THE WHITE HOUSE MESS

by Christopher Buckley ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 24, 1986

Buckley's first novel, a sally at political humor, is somewhat of a failing off from his first book, Steaming to Bamboola (1982), which had its strength in his pungent description of the world of a tramp steamer. The White House Mess reads like those post-WW II humor books by Max Shulman and H. Allen Smith, which time has mercilessly pulped. Presidential speechwriter and personal assistant Herbert Wadlough, whose locutions sometimes have the doughy texture of Richard Nixon's, is a bland cross between a ninny and an old granny. He likes a nice cup of hot water for breakfast, is always appreciative of his steadfast wife when his career slumps, and cautiously understates his witless, pale observations. He has been with President-elect Thomas Nelson Tucker since Tucker's pre-gubernatorial days in Idaho, when Tucker ""announced his controversial demand that the federal government remove all Muscleman missile silos from Idaho and that the state be declared a nuclear-free zone."" In January 1989, Wadlough arrives in Washington with his small family as part of Tucker's entourage. Blowhard Tucker's first difficulty is getting Reagan out on Inauguration Day: pajama-clad Ron's back is bothering him, he's feeling tired, it's cold outside, and he just doesn't want to go outdoors today. Maybe in the spring. Wadlough has to help Tucker mask his smoking habit, draw a veil over the First Lady's early career in soft-porn films, meet with Castro halfway between Cuba and Miami, overcome the President's brother's conversion to Islam, rebuff the Bermudans who have attacked the US base on their island, and guide him through his reelection campaign. Meanwhile, Wadlough oversees the White House kitchen, or mess, falls temporarily out of grace, is transferred to the First Lady's staff. Aside from Tucker's foulmouthed press secretary Mike Feeley (""In this town a man's dick is only as big as his standing with the President""), none of this is very inventive, witty or cutting. Weak bouillon.

Pub Date: March 24, 1986

ISBN: 0140249281

Page Count: -

Publisher: Knopf

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1986

Categories: FICTION