Bill Clinton and James Patterson tell a new political thriller book
Bill Clinton and James Patterson are releasing “The First Gentleman,” which uses Clinton’s White House experience to shape a third political thriller.
Like other authors, former President Bill Clinton has put his own bit of himself in his latest novel.
Clinton and bestselling author James Patterson bring together a third crime thriller. “The First Gentleman” follows the president’s husband at the trial, and two journalists decide to find the truth. The first gentleman and former patriot accused of murder is threatening to overturn a carefully crafted, economic “magnificent bargain” that his commander’s wife is ready to announce. It’s a perverse thriller with lots of internal work, political obstruction and many more deaths.
In an interview with USA Today, the former president shared details of the Clinton White House signature and put it in the book.
Bill Clinton reveals what White House Security gave him in his 100th run
Though murder is at the heart of this thriller novel, a key theme for the former president is “The President and her husband are people.”
“People (in the White House) have a hard time maintaining some level of normalcy, and they define that,” Clinton says. “You have to be elected president and disciplined to do your job, but you’re still a person. We all respond differently to the various things that happen, so we try to capture it.”
Before he deals with the trial of the century, the fictional first gentleman wants to go to his morning run without anyone bothering him. Instead, they need to assign him a Secret Service running partner.
Clinton himself was a morning runner for eight years as president. On his 100th run, he said his security details gave him a box of M&M.
“I went on a run for years each year. I still have the M&M box given me through the head of security details on my 100th run when I was still president,” Clinton says. “I loved it.”
“When M&M turns 20, I won’t eat anymore,” joked Patterson.
His former agent, Dan Emmett, said Clinton’s running habit was a secret service headache. In his memoirs, Emmett writes that Clinton insisted on running outside the White House to connect with the spiritual escape and the public.
“Secret Service agents are generally fit, but we had to come up with a group of agents that could run with the president. We couldn’t run and see the ground. We needed people with spare energy to fight if necessary.”
Clare Mulroy is USA Today’s Books Reporter, covering Buzzy releases, chatting with authors and diving into the culture of reading. Find her On Instagramsubscribe every week Book Newsletter Or tell her what you’re reading cmulroy@usatoday.com.
