Don’t Tell the President: The Best, Worst, and Mostly Untold Stories from Presidential Advance

Dukakis is in the tank! The Queen looks like a talking purple hat! We didn't leave Chelsea Clinton in Moscow, right? The most harrowing and hilarious stories behind presidential events over the past sixty years-from the Rose Garden to Air Force One, foreign trips to the campaign trail-detailing the art of preparation that goes into these delicate, high stress operations and revealing how they have often been one step away from disaster. Featuring a foreword by Jon Meacham 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.