The Situation Room, George Stephanopoulos
The Situation Room, George Stephanopoulos
2 Rating(s)
List: $27.99 | Sale: $19.59
Club: $13.99

The Situation Room
The Inside Story of Presidents in Crisis

Bestseller

Author: George Stephanopoulos, Lisa Dickey

Narrator: George Stephanopoulos, Peter Ganim, Elisabeth Rodgers

Unabridged: 10 hr 7 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/14/2024

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

George Stephanopoulos, the legendary political news host and former advisor to President Clinton, recounts the history-making crises from the place where twelve presidents made their highest-pressure decisions: the White House Situation Room. 

No room better defines American power and its role in the world than the White House Situation Room. And yet, none is more shrouded in secrecy and mystery. Created under President Kennedy, the Sit Room has been the epicenter of crisis management for presidents for more than six decades. Time and again, the decisions made within the Sit Room complex affect the lives of every person on this planet. Detailing close calls made and disasters narrowly averted, THE SITUATION ROOM will take readers through dramatic turning points in a dozen presidential administrations, including: Incredible minute-by-minute transcripts from the Sit Room after both Presidents Kennedy and Reagan were shot The shocking moment when Henry Kissinger raised the military alert level to DEFCON III while President Nixon was drunk in the White House residence The extraordinary scene when President Carter asked for help from secret government psychics to rescue American hostages in Iran A vivid retelling of the harrowing hours during the 9/11 attack New details from Obama administration officials leading up to the raid on Osama Bin Laden And a first-ever account of January 6th from the staff inside the Sit Room THE SITUATION ROOM is the definitive, past-the-security-clearance look at the room where it happened, and the people—the famous and those you've never heard of—who have made history within its walls.

Includes a conversation between the author and bestselling novelist Harlan Coben on George’s research for and writing of The Situation Room as well as their long friendship (Track 17), a PDF of photos, and much more.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Judy on October 06, 2024

The Situation Room was the easiest and most enjoyable nonfiction I have read in a while. The titular room, located in the basement of the White House, was first built in 1961. It is the location where data is collected and analyzed for the president and his aides. John F Kennedy ordered it to be crea......more

Goodreads review by Trevor on May 25, 2024

This was the perfect blend of history and human. Giving insight in historical events as well as the people who worked through them and the presidents who oversaw them. -Obama was literally the chillest president -The Trump stories made my tummy hurt -The audiobook featuring clips from recordings and......more

Goodreads review by Lisa on February 16, 2024

In “The Situation Room”, Stephanopoulos walks us through different presidential crises that took place in the “The Sit Room”. We learn about the Kennedy Assassination, The Cuban Missile Crisis, The Vietnam War, the Reagan shooting, 9/11 and the January 6th insurrection, naming just a few, and how th......more

Goodreads review by Chrissie on October 31, 2024

Though I typically prefer my nonfiction via audiobook, The Situation Room surprised me with some of the production choices. So, I had to switch to print from the library, and it worked so much better for me. Plus, I got the benefit of the pictures included. In both the audiobook and print versions,......more

Goodreads review by Cory on November 08, 2024

Really liked 90% of this book. The 10% I didn’t care for was the authors clear bias coming through far too strong on a specific president. The book turned from largely factual to largely opinion at the flip of a page. What made this book a 3 for me instead of a 4 was the missed opportunity to make 9......more


Quotes

“George Stephanopoulos’s amazing book tells the truth.  It puts us in the White House Situation Room with presidents from JFK to Biden. We are there when JFK creates the room after the Bay of Pigs, we are there during the 9/11 strikes, we are there during the chaotic moments after President Reagan is shot, and when President Obama orders the takedown of Osama bin Laden. This book provides answers to questions we’ve had for years.” —James Patterson

“I know the gold standard of journalism when I see it, and George Stephanopoulos is it.  This new book, The Situation Room, is simply mesmerizing.  It delivers on the dream we all have of going behind the scenes to learn what was being said and done during some of the most dramatic moments in history.  You don’t want to miss this book.  I know I can’t put it down.”—Patricia Cornwell

“There are few more iconic spaces in the American imagination than the Situation Room in the White House—a tiny place where the largest of decisions are made. In this original and lively book, George Stephanopoulos takes us inside the room through years of crisis, enabling us to experience the human drama of life at the highest levels.”—Jon Meacham

"This is a colorful and intimate--but also deeply informative--look at one of the most critical set of rooms in the world. It literally makes real the saying 'if these walls could speak' by combining inside tales with audio transcripts of the most exciting moments in the Situation Room, from John Kennedy to Joe Biden."—Walter Isaacson

"An effective blend of political analysis and personal stories, tied together at the epicenter of crisis management."—Kirkus