The Agenda: Inside the Clinton White House.

• Author: Fischer, Raymond L.

Bob Woodward, assistant managing editor for investigations at The Washington Post, has written or co-authored six number-one national bestsellers. His latest, The Agenda, could become number seven. In it, Woodward follows Bill Clinton's activities on a day-to-day and frequently a minute-by-minute schedule from the time Clinton decides to run for president through his campaign, election, and first year in office.

Woodward interviewed and reinterviewed more than 250 people; at times, he conducted 20 interviews with as many as 10 sources to document a single meeting or decision. Most of these conversations have been cited as "deep background"--his term to denote his agreement to withhold the identity of his cources. However, in most cases, readers easily can discern them. Woodward also gleaned memoranda, meeting notes, diaries, transcripts, and schedules.

The Agenda covers the period from late August, 1991, to early 1994. Two-thirds of it deals with the planning, writing, and passing of Clinton's economic policy, the "heart" of his 1992 presidential campaign. The real heart of the book, though, concerns the synergetic activities of Bill and Hillary Clinton--their interpersonal relationship, collaboration with advisers and friends, ability to influence Congressmen, and failure to adjust to the way of life in Washington.

Perhaps the greatest surprise is the extent to which individuals revealed opinions and private papers to Woodward. Several of those closest to the Clintons gave very candid, sometimes denigrating, assessments of the couple.

Although Woodward reveals in detail what most know--that Bill Clinton has a temper and can rage at people, he also shows Clinton as honestly concerned about what has happened to the middle class and one who sincerely wants to follow up on his campaign promises and help them. Woodward describes an intelligent, hard-working president who may have a difficult time making up his mind, but wants to accomplish what he feels will make America a better, safer, more secure country.

Woodward has kind words for Mrs. Clinton as well. It is obvious that he spent many hours...