When Presidents Write Fiction

American presidents are no strangers to writing books.  Usually memoirs, autobiographies or policy reflections, they’re generally thoughtful and well-considered assessments of the past.  Until Bill Clinton in conjunction with superstar author James Patterson released their suspense thriller The President is Missing in early June, none have entered the waters of literary imagination and invention.

During Mr. Clinton’s hour long conversation with Robert Barnett on the Auditorium Theater stage Thursday night, a curious and receptive audience learned what drove the decision to write the book and became reacquainted with the natural charm and formidable intelligence of a former leader of the free world.

At 71, Mr. Clinton simply explained one of the biggest reasons for writing the book was to enable “an old dog to learn a new trick”.  The moderator, Mr. Barnett, played a role in the decision as well.  A colossus in both law and the entertainment industry, Barnett is a partner in the preeminent DC law firm of Williams and Connolly.  Assisting government officials transition to the private sector is one of his many professional occupations and it was his idea that Mr. Clinton and Mr. Patterson, also a client, collaborate.

Even if you’re not a suspense enthusiast, plot lines for The President is Missing are intriguing; even seductive.  Not only does the President of the United States vanish, cyber warfare is treated seriously and figures prominently in the work. And women, including an assassin with a 100% success rate, play major roles throughout.  As Barnett hinted, the gravitas of Mr. Clinton’s “realistic portrayal of the presidency” is a rare and valuable commodity.  Added to Patterson’s exceptional gifts as a novelist, you have the ingredients for a glittering success.  With over a quarter million copies sold since its debut three weeks ago, sales of the book have been impressively robust and critics have been admiring of the book’s balance of authenticity and literary ingenuity.  Following a vigorous bidding war, Showtime ended up victorious and will be releasing a twelve-part series based on the book.

On stage and from a distance, the former President appeared suave and relaxed chatting comfortably about his latest venture and answering friendly questions about his sense of the world today.  Cybersecurity dangles persistently at the forefront of his and the world’s concerns and he not only believes the United States should lead the world in cyber defense, he supports our going on the offensive in order to slow the unrelenting assaults we are currently enduring.

Mr. Clinton was also particularly generous in his comments about women and the importance of their presence at the heights of influence and decision making.  When asked who his favorite character was in the book, he confided he was most sympathetic to Bach, the hired killer.  Basing his remarks on the belief that people become what they become for a reason, he concluded “you have to be careful how you raise children”.   When ingrained early and deeply, the seeds of discontent can warp an individual, negate positive potential and foster the will to destroy.

Resembling a cautionary optimist, Mr. Clinton sounded a familiar refrain about the climate of the national mood.  If you want a better country, “show up” when it’s time to vote in off season elections as well as general elections. And if we want to be better people, we need to “see each other as human beings”.   Somehow, it wouldn’t be surprising if those sentiments resonate ever so softly in his novel as well.

A Conversation with President Bill Clinton

The Auditorium Theater

June 21st, 2018

7:30pm

50 W. Congress Parkway

Chicago, IL   60605