The Woman Who Wouldn't Talk: Why I Refused to Testify Against the Clintons and What I Learned in Jail

by Susan MacDougal, Helen Thomas, Susan MacDougal

The author, who was imprisoned because she refused to testify in Kenneth Starr's Whitewater investigation, finally speaks out, offering an unflinchingly honest portrayal of the Clinton administration, Starr's investigation, and her years spent in prison.

Genres: Politics, Biography, Memoir, Nonfiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have even more admiration for Susan than I already did after reading this book. What was done to her by the OIC was unconscionable, but her strength of character and her ability to make the best of even the worst circumstances is admirable. She was a young, naive girl whose only real "crime" was trusting too much. She is now a wizened woman who gained tremendous insight into the plight of many women in prison and has turned what she learned into a campaign to help those women. This book wasn't just her story, she also shared the stories of many of these women who she met and who deserve to have their stories told as well. I highly recommend this book.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was a surprise! Expecting to find trash on Bill and Hillary Clinton, McDougal took another approach and enlightened the reader about her life and jail experiences and what she learned about human nature.

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

McDougal spends the first half of the book relaying her biography but there's not much to her story, so skip the first 148 pages. At that point the FBI shows up to ask her about Whitewater. What happened to her over the next six years was a pure political maelstrom orchestrated by the Office of Independent Council, Kenneth Starr, trying to take down the Clintons. McDougal's story lacks the thrill and intrigue of a political novel but in her case it was all too real.

[Tebel Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only thing keeping this from a 5 star rating is the number of f-bombs in the second half of this riveting memoir. Great authors who quote profanity have the decency to use asterisks or dashes in such words. That said, Susan's story is truly one of the most heinous accounts of abuse in the US "justice" system I have ever read. Her account is well written, with a generous amount of humor thrown in. That is one tough lady who, thankfully had a great support system of friends & family.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Troubling on so many levels. The stories of the women in prison are memorable. How can something like this happen? The phrase, "Justice is blind," can be viewed in a negative way as she shows.

[cindy townley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome book about her story with the government and treatment in jail. An eye opener for sure and very scary. Must read.

[Bernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. I laughed, I cried, I was uplifted, I was humbled.

[Jackim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uplifting!

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative

[David Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a Starr witness.
To those people, whose idea of adversity is getting a bad pedicure, seem to have no problem summarily dismissing people who were unfortunate enough to be born without funds.

[Margarita Hudgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting from her perspective.

[Eileen Stoecklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really opened my eyes to the dishonesty in our American Government; what it's really like behind closed doors and how we are not as free as we think we are. I commend Susan McDougal for her honesty, even if telling the truth landed her in prison for 18 months.

[Ellen Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be fascinating, while finding new respect and awe for Susan McDougal. What the right-wing did to her, an innocent person, is hideous - but, not at all surprising.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan McDougal talks about her life, the Clintons, and being the focus of Ken Starr's Whitewater crusade.

[Connie Vogelgesang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly a good read. Even now it's hard to believe it actually happened.