One sentence summary
The Room Where It Happened is a memoir by John Bolton that details his 17-month tenure as the National Security Advisor in the Trump administration, and his observations on the foreign and domestic issues that confronted the White House in this period.
Book genre
The Room Where It Happened is a political memoir.
Main topic of the book
The Room Where It Happened details John Bolton’s experience of the inner workings of the Trump White House, providing a firsthand account of his role as National Security Advisor in the turbulent first two years of the Trump era.
Key ideas
- Unprecedented access to Trump’s White House: As an inner circle adviser to President Trump, John Bolton had unparalleled access to the decision-making process, providing a rare insight into President Trump’s foreign policy decisions.
- National Security Warnings: The book also provides warnings on the Trump Administration’s mismanagement of national security policy, particularly with regards to China and North Korea.
- Criticism of the President’s Leadership: Bolton is also highly critical of the President’s leadership style, accusing him of being reckless and damaging to American interests.
Main parts of the book and a short summary
The book is divided into three parts.
- Part 1 – In the National Security Council: This first part details John Bolton’s appointment as National Security Advisor to the Trump administration in April 2018 and covers the 17-month period he served in this role. Here, Bolton recounts some of the key foreign policy issues that faced the Trump administration during these months, including Trump’s dealings with Russia and North Korea.
- Part 2 – The Domestic Impact: The second part of the book looks at the domestic repercussions of Trump’s policies. Here, Bolton delves into a number of issues, including the Republican tax reforms and the chaotic “zero-tolerance” border policy of separating undocumented immigrant families.
- Part 3 – The Departure: The third and final part of the book covers Bolton’s departure from the White House, and provides an overview of what he believes the Trump administration achieved during its time in power.
Key takeaways
- The book provides a unique insight into decision-making in the Trump White House, as well as a thorough account of the foreign policy challenges encountered by the Trump administration.
- The book also serves as a warning on the dangers of an ill-prepared leader to America’s national security, while also providing an in-depth analysis of the implications of the Trump administration’s domestic policies.
Author’s background and qualifications
John Bolton is an experienced and highly respected foreign policy expert with a long and relevant career in national security policy. A Yale Law School graduate, Bolton has served in a number of different government roles, including U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and was most recently the National Security Advisor in the Trump White House.
Target audience
The Room Where It Happened is aimed at anyone interested in first-hand accounts of decision-making in the Trump White House, and those looking for an understanding of the foreign policy decisions of the Trump administration.
Publisher and first publication date
The Room Where It Happened was published by Simon & Schuster and was released on June 23rd 2020.