“Clintonista offers a candid look inside the gates of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Through her experience running the White House Visitors Office, my dear friend Melinda Bates brings readers unprecedented access to this quintessential American institution. While recalling her fascinating encounters with high-profile guests and powerful officials, Bates reveals the behind-the-scenes reality of a beloved symbol of our nation.”
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO– President Bill Clinton

***

I was privileged to receive a pre-publishing copy of this book. From the beginning, it was a challenge to drag myself away from this page-turner.

Most interesting to me was the story of how the author, an employee at Macy’s in Washington DC, got and held the job of Director of the White House Visitors’ Office.  From the first days of acclimating to this new job, to the encounters with almost every important person of the nineties, the stories flow easily, full of detail and humor. I enjoyed the fact that the author sees what many people miss.

The book contains fascinating details of the White House and its occupants. There are stories about the staff, the first family, the Congressmen, the Arkansans, heads of state, celebrities and the tourists. There is gossip, contention, and outright sabotage. There are pictures!

I was touched by the honesty of the author. Despite her loyalty to her president she doesn’t shrink from describing the Lewinsky scandal as it unfolded to the staff. She is the heroine of her book and I came to rejoice in her victories while disagreeing with much of her philosophy. As a Republican, I found myself outraged at points but, at every point, entertained.  I call it a “must read” and an eye opener for anyone intending to work in the White House.

***

Clintonista is full of colorful detail and so much fun to read! The author's position as director of the White House Vistors' Office put her in a position to tell all the best stories about White House parties and politics: the thread that ties together her many varied anecdotes from dining with movie stars to offending visiting royalty. I also really enjoyed her more familiar observations of President and Hillary Clinton whose work and actions were seen most clearly by those working with them to accomplish their aims, and whose personal habits and foibles the White House staffers had to learn to work with . . . or around..

The author's story of finding, landing, and holding a job in the White House, of working closely with President Clinton, congressmen, and the throngs of American citizens who came to visit the White House every day, is animated and personal. I was frustrated for her when Washington bureaucracy extended into the most mundane tasks, amused when the whims of the president and first lady made the White House staff scramble, and highly entertained by her experiences with drunken dignitaries and indignant girl scout troupe leaders alike!

Brimming with insider tidbits and engaging stories, Clintonista delivers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of President Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton during the eight years that they occupied the White House, and gives us a good look at what it takes to keep that house in order. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone curious about the Clinton administration or the workings of the White House, or anyone who's looking for an entertaining read!

***

I enjoyed her story of coming from a life as a common housewife to getting to work in the White House for 8 years during the Clinton administration. It was interesting getting the inside look of the most famous address in the nation. I loved the way Melinda gives a candid look of her stay as liaison to celebrities and world leaders.
A definitely recommendable read.

***

Melinda Bates has written a riviting book. She shows us the ins and outs of running the White House Visitor's Office and invites readers to share her memories of the eight years she spent there. The content includes enough anecdotes about politicians and other celebrities to please anyone. I highly recommend Clintonista. It's a great read and hard to put down.

***

"Clintonista" made the Clinton White House accessible to me. I particularly enjoyed Melinda's view of the politics, infighting, power struggles and celebrities. She takes the reader on a journey into the center of things, but maintains her own unique personal viewpoint. Both ingenuous and knowing, she shows her delight at rubbing shoulders with the high and mighty passing through her domain while still aware of the machinations going on in the political underside. On another level, this is also the story of a working woman, a wife and mother, not part of the political scene, who suddenly finds herself drafted by a good college friend to assist him in his new job - as President of the United States! I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a good read -certainly not just limited to political junkies or White House aficionados. I felt like I was a fly on the wall of the East Wing.

***

I have just finished Clintonista, a book by Melinda Bates. It took me less than two days to read it, as I couldn't put it down.

It was humorous, touching, interesting and full of stories that were both eye-opening and informative. It took me into the White House as I've never seen it before, watching Melinda maneuver herself from one famous person after another. I now also realize how significant being the director of the White House Visitor's Office is.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the behind-the-scenes look at the White House, during the Clinton years.