Thank you, buddy Debi Mohile, whose keen eye kept me honest on (almost) every page and whose great sense of humor always made it a pleasure. He is fearless and insightful, and without his creative instinct, this book wouldn't be the same.

From the brainstorming of the plot, to the research, to the nitpicky details, Scoop was the master of ceremonies. Since the White House prides itself on secrecy, I owe immense thank-yous to the following people who let me sneak in: Steve 'Scoop' Cohen, for… well… for being Scoop. Her endless faith continually helps us keep it all in perspective, and we wouldn't be here without her Elaine Rogers, whose tremendous energy brought new definition to the term gangbusters Sharon Silva-Lamberson, Stephanie Wilson, Nicole Linehan, Ellen O'Donnell, Hope Denekamp, Lindsey Shaw, Ike Wilson, and everyone else at the Palmer & Dodge Agency, who keep the machine running and are among the nicest people I've encountered. Of everything I've been fortunate enough to experience as a writer, one of the best rewards was finding Jill. I love you, C-if it weren't for you, this book wouldn't exist and neither would I Jill Kneerim, my agent, for one of the kindest, most rewarding friendships I've ever known. From pre-book plotting to final-form editing, she is everything at every moment: friend, hand-holder, advisor, editor, partner, lover, soul-mate. I wish to thank the following people, whose love and support never fail to inspire: As always, my First Lady, Cori, who is an endless source of patience and inspiration-especially as I continually drive the two of us to the limits of sanity.

The first counsel by brad meltzer