The Presidency in Black and White

December 15, 2014
As White House correspondent for the American Urban Radio Networks for 17 years, April Ryan has enjoyed a front-row seat (often literally) during some of recent American history’s most tumultuous moments. That background isn’t exploited nearly enough, however, in this loosely organized account of the administrations of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. Ryan states often that she strived to bring minority-focused issues to prominence during her career, so it’s surprising how rarely she depicts herself asking hard questions when given the chance. Describing her experience traveling with Mr. and Mrs. Bush to view a post-Katrina New Orleans, for example, she prefers to focus on the president’s demeanor rather than his behavior, regretting that “this president’s heart never came through during his two terms.” Controversial topics, like the 2000 election, are referenced only briefly, while more trivial subjects, such as the incident in which two socialites crashed a White House party during the Obama administration, receive multiple pages. Ryan shows the most insight into Clinton, with whom she had more one-on-one interviews than any other reporter ever has (he even granted her an interview specifically for the book). Readers will come away with a new perspective on the 42nd President, but may wish that Ryan could have applied equal attention to numbers 43 and 44. Agent: Diane Nine, Nine Speakers Inc.

February 1, 2015
From her unique vantage point as the White House correspondent for American Urban Radio Networks (AURN), Ryan has had the distinct privilege and immense pleasure of witnessing history in the making through three presidential administrations. As an African American woman in a field dominated by white males, however, Ryan has brought a perspective to her coverage that both stems from her personal background and reflects the wider concerns of her urban radio audience. From her days as a rookie reporter in the Clinton White House to her tenure as a veteran journalist during the Obama administration, Ryan analyzes each president's time in office in terms of his commitment to and success in addressing issues that bridge the country's racial divide. Transcripts of press conference Q&As and exclusive interviews provide crucial insight into how each president fared on issues of domestic initiatives, administration diversity, and acknowledgement of racial inequities throughout the country's history. Forthright and formidable, open and appreciative, Ryan delivers a no-holds-barred evaluation of the country's chief executives on matters of race and equality.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)