The East Wing
Power, Intrigue, and the Untold Story of America's First Ladies
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The East Wing
Pre-order for $28.95
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Narrated by:
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Lipica Shah
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By:
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Azadeh Moaveni
Summary
"Masterful." —Kate Brower Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of The Residence
An in-depth examination of women and power in Washington through the lens of the complex relationship between First Ladies and their staffs by Pulitzer finalist Azadeh Moaveni.
It could be said that every First Lady runs a court—a hub of political power within the White House, a place where enterprising aides vie for influence and patronage, a theatre of intrigue and counsel where great heights are uniquely possible, but so too is ruin. And the First Lady's aides are at the center of it all.
Behind the scenes throughout history, East Wing staffers have boldly advanced civil rights legislation, defused tension with America’s enemies, brought more women into government, and backed abortion rights. Their relationships and problems, their management and cultivation of the media landscape and the Georgetown social scene, are at the heart of the forces that have shaped the institution of the East Wing.
In The East Wing, academic and journalist Azadeh Moaveni blends original reporting, including extensive interviews with key players from past East Wings, with expert research and analysis to take readers deep inside the fascinating and high stakes world of the First Lady’s office like never before.
Spanning the most defining decades of the twentieth century, from the New Deal era, to the myth-making Kennedys, to the turbulent, MAGA-influenced 2020s, The East Wing is the captivating true story of the First Lady’s staffers and their role in the executive branch of governance, as well as the evolution of female leadership in our country.
Critic Reviews
"The East Wing itself may not exist anymore, but the presidential spouse and her complicated role remains. Azadeh Moaveni does a masterful job of telling the hopeful and inspiring story of the first ladies through the decades and shines a light on the men and women who have served them." —Kate Andersen Brower, New York Times bestselling author of The Residence
"Azadeh Moaveni brings an historian’s sharp insights and a reporter’s eye for the delicious detail to the East Wing." —Susan Page, Washington Bureau chief of USA TODAY and New York Times bestselling author of The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty
"Smart, engrossing, and deeply insightful... a compelling and important contribution to our understanding of the modern presidency." —J. Randy Taraborrelli, New York Times bestselling author of Jackie: Public, Private, Secret
"Well-reported and gripping, Azadeh Moaveni’s The East Wing provides a fascinating window into the powerful office of the First Lady, revealing the back-stage maneuvering to shape the policy and image of a presidency. With new details combined with historical research, she paints vivid portraits of influential yet often unknown staffers." —Meryl Gordon, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman Who Knew Everyone
"A deeply researched—and lively—insiders' account of the little-understood ways in which first ladies from Jacqueline Kennedy to Melania Trump (twice) found ways to further their agendas, build their images and leave their own marks on history. " —Karen Tumulty, Washington Post columnist and author of The Triumph of Nancy Reagan
"Offers sharp insight and graceful writing along with nonstop drama and dynamic portraits of the women she describes. You will remember these women and their critical contributions long after you turn the last page of this extraordinary book." —Heath Hardage Lee, author of The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon and The League of Wives