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A review by kathywadolowski
Bag Man: The Wild Crimes, Audacious Cover-Up, and Spectacular Downfall of a Brazen Crook in the White House by Michael Yarvitz, Rachel Maddow
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.5
WHY DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS?!
This was a great and weirdly terrifying read, perfectly illustrating the adage that those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. And, even more frighteningly, that historic bad-guy antics can be co-opted and even improved upon when no one is looking. Spiro Agnew is legitimately Donald Trump 1.0, and it's kind of unbelievable that we're not all talking about him?! And the audacity of this man!!?!?!
Unfortunately for the heroes of this story—and very, VERY fortunately for Agnew—his bribery scandal was completely overshadowed by Watergate. It was so frustrating to see how power essentially shielded him from serious punishment for his quite obvious crimes, but it was also refreshing to learn about Americans who so unflaggingly put country over party and demanded as much accountability as they could get (and sacrificed their personal ambitions to ensure that a dangerous man didn't end up with the power of the presidency). I fervently hope that modern-day patriots are inhabiting these same roles today, and that someday we will hear about them too.
If it weren't so prescient, this story would've leaned more interesting than scary, but here we are. But "Bag Man" *is* interesting, well-written and very focused, and informative while also being engaging. This isn't your boring old history class.
This was a great and weirdly terrifying read, perfectly illustrating the adage that those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. And, even more frighteningly, that historic bad-guy antics can be co-opted and even improved upon when no one is looking. Spiro Agnew is legitimately Donald Trump 1.0, and it's kind of unbelievable that we're not all talking about him?! And the audacity of this man!!?!?!
Unfortunately for the heroes of this story—and very, VERY fortunately for Agnew—his bribery scandal was completely overshadowed by Watergate. It was so frustrating to see how power essentially shielded him from serious punishment for his quite obvious crimes, but it was also refreshing to learn about Americans who so unflaggingly put country over party and demanded as much accountability as they could get (and sacrificed their personal ambitions to ensure that a dangerous man didn't end up with the power of the presidency). I fervently hope that modern-day patriots are inhabiting these same roles today, and that someday we will hear about them too.
If it weren't so prescient, this story would've leaned more interesting than scary, but here we are. But "Bag Man" *is* interesting, well-written and very focused, and informative while also being engaging. This isn't your boring old history class.