Virtual Event with White House Staff Members Jean Becker and Tom Collamore

Please join us for a virtual program with Jean Becker and Tom Collamore on their latest book, Don’t Tell the President: The Best, Worst, and Mostly Untold Stories from Presidential Advance (Publish Date: February 3, 2026). Don’t Tell the President includes details from 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.

Pre-signed copies of Don’t Tell the President can be purchased through the registration process. 

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. The book includes illuminating first-hand accounts from dedicated employees who worked for every modern-day president from Lyndon Johnson to Barack Obama, a few First Ladies, and few vice presidents.

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.

Jean Becker was chief of staff for George H.W. Bush from March 1, 1994, until his death on November 30, 2018. Tom Collamore served in the White House on Vice President Bush's senior staff, traveling with the Vice President to all 50 states and more than 60 countries.