Team of Five : The Presidents Club in the Age of Trump

USA Today Bestseller From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Residence and First Women—also a New York Times bestseller—comes a poignant, news-making look at the lives of the five former presidents in the wake of their White House years, including the surprising friendships they have formed through shared perspective and empathy. After serving the highest office of American government, five men—Jimmy Carter, the late George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama—became members of the world’s most exclusive fraternity. In Team of Five, Kate Andersen Brower goes beyond the White House to uncover what, exactly, comes after the presidency, offering a glimpse into the complex relationships of these five former presidents, and how each of these men views his place in a nation that has been upended by the Oval Office’s current, norm-breaking occupant, President Donald Trump. With an empathetic yet critical eye and firsthand testimony from the Carters, Donald Trump, and the top aides, friends, and family members of the five former presidents, Team of Five takes us inside the exclusive world of these powerful men and their families, including the unlikely friendship between George W. Bush and Michelle Obama, the last private visits Bill Clinton and Barack Obama shared with George H.W. Bush, and the Obamas’ flight to Palm Springs after Donald Trump’s inauguration. Perhaps most timely, this insightful, illuminating book overflows with anecdotes about how the ex-presidents are working to combat President Trump’s attempts to undo the achievements and hard work accomplished during their own terms. Perhaps most poignantly, Team of Five sheds light on the inherent loneliness and inevitable feelings of powerlessness and frustration that come with no longer being the most important person in the world, but a leader with only symbolic power. There are ways, though, that these men, and their wives, have become powerful political and cultural forces in American life, even as so-called “formers.” Team of Five includes 16 pages of color photographs. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Residence and First Women#8212;also a New York Times bestseller#8212;comes a poignant, news-making look at the lives of the five former presidents in the wake of their White House years, including the surprising friendships they have formed through shared perspective and empathy. After serving the highest office of American government, five men#8212;Jimmy Carter, the late George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama#8212;became members of the world's most exclusive fraternity. In Team of Five, Kate Andersen Brower goes beyond the White House to uncover what, exactly, comes after the presidency, offering a glimpse into the complex relationships of these five former presidents, and how each of these men views his place in a nation that has been upended by the Oval Office's current, norm-breaking occupant, President Donald Trump. With an empathetic yet critical eye and firsthand testimony from the Carters, Donald Trump, and the top aides, friends, and family members of the five former presidents, Team of Five takes us inside the exclusive world of these powerful men and their families, including the unlikely friendship between George W. Bush and Michelle Obama, the last private visits Bill Clinton and Barack Obama shared with George H.W. Bush, and the Obamas' flight to Palm Springs after Donald Trump's inauguration. Perhaps most timely, this insightful, illuminating book overflows with anecdotes about how the ex-presidents are working to combat President Trump's attempts to undo the achievements and hard work accomplished during their own terms. Perhaps most poignantly, Team of Five sheds light on the inherent loneliness and inevitable feelings of powerlessness and frustration that come with no longer being the most important person in the world, but a leader with only symbolic power. There are ways, though, that these men, and their wives, have become powerful political and cultural forces in American life, even as so-called "formers." Team of Five includes 16 pages of color photographs After serving in the highest office of American government, five men-Jimmy Carter, the late George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama-became members of the world's most exclusive fraternity. In Team of Five, Kate Andersen Brower reveals what life is like after the presidency, and she uncovers the complex relationships among these five former presidents, and first ladies, in a nation that has been upended by the Oval Office's current, norm-breaking occupant, President Donald Trump. With an empathetic yet critical eye-and drawing on an Oval Office meeting with Doanld Trump, first-hand testimony from the Carters, and interviews with top adies, friends, and family members of the former presidents-Bowers takes us inside an exclusive world. Highlights include the unlikely friendshio between Geroge W. Bush and Michelle Obama, the last private Visits Bill Clinton and Barack Obamas' flight to Pal, Springs after Donald Trump's inauguration. Perhaps most timely, this insightful book overflows with anedotes about how the ex-presidents are working to combat President Trump's attemps to undo their accomplishments. Although they must grapple with the inevitable feeling of powerlessness and frustration that come with no longer being the most important person in the world, these men, and their wives, have found ways to become influential political and cultural forces in American life, even as so-called formers "After serving the highest office of American government, five men--Jimmy Carter, the late George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama--became members of the world's most exclusive fraternity. In Team of five, Kate Andersen Brower reveals what life is like after the presidency, and she uncovers the complex relationships among these former presidents, and first ladies, in a nation that has been upended by the Oval Office's current, norm-breaking occupant, President Donald Trump. With an empathetic yet critical eye--and drawing on an Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump, first-hand testimony from the Carters, and interviews with top aides, friends, and family members of the former presidents--Brower takes us inside an exclusive world."--Dust jacket flap