by Pat Cunnane
And to my immediate family, whose quirks and smarts made an indelible mark on the stories I chose to tell and the way I chose to tell them, thank you: my brother Harry, Juliet, and niece Aubrey. My brother Alex. Each of you is weird and wonderful. And this book wouldn’t have been as much fun without your influence.
To my parents, Madeleine and PJ: more than anyone else, this book would not be possible without you. Mom, you’re one of the best writers I know, and your help on this book was invaluable. Dad, you work more—and harder—than anyone I’ve ever known. Whenever I didn’t feel like writing a page or two, I’d think of you and get to typing. Thank you both for knocking some sense into me, reminding me not to leave the White House until they forced me out.
To Stephanie: thank you for your support and unwavering kindness. I realize fully that I’m the lucky one in this equation. I would say I couldn’t have imagined when we met in the second grade that we’d fall in love and get married. But I could and I did. I love you.
Oh—and thanks, Obama.
About the Author
Author photograph by Koury Angelo
Pat Cunnane was President Barack Obama’s Senior Writer and Deputy Director of Messaging at the White House, where he worked for six years in many roles, from traveling with the president across the country and around the world on Air Force One to writing statements, jokes, op-eds, and more in the president’s voice. Pat developed the president’s appearance on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee with Jerry Seinfeld. Originally from Philadelphia, he lives with his wife in Los Angeles, where he works as a writer on the TV series Designated Survivor, starring Kiefer Sutherland.
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Gallery Books
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Copyright © 2018 by Upper Press LLC
Certain names have been changed, whether or not so noted in the text, timelines have been condensed, and several individual characters are composites.
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First Gallery Books hardcover edition April 2018
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Interior design by Bryden Spevak
Jacket design by Zoe Norvell
Jacket photograph by Shutterstock (Front Cover); Back Cover Photo by Pete Souza
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
ISBN 978-1-5011-7829-0
ISBN 978-1-5011-7831-3 (ebook)
