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

Two former staffers to President George H. W. Bush bring together 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.

© 2026 Harper (Audiobook): 9780063446816

Release date

Audiobook: 3 February 2026