Don't tell the president : the best, worst & mostly untold stories from presidential advance / Jean Becker and Tom Collamore ; with a foreword by Jon Meacham.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Becker, Jean, approximately 1956- author.

Collamore, Tom, author.

Contributor:

Meacham, Jon, writer of foreword.

Card, Andrew H., 1947- writer of afterword.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Presidents--United States--Staff.

Presidents.

Presidents--United States--Anecdotes.

Presidents--United States--History.

Presidents--United States--Staff--Anecdotes.

Presidents--Retirement--United States.

United States--Politics and government--1989-.

United States.

Ex-presidents--History.

Genre:

Anecdotes.

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xxiii, 295 pages, 4 unnumbered leaves of unnumbered plates : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Other Title:

Best, worst and mostly untold stories from presidential advance

Do not tell the president

Place of Publication:

New York : Harper, [2026]

Summary:

"Don't Tell the President is a collection of the greatest tales of triumph and near-crisis in presidential advance. Behind every seamless campaign appearance and presidential affair lies the meticulous work of event planners and advance teams--the little-known professionals who transform political logistics into carefully choreographed performances. Here are illuminating first-hand accounts from dedicated employees who worked for every modern-day president from Lyndon Johnson to Barack Obama, a few First Ladies, a few vice presidents, and a few wannabes. Experience some of the most searing events from behind the scenes, including: -Memorable moments from the campaign trail, including Lyndon Johnson's 1960 trip to Boston as John Kennedy's newly minted running mate and Barack Obama's first rally appearance with Oprah. -Riveting accounts from the advance team with President Reagan on the day he was shot to the terrible hours on 9/11 from someone who was on Air Force One with President Bush. -Those hectic and often historic foreign trips including Vice President George Bush's cloak-and-dagger trip in Communist Poland; President Reagan's "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" speech in Berlin; and President George W. Bush's secret trip to Iraq on Thanksgiving Day. -And a few stories when the foreign dignitaries came to visit us, including Queen Elizabeth's famous "talking purple hat" speech on the South Lawn of the White House. -And an all-star team of advance contributors - many who went on to be political figures themselves including former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates; radio host and CNN contributor Michael Smerconish; and former Senator Rob Portman. Also, a first-hand account from former Secret Service agent Barbara Riggs who had to deal with inappropriate advances of Manuel Noreiga. -And yes, the regrettable and now infamous gaffes, when Bob Dole's campaign event turned into a photo op with Woody Woodpecker, Frankenstein, Charlie Chaplin, and Mae West; and when a pig relieved himself on Vice President George Bush on a farm in Iowa. Allowing us to witness presidential history and politics from a new angle, Don't Tell the President brings together the hilarious chaos of Veep and the grandeur of The West Wing. It is a memorable and at times laugh-out loud funny look at how many presidential events happen--and how many almost went awry."-- Provided by publisher.

Former staffers to George H.W. Bush narrate stories behind presidential events over the past sixty years.

Contents:

Author's note

Foreword by Jon Meacham

Preface

When Air Force One comes to your hometown

Stories from the campaign trail

Advancing history

The President and the First Lady go abroad

Things that happen in the shadow of the White House

The surprising life of Vice Presidents

When the President is now a "former" and the "team" is "you"

The day I thought I would be fired

The day I knew I was blessed

Epilogue by Andrew H. Card Jr.

Acknowledgments

Glossary of contributors

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780063446779

0063446774

OCLC:

1564176985

Publisher Number:

CIPO000319946