Overview

Weeks after President Barack Obama's remarkable victory, the nation was shocked to learn that Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich had been arrested at his home by the FBI. There are allegations that Blago had tried to sell Obama's soon-to-be-vacant Senate seat for cash. This effort appeared to be only the latest in a cascade of corruption that prompted U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald to charge the governor with actions that would make Lincoln roll over in his grave. In Pay to Play, Elizabeth Brackett, award-winning correspondent in the political realm for PBS's The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, uncovers new details as she goes behind the story of the first governor to be impeached by the Illinois legislature. All the time tracing the background of corruption in Illinois politics and its implications for state government executive branches across the country, she tells precisely how Blagojevich's personal biography and his political upbringing paved the way for his reckless fall; what the dilemma of selecting replacement senators means for other states; what secrets the federal trial of the governor is likely to produce; why Roland Burris was selected for the U.S. Senate seat for Illinois; and how a man named Obama could emerge with integrity from the swill of this same political environment.

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9781566638340

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Reviews

A surefire political page-turner. Publishers Weekly, Starred Review A lively account of the tragi-comedy that culminated in the governor's impeachment. Baltimore Sun New book offers clues to what makes Blagojevich tick. Chicago Sun-Times Rod Blagojevich biography serves up meaty morsels. Chicago Tribune A fascinating read. The State Journal-Register, (Springfield, Il) What's most fascinating is the discovery that people were weirded out by him long before he started quoting Tennyson and jogging around Ravenswood Manor with camera crews in tow. His hair, his Elvis obsession, his near-bipolar personality... But the former guv should thank Brackett for sketching such a humane portrait. Time Out Chicago Rod Blagojevich's feet are about to get held to the fire (again) in [Pay to Play: How Rod Blagojevich Turned Political Corruption into a National Sideshow by Elizabeth Brackett] that paints the ousted Illinois governor as an ego-driven liar who kept his staff in the dark, cursed the press and was so inconsiderate, he showed up late to a state funeral. New York Post Details a strange, dizzy fall. Tulsa World Pays particular attention to the shocking traditions of corruption in Illinois politics that served as a model for Blagojevich. Sun-Sentinel, (Florida) It appears Chicago journalist Elizabeth Brackett is poised to beat Rod Blagojevich in the race to publish a tell-all account of the embattled ex-governor's fall from grace. Review Of Higher Education

It appears Chicago journalist Elizabeth Brackett is poised to beat Rod Blagojevich in the race to publish a tell-all account of the embattled ex-governor's fall from grace. * The Review of Higher Education * Pays particular attention to the shocking traditions of corruption in Illinois politics that served as a model for Blagojevich. * Sun-Sentinel, (Florida) * Details a strange, dizzy fall. * Tulsa World * Rod Blagojevich's feet are about to get held to the fire (again) in [Pay to Play: How Rod Blagojevich Turned Political Corruption into a National Sideshow by Elizabeth Brackett] that paints the ousted Illinois governor as an ego-driven liar who kept his staff in the dark, cursed the press and was so inconsiderate, he showed up late to a state funeral. * New York Post * What's most fascinating is the discovery that people were weirded out by him long before he started quoting Tennyson and jogging around Ravenswood Manor with camera crews in tow. His hair, his Elvis obsession, his near-bipolar personality... But the former guv should thank Brackett for sketching such a humane portrait. * Time Out Chicago * A fascinating read. * The State Journal-Register, (Springfield, Il) * Rod Blagojevich biography serves up meaty morsels. * Chicago Tribune * New book offers clues to what makes Blagojevich tick. * Chicago Sun-Times * A lively account of the tragi-comedy that culminated in the governor's impeachment. * Baltimore Sun * A surefire political page-turner. * Publishers Weekly, Starred Review *

Author Information

Elizabeth Brackett is a longtime correspondent for PBS's The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and a winner of the Peabody Award for her political coverage. She is news host for WTTW-TV's flagship program Chicago Tonight. A lifetime resident of Chicago, with intimate contacts in city and state politics, she has also won four Emmy Awards.

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