The Evangelical President

Bill Sammon has had extraordinary access to the president, interviewing him more frequently than any other reporter. What makes that interesting for Christians is that Sammon actually treats with understanding the evangelical aspects of the president's character often scorned in the mainstream press. Sammon uses the term evangelical to describe not only the president's faith, but also his advocacy for democracy and justice for the poor and oppressed.

In The Evangelical President, Sammon describes, starting in the first chapter with his own experience on Bill Maher's program, the disdain-hatred, even-directed at the president by liberals in Washington, the press, and Hollywood. Second, Sammon quotes the president and key members of his administration at length at key moments during the past two years. In these interviews the president's commitment to democracy and disdain for polls becomes clear.

Yes, some of it is overly familiar-do we really need a replay of Senator Allen's macaca moment? It glosses over intra-administration policy disputes. But those wanting a sympathetic overview of the past two years will appreciate Sammon's work. By the end of it readers will better understand the beliefs that have driven and sustained the president, and the forces that have driven his approval ratings to such low levels.