Chris Matthews' "Hardball"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, unlike scholarly works of political science, Chris Matthews in his book "Hardball" employs a highly readable journalistic style and brevity of expression, which will ensure the book's status as a modern-day version of Machiavelli's "The Prince". The paper points out that Matthew's compendium of handy quotes and anecdotes, when applied to the rarefied sphere of politics, tend to carry a considerable amount of truth. The paper also explains that Matthew's book focuses on the highest levels of political power including many case studies of former presidents. The paper then offers of brief biography of US President Bush and applies three of the book's aphorisms to Bush's political career.

From the Paper:

"Another defining aspect of the Bush presidency is the sanctified doctrine of "it's not who you know; it's who you get to know." In other words, personal relationships are as important - if not more important- than professional competence, diplomatic savvy, and political intelligence. This principle has guided George W. Bush since his days as a baseball league owner, and it continues to do so during these dying days of his presidency: "The lesson is obvious. If you want to do business with someone, don't forget the personal aspect.""

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bell, Robert A., Susan H. Karol, Michael E. Rolof, and Karen Van Camp. "Is it Lonely at the Top? Career Success and Personal Relationships." Journal of Communication, 40.1 (1990): 9-23.
• Matthews, Chris. Hardball: How Politics Is Played Told By One Who Knows The Game. New York: Free Press, 2004.
• Begley, Thomas M., Naresh Katri, and Eric W.K. Tsang. "Cronyism: A Cross-Cultural Analysis." Journal of International Business Studies, 37 (2006), 61+. Questia.com. 24 Jul. 2007 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5013910321>

More papers on Chris Matthews' "Hardball":

• Book Review # 134357 : "Chris Matthews' "Hardball" and George Bush"
• Essay # 143613 : "Matthews And Machiavelli: Political Parallels"
• Comparison Essay # 114373 : "The Truth of Politics"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: