Written by Allie Plunk
Starting off an insightful day with George H.W. Bush’s post-presidency chief of
Staff, Jean Becker, we met at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences building here on campus for a book talk and signing!
Though some of us had attended a previous event on her book tour, everyone was enthralled by Becker’s charismatic and engaging discussion of her newest book, Don’t Tell the President, co-authored by Tom Collamore. We listened eagerly as she discussed accounts of several of the stories of advance workers– the people who make sure that events go as planned– across presidencies from Lyndon B. Johnson to Barack Obama.
After several humorous anecdotes about the less-than-elegant side to life while working for the White House (like getting peed on at a phone booth while talking to her boss)…
…Becker closed on a more somber note. She reminded us that Americans have to pull together to make progress, and she highlighted the way that–despite their differences–Presidents Bush and Clinton worked together to raise funds for hurricane relief and that President Obama stopped in to Houston, days before President Bush’s death, to thank him for his service to the country.
This serves as a reminder of what our future both as a people and as a country, should look like: putting aside differences and helping each other where we can.
Following the book talk, Becker generously agreed to sign copies of her new book! Students lined up eagerly, discussing the fascinating stories she had shared. We were all very excited and grateful to have had her with us at Sam Houston once again.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 