Writing this book has been a joyous and cathartic experience. There are many people to thank in its creation and in the stories it tells.
First and foremost is Mary Pat, my wife of thirty-two years. She has believed in me, supported my dreams, celebrated our triumphs, and been at my side for life’s disappointments. She has been a true partner in every way. This extraordinary life would not be mine without her love and confidence.
Our four children are the part of my life that has brought me the most joy. Andrew, Sarah, Patrick, and Bridget have lived exemplary lives while being thrust unavoidably into the spotlight of their dad’s career. I could not be prouder of my wonderful children.
My own father, Bill Christie, has been my role model for making hard work a way of life and always putting the family first. From the many hours pitching to me at Little League batting practice to the door-to-door in the New Hampshire snow, Dad has always sacrificed for me, and I love him for it.
My brother, Todd, and my sister, Dawn, have been lifelong gifts. They have supported my dreams and ambitions, Todd loudly and publicly, Dawn quietly and privately.
My mother-in-law, Pat Foster, now ninety years old, has been a source of strength and wisdom for our family and a regular supporter of my public life, as was my late father-in-law, Jack. I am so glad she is here to read this book and even happier she lived it with us every day. I only wish we’d experienced the same with Jack.
This book would not have been possible without my collaborator, Ellis Henican. I first met him in the office of my agent, Mel Berger, and there was an instant connection between us. I love his style and his sensibilities. A native of New Orleans, he is hardworking, smart, funny, and, most of all, a fabulous writer. He never ceases to amaze me in the way he can take my thoughts, experiences, and feelings and turn them into wonderful prose. I have enjoyed every minute of our work together.
My agents at WME are wonderful folks. Jordan Bazant and Kate Urquhart believed in me when I left office and have helped guide me in the months since to make some very good decisions in this next phase of my career. I am also very fortunate to have the incredible Mel Berger as my book agent at WME. Mel is honest and experienced, and he has been in my corner for every step of this process. He also made real contributions to the manuscript, for which I will always be grateful.
Paul Whitlatch, my editor at Hachette Books, provided extraordinary freedom and valuable guidance. He has shown great enthusiasm for this project from our very first conversation and challenged me to make this book all it had the potential to be. His thematic ideas and his careful editing have produced a better read for everyone.
I cannot thank Roberta Teer enough for her meticulous research to help verify (or debunk) my recollections of key events over the fifty-six years of my life. The task of transcribing the dozens of hours of conversations between Ellis and me fell to Janis Spidle. She did an extraordinary job in keeping up with our pace and allowing us to do so with the utmost confidence in the accuracy of her work. She now knows more about my life than anyone other than my family and Ellis. I will always be grateful for her hard work and admirable discretion. Amanda Kain, Timothy Shaner, Chris Measom, Melanie Gold, and Lauren Hummel, key players on Hachette’s editing and design team, brought extraordinary talent and finesse to the manuscript, instinctively capturing the spirit of my public service and the satisfaction that’s come from working hard at the many great jobs that I have had in my life.
Thanks to the late Jack O’Keeffe, my first political running mate, who taught me the need for consistent honesty in public life and the lesson that holding grudges is a waste of valuable energy. Jack set the example many years ago, and I hope my service has made him proud.
I owe a great deal to my former law partner and constant political adviser Bill Palatucci. In the business of politics, it is very rare to find a friend whose loyalty is beyond question every day. Through the ups and downs of my career, Bill has always been there to give me forthright advice and friendship. He is a true wartime consigliere.
My friendship with Jeff Chiesa over the last twenty-seven years has been an incredible journey for both of us. Jeff is a man of unquestionable talent as a lawyer and integrity as a person. He came to me at the law firm of Dughi & Hewit as a partially formed lawyer but a fully formed man. He joined me on this journey as an associate and partner, as an assistant United States attorney, as chief counsel to the governor, New Jersey attorney general, and United States senator. At every stop, he made me and the people he served both proud and happy. Even with all those fancy titles, his most important title to me is still friend.
Thanks to two of my colleagues and friends from my days as US Attorney—Ralph Marra and Michele Brown. Ralph served as my first assistant and Michele as my counsel. They both followed me to state service in Trenton. They both reviewed the chapters of this book on our years together at one of the great law-enforcement offices in America and made sure I recounted those years with complete accuracy.
Besides Mary Pat, I shared this manuscript with only one other person, my alter ego and message warrior during my time as governor and on the presidential campaign trail, Maria Comella. From the 2009 campaign to the years in Trenton to the cold and snow of Iowa and New Hampshire, Maria was there twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, helping me turn my ideas into something we could use to elevate my state and our nation. She was way ahead of her time in understanding the social media phenomenon and the role it would play in our politics. She made me a better candidate and a better governor. Her selfless review of this complete manuscript has undoubtedly made it not only a better book but also one that is truer to the mission we both tried to accomplish together.
I owe much to the fellow governors I have had the honor of serving with over my career.
Haley Barbour, who as chairman of the Republican Governors Association in 2009–10, believed I could beat Jon Corzine when almost no other national figure did. I would not have been elected governor without his support.
Larry Hogan, the 2014 Maryland underdog who won my political heart and showed me that courage and loyalty are indeed alive and well in elected politicians. His fight to be elected in a deep-blue state and his subsequent fight against cancer still inspire me.
Charlie Baker, the man who came back from a discouraging 2010 defeat to be a better and winning candidate in 2014, is a living example of intelligence and class in leading a blue state. His friendship is a real gift to me and Mary Pat.
Paul LePage, the combative governor of Maine, is the genuine article. Rising from an abusive childhood to a successful business career and an against-all-odds, two-term governorship in blue Maine, Paul is a man who sees his word as his bond. I’ve never had more fun than I did on the campaign trail with Paul in 2010, 2014, and 2016.
Each of those men also stood with me when I sought the presidency while so many others stayed comfortably on the sidelines. They did not let history shape them. They tried to shape history. I will be eternally grateful for their support.
I always saw my leadership as the captain of a team of extraordinarily talented people, men and women I cajoled to stay in public life despite its challenges. My core team from those sixteen years of service are all doing well: Bill Palatucci, Mike DuHaime, Maria Comella, Rich Bagger, Jeff Chiesa, Kevin O’Dowd, Charlie McKenna, Michele Brown, Chris Porrino, Wayne Hasenbalg, Deb Gramiccioni, Richard Constable, Hal Wirths, Tom Scrivo, Amy Cradic, Cam Henderson, Bob Martin, Lou Goetting, Dan Robles, Russ Schriefer, Regina Agea, Paul Matey, Matt Mowers, John Hoffman, Ed Dickson, Rick Fuentes, Marc Larkins, Phil Kwon, Rick Mroz, Marc Ferzan, Lauren Fritts, Dave Reiner, Rosemary Iannacone, Lee Solomon, Adam Geller, Amanda DePalma, Ken McKay, Phil Cox, and all the others are gainfully employed in the private and public sectors now and still a part of our extended family. I miss seeing them on a daily basis. They were the foundation of my success in public life.
Finally, I want to thank the people of the State of New Jersey. They gave me the honor of sixteen consecutive years in what I consider the two best jobs in public life: United States attorney and governor. No one before me had ever been given the honor of holding both those jobs consecutively in the 240-plus-year history of our state. I cannot describe how wonderful and rewarding the ride has been—and I owe it all to you.