The Confidantes

“The Confidantes is a truly unique history of the women in the West Wing who sit closest to the president. As Kate did in The Residence, she takes us inside the Oval Office for the defining moments of American history, from the earliest days of World War II to September 11 to Inauguration Day 2017. We see these monumental moments unfold through the eyes of the president's right-hand woman - the gatekeeper who sees everything. These are the real White House insiders.”
 —Dana Bash, New York Times bestselling author of America's Deadliest Election, host of CNN's Inside Politics and co-host of State of the Union

“The Confidantes is a deeply researched and vividly written group portrait of the undervalued women who have nobly served as secretaries to U.S. presidents.  Every page is a revelation. Highly recommended!” —Douglas Brinkley, Professor of History at Rice University and author of Rightful Heritage: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Land of America

“Every page of The Confidantes left me astonished: these women have been hiding in the historical record for so long. Kate Andersen Brower has uncovered one of the great untold stories of the American presidency—and once you know it, you cannot unknow it."—Norah O’Donnell, 60 Minutes Correspondent and bestselling author of We the Women

"Spanning decades of war and peace, scandal and triumph, Brower’s journalistic rigor and narrative flair combine for a riveting exploration of these remarkable women. The Confidantes illuminates just how heavily the weight of the office—as well as the burden of history itself—falls on these indispensable individuals. You may not have heard of most of these women before opening this book, but now, thanks to Kate Andersen Brower, you will never forget them."—Denise Kiernan, New York Times bestselling author of The Girls of Atomic City