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Primary Colors (novel)

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This page is about the political book and movie, for the actual colors see Primary color
Primary Colors: A Novel of Politics
AuthorJoe Klein
LanguageEnglish
Genrepolitical fiction
PublisherRandom House
Publication date
January 16, 1996
Publication placeUnited States
Media typeHardcover and Paperback
Pages366 (hc)
ISBNISBN 0-679-44859-4 (hc) Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character

Primary Colors: A Novel of Politics, a 1996 novel by "Anonymous" (later revealed to be journalist Joe Klein), is a roman à clef inspired by U.S. President Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign in 1992. While many characters and events in the novel are based on reality, much of the book is entirely fictional. The book centers on Henry Burton, a campaign aide for southern governor Jack Stanton (Bill Clinton). It is thought to be influenced by an earlier roman à clef of American politics, Robert Penn Warren's All the King's Men.

There is a sequel of sorts to the novel (also by Joe Klein but not anonymously), The Running Mate, published in 2000.

The movie

Primary Colors
StarringJohn Travolta
Emma Thompson
Release date
1998
CountryUnited States USA
LanguageEnglish

The popular book (a success in part fueled by speculation over the identity of the author) was made into a critically-acclaimed 1998 movie starring John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton, Adrian Lester, Kathy Bates, and Maura Tierney. Bates was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance, and the film itself was nominated for an Academy Award for Adapted Screenplay.

Template:Spoiler

This chart shows each character with their real-life counterpart and the actor who played them in the movie:

Character Real Life Actor
governor/candidate Jack Stanton Bill Clinton John Travolta
his wife Susan Stanton Hillary Clinton Emma Thompson
her friend Lucille Kaufman Susan Thomases Caroline Aaron
their child Jackie Stanton Chelsea Clinton [uncredited]
campaign manager Henry Burton George Stephanopoulos    Adrian Lester
campaign chair Howard Ferguson Harold Ickes, Jr. Paul Guilfoyle
campaign consultant Richard Jemmons James Carville Billy Bob Thornton
campaign defender Libby Holden Betsey Wright/Vince Foster Kathy Bates
media advisor Arlen Sporken Frank Greer Ben Jones
campaign consultant Daisy Green Dee Dee Myers Maura Tierney
campaign consultant Norman Asher David Garth Robert Klein
pollster Leon Birnbaum Stan Greenberg
affair-alleging Cashmere McLeod    Gennifer Flowers Gia Carides
possible candidate Orlando Ozio Mario Cuomo [not seen]
his son Jimmy Ozio Andrew Cuomo Robert Cicchini
possible candidate Charlie Martin Bob Kerrey Chelcie Ross
possible candidate Bart Nilson Tom Harkin Robert Symonds
candidate Lawrence Harris Paul Tsongas Kevin Cooney
replacement candidate Fred Picker Jerry Brown/Reubin O'D. Askew/Harold Hughes Larry Hagman
black leader Luther Charles Jesse Jackson /Al Sharpton
congressional leader William Larkin Dick Gephardt
congressional leader Donny O'Brien Tip O'Neill
reporter Jerry Rosen Joe Klein
reporter A. P. Cauley R. W. Apple, Jr.
TV pundit Larry Sabato
Moderate Democrats of America Democratic Leadership Council (DLC)
their founder Arthur Kopp Al From
headquarters Mammoth Falls Little Rock, Arkansas New Orleans, Louisiana and Wilmington, California
hometown Grace Junction Hope, Arkansas

Clean sweep

In the book, the plotline diverges from the real-life 1992 Democratic primary when a surprise candidate, Florida Governor Freddy Picker, makes a late run at the nomination. Picker campaigned by waving a broom and shouting that they'd make a clean sweep. It's not clear which candidate, if any, this is based on, though most political observers believe him to be an amalgam of Jerry Brown and Ross Perot. Picker also shares biographical similarities with former Florida governor, Reubin Askew. Brown stayed in the race, continuing to needle Clinton, even after he no longer had a chance at the nomination, and Perot jumped into the general election campaign in the summer of 1992 as an independent candidate.

In 2002, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan hoisted a broom and shouted "I want you to go find the biggest broom in your house and get ready for a clean sweep in November!" [1] Arnold Schwarzenegger has also used similar symbolism, and David Miller built his successful campaign for mayor of Toronto around the image of a broom and a clean sweep. The broom was also used as a symbol of political reform, i.e. "cleaning house," by fictional Mississippi gubernatorial candidate Homer Stokes in O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Anonymous

Prior to Klein's confession, writers for Newsweek and the Washington Post speculated some of the following to be the possible author:

See also

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