From a top speechwriter to President George W. Bush and Donald Rumsfeld, this New York Times bestseller may be the most deliciously candid memoir ever written about official Washington--a laugh-out-loud cri de coeur that shows what can happen to idealism in a town driven by self-interest. New York TimesBestseller .From aformer White House speechwriter comes adeliciously candid memoir about official Washington-a laugh-out-loud cri de coeur that shows what can happen to idealism in a town driven by self-interest. " An entertaining book about what goes on-or doesn't-in Washington."-American Spectator Despite being raised by reliably liberal parents, Matt Latimer islured by the upbeat themes of the Reagan Revolution and, in the tradition of Mary Tyler Moore, sets off from the Midwest for the big city. Determined to "make it after all," Matt daydreams of eradicating do-nothing boondoggleism and leadingAmerica to new heights of greatness. But first he has to find a job. Like an inside-the-Beltway Dante, Matt descendsinto Washington, D.C., hell,andsnares a series of increasingly lofty-but unsatisfying-jobs with powerful figures on Capitol Hill.When Fate offers Matt a job as chief speechwriter for Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Matt finds he actuallyadmiresthe man (causing his liberal friends to shake their heads in dismay), his youthful passion is renewed. But Rummy soon becomes a pinata for the press, and the Department of Defense is revealed as alarmingly dysfunctional. Eventually, Matt lands at the White House, his heart aflutter with the hope that, here at last, he can fulfill his dream of penning words that will become part of history-andmaybe pick up some cool souvenirs. But reality intrudes once again. More likeThe OfficethanThe West Wing,the nation's most storied office building is run by staffers who arein way over their heads, and almost everything the public has been told about the major players-Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, Rove-is wrong. Both a rare behind-the-scenes account that boldly names the fools and scoundrels, and a poignant lament for the principled conservatism that disappeared during the Bush presidency,Speech-lesswill forever change the public's view of our nation's capital and the people who joust daily for its power. Praise forSpeech-less "Deft, surprising, darned entertaining." -Christopher Buckley "It's a good read... quite frankly, the stories are funny!" -Pat Buchanan