Naomi Robert - Post Number Three

In the novel Primary Colors, character Henry Burton is based on the real life campaign manager George Stephanopolous. Of all the characters, I think that Stephanopolous has the greatest reason to be angry with Joe Klein because the story is told from Burton’s point of view. As the narrator, Burton presents many controversial opinions about people and events that occur in the campaign. The thoughts and personal experiences of Burton are described in great detail, but without the accuracy or permission of Stephanopolous.

In the book, Henry Burton has quite a few “relations” with other characters. In one instance in chapter 8, Henry sleeps with a girl he met in a bar he refers to as Claudia-Gloria and just leaves her in the morning, without even saying goodbye, making Burton seem promiscuous and disrespectful towards women. The author also offers up the possibility of affairs with Hillary Clinton (Susan Stanton) and Dee dee Myers (Daisy Green), who were both very respectful, happily married women. This kind of accusation, especially the affair with Susan Stanton discovered in chapter 5, is described in the book with an acceptable and understanding tone, when it would definitely bring about a negative impact in the real life of Stephanoplous.

In addition, Joe Klein chose to make Burton’s character African American and to make this race very important in many cases throughout the book. In a discussion with Rev. Luther Charles in chapter 6, it is suggested that Henry received most of his political fame because his father was a civil rights movement leader, and that Clinton takes Burton on so the campaign staff can be more diverse. Stephanopolous, on the other hand, was very proud of his Greek heritage, and may have been offended that he wasn’t even portrayed accurately in this aspect.