Scoop: Woodward's "War" reveals new Biden backstory
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Cover: Simon & Schuster
Bob Woodward — in his forthcoming book "War," out Oct. 15 — reveals in-the-room details of a one-on-one lunch in which Secretary of State Tony Blinken and President Biden, his longtime friend and boss, discussed the president's post-debate political peril, Axios has learned.
- Woodward reports that during the July 4 lunch at the White House, Blinken posed a series of questions about the pros and cons of Biden continuing his re-election race.
Blinken made it clear that getting out was a decision only Biden could make — wanting the president to feel he was making it on his terms, rather than being forced.
- Biden stayed in the race three more weeks, then bowed out as party support collapsed.
Why it matters: At age 81, Bob Woodward still delivers the goods.
Between the lines: Copies of "War" are still closely held, so we don't have the details yet. But a Washington source familiar with the book tells us it's full of verbatim quotes from high-stakes meetings, confidential documents and intimate calls among world leaders.
- As their predecessors have been doing for decades, top officials marveled when Woodward told them what he had — and tried to guess his sources. As always, he kept a poker face.
- Woodward — who has covered 10 presidents over 52 years — gives his trademark insight into how White Houses function during crises, with extensive reporting about both presidential candidates, Vice President Harris and former President Trump.
The backstory: "War" — from Simon & Schuster, Woodward's longtime publisher — is about the collision of three ongoing wars. It covers events from Jan. 6, 2021, to mid-August 2024:
- It started as a book about the war in Ukraine, beginning with the Russian buildup.
- After Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Woodward added the Middle East.
- The struggle for the American presidency is at the center of it all.
Behind the scenes: Because Simon & Schuster pulls out all the stops for Woodward, he was able to make late changes to the manuscript after Biden dropped out and endorsed Harris on July 21.
- Woodward worked up until the last possible day to get "War" to the printer — a marathon last few months of rewrites.
- Woodward often says that compared to daily reporters, he has the luxury of time as he writes contemporary history. But "War" is close to real-time history — including some disclosures that usually wouldn't emerge for decades, when memoirs are written.
Another Woodward revelation: Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines reported to the White House's National Security Council this spring that Russian President Vladimir Putin has inarguably been weakened by the Ukraine war, with an estimated 200,000 dead and $200+ billion spent.
- But Haines warned that doesn't make Putin less dangerous: By being weakened, he's more dangerous.
The bottom line: All three wars Woodward chronicles — Ukraine, the Middle East and America's political war within — will land on the desk of the next president.
