosive political firecracker. But on this follow up to his Behind the Oval Office (also available in an author reading from ART), he sounds oddly subdued. He halfheartedly seizes upon Machiavelli's historical The Prince as a model to explain his present-day political theories. He offers up platitudinous catchphrases to guide would-be candidates: ""stay positive,"" ""focus on the issues, and ""rise above the party."" Morris is at his best, though, in his specific observations of Clinton's travails, telling how the president faced down ""savage partisanship"" and became a ""hostage"" of the Democratic party. Morris argues that, in order to survive, ""it is from the center that leaders must lead."" That's not exactly a firebrand statement--in any medium. Simultaneous release with the Renaissance hardcover. (June)