Why people recommend it
The Man Who Ran Washington by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser is a comprehensive biography detailing the life and political career of James Baker during pivotal eras of American governance. Aaron David Miller discussed the book while appearing on The Ezra Klein Show in the June 26, 2025 episode titled Where Does Trump's Bombing Leave Israel, Iran and the US?. During the interview, Miller recommended the publication alongside Martin Indyk's work on Henry Kissinger. The speaker emphasized that Peter Baker and Susan Glasser's biography provided crucial lessons on how to execute successful diplomacy. By examining the operational strategies and political maneuvering of James Baker, the book served, in Miller's view, as a practical manual for understanding the complexities of power and negotiation at the highest levels of government. The recommendation underscored the relevance of historical leadership models to contemporary political challenges, framing the text as an indispensable guide for students of modern statecraft and executive administration.
Who recommended it
- Aaron David Miller Recommended
Aaron David Miller — 1 mention
“Martin Indig's Master of the Game, Henry Kissinger and the art of Middle East diplomacy and Peter Baker and Sudan Glasser's masterful the man who ran Washington life at times of James Baker. Those are two books I would recommend about there are real lessons there about how to do successful diplomacy.”