Author Chris Whipple spent the first two years of the Biden presidency talking to the president's inner circle for his newest book, which includes insider tidbits on the 46th president's administration and other juicy details.
"People have asked me, why did I write a book about Joe Biden's White House, and the answer is, why not?" Whipple told The Hill about his book, "The Fight of His Life," which was released Tuesday.
"I was fortunate to get extraordinary access."
Biden's team is notoriously closed off from the media, particularly compared to the often leak-prone prior administration of former President Trump. Whipple said "it's a rich story and in a way it's a tale of two presidencies."
VP, Afghanistan tensions
Whipple's book details Biden's reported frustrations with Vice President Harris, his distrust of the Secret Service and deep disagreements over the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
"There was plenty of drama behind closed doors," Whipple said.
He reported there was particular frustration from Harris insiders over her daunting portfolio — deemed a "mission impossible."
"He [Biden] felt like he hadn't asked her to do anything he didn't do as vice president under [then-President] Obama," Whipple said.
Russia and Jan. 6
The first year of Biden's tenure was marked by "daunting challenges," Whipple notes, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.
The book also looks at Biden trying to fend off GOP attacks and marshaling the international community in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"Everything changed when [Russian President Vladimir] Putin invaded Ukraine," Whipple said. "The second year has been a very different story."
Some other highlights:
- Biden's biggest challenge? "I think the crisis at the border has been the most difficult challenge for Biden," Whipple said. "He just felt there were no good answers and almost everything you do or attempt to do pisses off one group or another."
- In 2017, Whipple published "The Gatekeepers," a book about the role various White House chiefs of staff have played across administrations. So how does Biden's chief Ron Klain compare? Whipple said he's arguably one of the best chiefs in modern history: "He knows Joe Biden and has known him for more than 30 years."
- And about Klain's notoriously snarky Twitter feed: "I don't think Joe Biden begrudges Ron Klain's Twitter habit," he said.
Read more highlights from the book via The Hill's coverage here and here.
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