This book was a true team effort. Lisa Dickey is the Platonic ideal of a co-writer. Curious, diligent, always upbeat. She has a quick pen, a clear mind and an open heart. I couldn’t—and wouldn’t—have written this book without her. Our researchers Emily Michel and Cameron Peters tracked down interviews, scoured the libraries and synthesized reams of information. Their work was impeccable. Any mistakes or oversights are on me. My indefatigable ABC producer Chris Donovan also provided invaluable fact-checking and research assistance. The original idea for this book came from the Javelin team—Matt Latimer and Keith Urbahn—who expertly shepherded us through the publication process.
Hachette Book Group gave us unwavering support. Our editors were superb. Sean Desmond guided us with enthusiasm, sound judgment and a strong sense of history. Colin Dickerman brought the project home with gusto. Thanks also to Zoe Karimy, Carolyn Kurek, Andrew Goldberg, Rebecca Holland, Jim Datz, Ana Maria Allessi, Kim Sayle, Megan Perritt-Jacobsen and Lindsay Ricketts.
More than one hundred veterans of presidential administrations and the Situation Room agreed to be interviewed for this project. I’m grateful for their insights and time.
America’s presidential libraries are a national treasure. We received invaluable assistance from Stacy Chandler at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library; Jennifer Cuddeback, Lara Hall, Carrie Tallichet Smith and Chris Banks from the LBJ Presidential Library; Mark Updegrove and Hannah Green from the LBJ Foundation; Ryan Pettigrew from the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum; Jim Byron and Jason Schwarts from the Richard Nixon Foundation; Brooke Clement, Geir Gunderson and Elizabeth Druga from the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum; Brittany Parris, Ceri McCarron and Billy Glasco from the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum; Cate Sewell and Steve Branch from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum; Chris Pembleton, Elizabeth Staats, Zachary Roberts and Mary Finch from the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum; Jay Barth, Dana Simmons and John Keller from the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum; Sarah Haldeman and Sarah Barca from the George W. Bush Presidential Library; and Thomas Hayes from the Barack Obama Presidential Library.
President Biden’s White House staff were generous with their time and guidance, especially Marc Gustafson, Adrienne Watson, Sean Savett, Marie Harnly, Adam Hodge and Kianna Castillo.
Thank you to my ABC colleagues for their support and teamwork, especially Simone Swink, Jonathan Greenberger, Nicole Katchis, Jen Pereira, Jen Joseph, John Santucci, Jon Cohen, Kerry Smith and Van Scott.
Leslie Sloan and Jami Kandel at Vision PR are the best in the business.
My good friend MJ Rosenberg read the manuscript with care and made it better, as did my longtime CAA agent Alan Berger and Alyssa Mastromonaco, who runs the production company Bedby8 that I started with my wife, Ali Wentworth.
Ali, Elliott and Harper deserve the most thanks. They are my joy.