The Clinton Scandals and the Politics of Image Restoration

President Bill Clinton has been more than generous, Blaney and Benoit point out, in providing fodder for examination of image restoration in politics. His accusers have also done their part in making the public aware of the president's real and perceived shortcomings. As the authors detail, Bill Clinton has been the subject of a tremendous, if not unprecedented, amount of scrutiny by his personal and political enemies.

Blaney and Benoit systematically review the background of the various scandals that have marred the Clinton presidency. They concentrate on the techniques used to advance the various accusations and the approaches taken by the president and his supporters to deflect the attacks. All scholars and researchers interested in political communication and rhetoric in contemporary American politics and the presidency will find this to be essential reading.

JOSEPH R. BLANEY is Assistant Professor of Communication at Illinois State University. He is the joint author, with W. L. Benoit and P.M. Pier, ofCampaign '96: A Functional Analysis of Acclaiming, Attacking, and Defending (Praeger, 1998) and numerous articles on communication and rhetoric issues.

WILLIAM L. BENOIT is Professor of Communication at the University of Missouri. The author of six earlier books and almost 100 articles and book chapters, Professor Benoit's last book publication isSeeing Spots (Praeger, 1999).