Revealing how the American game of governing is played in the 1980s, this book is full of anecdotes, portraits and penetrating analysis which explains the power manoeuvres as the key players advance, retreat and change tactics. Smith shows how a revolutionary explosion of power in the mid-1970s has turned Washington inside out. There is a new breed of winner with new political styles and sets of rules. Different talents and techniques are required if the American system of government is going to work effectively. The author has been reporting on Washington over the span of six presidents. He worked on the Pulitzer prize-winning team that produced "The Pentagon Papers" and he won the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting from Moscow and Eastern Europe. He wrote "The Russians" and was co-author of "The Pentagon Papers", "Reagan, the Man", "The President" and "Beyond Reagan".