From the Bookshelf of The History Book Club…

A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership

James B. Comey

Start date: April 16, 2018

Finish date: June 15, 2018

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Discussion leader: Bentley

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What Members Thought

Apr 18, 2018 Kressel Housman rated it really liked it

Shelves: presidents, law, history-book-club, non-fiction, memoir

My public library made this book available before the pub date and press tour, so I was able to get halfway through it without anyone else’s opinion coloring mine. As a result, I liked the first half of the book best, but it might have been that way in any case because that was about Comey’s personal life and career before 2016, and it was all new to me. My very favorite part was his description of a conversation with President Obama on an issue they had very different perspectives on: policing ...more

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Oct 13, 2019 Ray rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

In his book, "A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership", James Comey tells his story as a lawyer, a prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General, and FBI Director. In telling his story, he emphasizes his non-partisanship throughout his professional career. As he points out, he was named Federal Prosecutor in New York because he was acceptable to both Democrats and Republicans. Later in his career, he was appointed Assistant Attorney General under John Ashcroft by Republican President G. W. Bus In his book, "A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership", James Comey tells his story as a lawyer, a prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General, and FBI Director. In telling his story, he emphasizes his non-partisanship throughout his professional career. As he points out, he was named Federal Prosecutor in New York because he was acceptable to both Democrats and Republicans. Later in his career, he was appointed Assistant Attorney General under John Ashcroft by Republican President G. W. Bush because he was acceptable to the Administration. During his senate confirmation hearing for becoming assistant Attorney General under Ashcroft, he was asked by Senators how he would handle conflict with the White House. In response, Comey stated that he'd always do the right thing. Part of what he answered was "I don't care about politics, I don't care about expediency, I don't care about friendship". He made it clear that he always wanted to do the right thing, and would never be part of doing anything which he felt to be wrong.

When Obama, a Democrat, became President, Comey was appointed to the position of FBI Director. During his interview for that position, he reiterated that the FBI should be independent and totally divorced from politics. That's the very reason why the FBI Director position is set for a ten year term, bridging Presidential terms.

It become clear when reading this book that Comey is emphasizing the point that he is, and always has been non-partisan in his career. This would support his claim that he was fired from his position as FBI Director under President Trump for political reasons, e.g., because he wouldn't squash the FBI investigation into whether the Trump campaign staff colluded with the Russians to help influence the election. If Trump thought Comey was unfair to him for allowing that investigation to continue, Democrats likewise felt Comey was unfair when he announced weeks before the 2016 Presidential Election that the FBI was re-opening their investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of personal e-mails, which in many people's minds, cost her the election.

Whether Comey was fired for political reasons or not is a matter of Trump's word vs. Comey's word. Trump had his say in firing Comey. In this book, Comey has his chance to make his point that Trump simply was upset with him because of his handling of the Russia investigation. It's Comey's opinion that we are experiencing a dangerous time in our Country, being in a political environment where basic facts are disputed, lying is normalized, and unethical behavior is ignored, excused, or rewarded. Those leaders who never think they're wrong, who never question their judgments or perspectives are a danger to the organizations and the people they lead. In some cases, they're a danger to the World.   ...more

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Jul 17, 2019 Richard Subber rated it did not like it

I started to read Comey’s book, but I quickly realized that I’m not interested in what Comey thinks about himself or his past deeds. I read enough to be convinced that he doesn’t condemn himself too much for what he did during the 2016 presidential election. No amount of self reflection can exorcise his actions.
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