Breaking History by Jared Kushner, subtitled A White House Memoir and published in
2022 by Broadside Books, is Kushner’s account of his years as a senior adviser to President
Trump. I must admit that prior to reading this book, I had mixed thoughts about Mr. Kushner.
Was he a case of nepotism? What was his background? Did he have any thoughts of his own, or was he merely a puppet of the President, who was his father-in-law? Did he marry into the Trump family in a bid for easy wealth? By the end of the book, while admitting that it may be self-serving at times (how unusual for a political memoir), my attitude toward him had turned to admiration.
An Outsider in Washington
Here was an individual from outside the Beltway who took on tasks which were not easy. He fought against individuals with their own agendas, who did not necessarily support the goals of the man they worked for, the President. He entered the very real, dark and self-perpetuating deep state and came out with his love of country intact and his family intact. He could also see that he had helped to accomplish successes where “insiders” had failed for decades.
How was he able to accomplish anything as an outsider in the Capital? For one, he brought a level of expertise that was missing in the Capital and the hallways of power. Rather than trying to merge into the bureaucracy and the traditional power games, he brought his business sense to the table.
Bringing Business Sense to Middle East Diplomacy
As every businessman knows, you cannot move ahead if you do not offer a good product and work at every level to provide that product to the market. Kushner’s approach was very often one of being willing to listen.
An example is the dogma given by John Kerry: “There will be no separate peace with the Arab world without the Palestinian process and Palestinian peace. Everybody needs to understand that. That is a hard reality.”
Kushner realized that the same old programs with ill-defined promises had been the bedrock of Middle East discussions for decades, with the same result: failure. Instead of doing the “same old, same old,” why not do something different?
It was Henry Kissinger who advised him that the foreign policy of the nation had to be run by the White House, as opposed to the State Department, where ideas seem to go to die.
How the Abraham Accords Came Together
While Trump may have been mocked by the Germans and others when he cautioned them about relying on cheap energy from Russia, in the Middle East he was respected for his openness and his willingness to be bold and speak openly. His image played well in the region, as opposed to the apology tour concept.
He was willing to listen to what Arab leaders had to say in very frank discussions, including when he told them that a deal could be made, but that they had to handle the terrorists in their own countries who go out and murder Israelis. No action, no deals.
The Arab leaders also liked that Kushner was the President’s son-in-law, which gave credibility to his voice. Finally, he found by listening that a major stumbling block to Middle East movement was not necessarily the Palestinians, who were becoming a burden, but rather guaranteed and safe access to the al-Aqsa Mosque, which was under the control of Israel.
By finding the one thing that all the Arab leaders could agree on, and by working hard and creating a strong team, he was able to develop and close the Abraham Accords, signed at the White House in September 2020, an action that has led to greater trade and development in the region.
Personalities, the Soleimani Strike and Other Chapters
The book notes some of the personalities in the administration, including Tillerson, Kelly, Fauci, Bolton and others, in a way that allows one to read between the lines and understand his opinion without being insulting. In each encounter, Kushner seems to better realize the difference between the government game and that of business, but he absorbs each lesson and uses the experience to improve his results.
One of the finest sections is the episode regarding the successful strike against Soleimani. The Iranian general had been responsible for the deaths and wounding of thousands of U.S. military personnel, and Trump felt that a message needed to be sent that there was no safe ground for those who attacked Americans. The killing of Soleimani sent a strong message to the Iranian leadership, and despite the threats made by that leadership, their reaction was feeble at best.
Other chapters cover Operation Warp Speed, the bipartisan passage of the First Step Act, and, of course, the wasted energy over the Russian collusion investigation.
Is Breaking History by Jared Kushner Worth Reading?
In the end, I believe most readers will put the book down and believe that Jared Kushner, a religious and strong family man, put his best efforts into his projects during that four-year period. He is proud of his accomplishments and the service he provided to the country. At the same time, it is easy to understand why he has openly stated that he would not wish to go back to such service again.
Somehow, we need to create a system where good and honest individuals can enter government service without facing the possibility of huge legal bills created by political gamesmanship, and where new ideas can be put forth after decades of failed policies.
Breaking History is one of the best post-Administration memoirs I can remember, and it does provide hope for the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Breaking History by Jared Kushner about?
It is Jared Kushner’s memoir of his time as a senior adviser in the Trump White House, covering Middle East diplomacy, the Abraham Accords, Operation Warp Speed, the First Step Act, and the Russia investigation.
When was Breaking History published?
Breaking History: A White House Memoir was published in 2022 by Broadside Books.
What does the book say about the Abraham Accords?
Kushner describes how listening to Arab leaders, rather than repeating old approaches, helped him find common ground, including safe access to the al-Aqsa Mosque, and build the team that closed the Abraham Accords.
Does the book cover the strike against Soleimani?
Yes. It is one of the finest sections of the book, explaining why the President decided that those who attacked Americans should have no safe ground.
Is Breaking History self-serving?
At times it may be, as most political memoirs are, but by the end of the book my mixed view of Kushner had turned to admiration.
Is Breaking History by Jared Kushner worth reading?
Yes. It is one of the best post-Administration memoirs I can remember, and it does provide hope for the future.
