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.
| Author/creator | Becker, Jean author. |
| Other author | Collamore, Tom, author. |
| Other author | Meacham, Jon, writer of foreword. |
| Other author | Card, Andrew H., 1947- writer of afterword |
| Format | Book |
| Edition | First edition. |
| Publication | New York : Harper, [2026] |
| Copyright Date | ©2026 |
| Description | xxiii, 295 pages, 4 unnumbered leaves of unnumbered plates : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cm |
| Subjects |
| Portion of title | Best, worst and mostly untold stories from presidential advance |
| Variant title | Do not tell the president |
| 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. |
| Abstract | "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. |
| Abstract | Former staffers to George H.W. Bush narrate stories behind presidential events over the past sixty years. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Genre/form | Anecdotes. |
| Genre/form | Biographies. |
| Genre/form | Biographies. |
| Genre/form | Anecdotes. |
| ISBN | 9780063446779 |
| ISBN | 0063446774 |
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| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joyner | Order on Demand Title | Order On Demand | ✔ Available | Click to order this title |