by Cliff Sims
First published 2019
Cliff Sims stands beside Donald Trump on Election Night, then follows him into the White House as Special Assistant to the President and Director of Message Strategy. Within the West Wing's walls, Sims becomes Trump's confidante, advisor, errand runner, and occasional target. He sits through private meetings with Congressional leaders and foreign dignitaries. He watches Trump navigate presidential crises while taking hundreds of pages of real-time notes. Around him, staff members leak information, backstab colleagues, and jockey for influence. Sims witnesses Steve Bannon's maneuvers, observes Jared Kushner's quiet power, and tracks John Kelly's attempts at order. He helps Trump identify loyal allies and mark enemies for future retribution. Through West Wing successes and disasters, Sims maintains his position in the president's shifting inner circle. This insider's account captures the daily reality of serving a volatile commander in chief, where loyalty tests come without warning and survival requires constant adaptation.
Genres: american, politics, biography-memoir, 21st-century, current-affairs, american-history
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: insider-perspective, loyalty-tests, survival
Setting: West Wing, White House
Period: Election Night
360 pages · Hardcover · Thomas Dunne Books