After four books on American presidents in which I avoided attitude and the first person, this one is a major departure for me. It wouldn’t have been written in the first place without David Kuhn, co-CEO of Aevitas Creative Management, who along with Helen Hicks and Nate Muscato figured out in a matter of days how to turn my courtroom reporting into a book, then sell it. David was the one who said it had to be personal, and he was right. The autobiographical sections helped me access episodes of my life I hadn’t thought about in years, which was fun.
My publisher, BenBella Books, is a great example of how independent book publishers are revolutionizing the industry. They produced this book in an astonishing three months, which no corporate publisher could do. Thanks to BenBella’s public-spirited CEO, Glenn Yeffeth, who told me early on that if the book convinced even a handful of voters of the true stakes in the election, it was worth publishing; Leah Wilson, my talented editor; and Monica Lowry, Aaron Edmiston, Jennifer Canzoneri, Adrienne Lang, Sarah Avinger, Susan Welte, Alicia Kania, and Madeline Grigg.
I was rescued by friends and relatives who read the very rushed manuscript, including Jill Abramson, Liz Fine, Dale Russakoff, Cliff Sloan, Jeff Toobin, Keith Ulrich, and Michael Waldman. In my family, Jennifer Alter Warden, Jamie Alter Lynton (who should be a book editor!), Harrison Alter, Rob Warden, and Lee Greenhouse all read various drafts, as did our kids, Charlotte Alter, Tommy Alter (thanks for Black Swan analogy!), and Molly Alter, plus our son-in-law Mark Chiusano. Everyone had great suggestions.
I’m grateful to my good friends Paul Glastris and Matt Cooper of the Washington Monthly, who helped me get my credential for the trial and published my dispatches from the courtroom, and to Katie Kingsbury, Patrick Healy, and David Firestone, editor extraordinaire, of New York Times Opinion, who gave me a contract and a chance to write blog posts for “The Point” twice a day. Meredith Stark, the producer of my Substack newsletter, did her usual great work on Old Goats.
At the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, I am indebted to Al Baker, the communications chief, who got me the seat and was unfailingly helpful. Special thanks to my courthouse buddies Harry Litman, Norm Eisen, George Grasso, Adam Klasfeld, and Lawrence O’Donnell. I also got good insights from Lisa Rubin, Valerie Jarrett, Andrew Rice, and George Conway, among others. Outside the courtroom, Michael Lynton, Michael Ryan, Chris Cerf, Stephen Colbert, Garry Trudeau, Bud Trillin, Andy Clayman, and Julian Zelizer had good thoughts. Thanks to Garry, Jane Rosenberg, and Barry Blitt for sketches.
And finally, a big hug for my lovely wife, Emily, who once again saved me from myself. Maybe.