THE HUNTING OF THE PRESIDENT

There can be no doubt that we live in one of the most tumultuous political climates of the nation's history, a climate where politicians can be toppled on a whim, election results disputed in the country's highest courts, and governors unceremoniously recalled. It's enough to leave even the most cynical voter asking, how did this happen?

Harry Thomason and Nickolas Perry's incendiary documentary, based on the best-selling book by Gene Lyons and Joe Conason, offers a glimpse at the genesis of these partisan vendettas and explores the myths and truths behind the nearly 10-year campaign to systematically destroy the political legacy of the Clintons.

Using previously unreleased materials, interviews, and shocking revelations from both sides of the beltway, this probing work focuses on the smear campaign against Clinton from his gubernatorial days in Arkansas leading up to and including his impeachment trial. Kenneth Starr fans, beware.

Less of an advocacy film and more of an alarming treatise on the political power of the media and personal interests, The Hunting of the President offers us a gallery of defeated politicians, disappointed office seekers, right-wing pamphleteers, wealthy eccentrics, zany private detectives, religious fanatics, and die-hard segregationists, all chiming in discord from the tops of their soapboxes.
                   -- Elizabeth Richardson and Joseph Beyer, Sundance 2004


“Riveting and revealing, whatever views you have on the partisan issues involved.”
                    -- David Sterritt, The Christian Science Monitor


“The Hunting of the President,” a potent screen translation of Gene Lyons and Joe Conason’s bestseller, methodically compiles evidence suggesting there was indeed (as Hillary famously put it) “a vast right-wing conspiracy” waged against the Clinton White House.  No matter one’s party affiliation, docu is worth seeing for its eye-opening look at how disreputable characters can impact government — and how easily the mainstream media can be duped into covering scandal-smelling leads.”
                    -- Dennis Harvey, Variety.com