To the entire staff at the DNC. I love you all. You’re my family for life—thank you for your courage, tenacity, and steadfastness in the face of danger, personal insults, harassment, and much more. Some of you never knew of or understood the danger that came our way. But, you came in every day, weekends and holidays included, to work to help our first female nominee fight to become president of the United States. We came back from a massive debt to compete, and we raised funds for Democrats up and down the ballot. We all owe you a debt of gratitude for your commitment to the cause of justice and equality for all. To the Research, Tech, Digital, Comms, and political staffs, I never lost faith in any of you. Party Affairs and Finance, you’re amazing, too. Alecia Dyer, let’s not forget those who served. Thank you, team.
Although we came up short, I am still in awe of the workload and long hours of the entire DNC team. Your dedication to the cause made a huge difference. I look forward to returning as an intern again—but I’m done with being your leader.
To Pratt Wiley, Hannah Fried, Will Crossley, Greg Moore, Kevin Jefferson, Seth Rich, and everyone who has contributed to and believed in the DNC’s Voting Rights Institute, Fannie Lou Hamer would be damn proud of all of you. The right to vote is sacred, and we must continue to fight for every eligible citizen to vote and have it counted. And let us not forget to restore the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
To the best researcher in American politics, Lauren Dillon, for your help in keeping a great timeline on the entire hacking of the DNC.
Special thanks to the following DNC staff members, consultants, and members of my Wings and Wine Caucus.
First, Donnie Fowler Jr. He’s my son from another mother’s womb. I fell in love with Donnie when I hired him for the Gephardt 88 campaign. He’s been at my side in every major political battle, so when I became chair, I called Donnie to join me. He left behind his beautiful wife and two young daughters to spend the fall campaign in Washington, DC. His tech savvy combined with his grassroots organizing ability made him the perfect seat mate for the final weeks of campaign 2016. Donnie was my eyes and ears on the ground. Bless you, Donnie.
To Anne Friedman, my other child from another mother’s womb. She not only kept up with my erratic schedule, she ensured that I had something to eat every day (so what if it was healthy) and made sure I got to my various destinations safely. Although Anne is Jewish, she served as one of my outreach captains to the Black Lives Matter movement and kept me informed of their activities. She became one of their advocates and also did major battle for the DNC’s outreach to millennials.
To Mike Lux, my longtime friend and progressive warrior. Early on, Mike took my call and came over to the DNC to help build ties between the progressive community and the DNC. Mike wasn’t just an advocate, he was the leader who helped me reach out and build consensus, and helped shape our closing argument on some of the media we sponsored at the DNC. Mike brought along his extensive Rolodex and was instrumental in helping the DNC raise much-needed funds for the final months of the campaign. Without him, the party could not have provided resources to state parties and down-ballot races often ignored in presidential races.
To Adam Parkhomenko, Leah Daughtry, Brian Bond, John Neffinger, Zac Petkanas, Kandie Stroud, Cynthia Jazzo Rutundo, and many others whose service went beyond the role of a party strategist or consultant. You all are damn good warriors. God is not done with you. There’s one more fight in all of you.
To Julie Greene, Patrice Taylor, and Charles Olivier—founding members of the Wings and Wine Caucus. Don’t worry, I will never share our secrets, late night talks over at the “Club,” or hanging out in Denver, Colorado. You all kept me sane. You made me laugh, and you never wavered in your support of the DNC. You played it straight and by the rules. We pulled five major events together in less than six weeks. We knew there was no room for any errors. And we didn’t flinch. You are more than my coworkers, you’re members of my family. Thank you.
Special appreciation to a longtime friend, warrior, and strategist, Tom McMahon. When I saw you at the DNC Convention in Philadelphia, I said to expect my call: You responded, and I am deeply grateful for your leadership. As the anointed cochair of the Wings and Wine Caucus and my designee—just in case—I am forever mindful that some of us are called to serve. Thank you for responding to the call to service and for helping me rebuild the fifty state strategies. When I told you that I wasn’t going to get paid but insisted that you get paid because you’re a father of four kids, you resisted. There’s no easy way to say thank you, but I hope that your children will one day know how brave and tough their father was in helping to save the party from the extreme hacking that was done. The party owes you a debt of gratitude.
Finally, to the cybersecurity task force led by Michael Sussmann at Perkins Coie, Nicole Wong, Aneesh Chopra, and Rand Beers, you all taught me more about cybersecurity, protocols, and much more. Special thanks to the brave men and women of Hacker House. You’re some of the badasses in the cyberworld. And I mean that in a good way. To Shawn Henry, and Dimitri at CrowdStrike. Thanks for helping us clean up the mess created by the Russian meddling and interference. Your remediation services throughout allowed us to build stronger.
To the many staffers and volunteers working in Brooklyn at the DNC or HVF headquarters, thank you for moving away from home to help the team up at HFA. To Bernie Sanders, Martin O’Malley, and the other presidential candidates, your support enabled me to do my job as interim chair. To Julie Goodridge, whom I met on one long, hot summer day—your insights, love, and support was invaluable throughout the campaign. Good luck in all that you’re doing to make this a more just world.
And to my dearest of friends, Elizabeth L. Marvin, whose wise counsel and special bond helped me figure out the impossible and stay afloat. Her legal advice, along with her colleagues at Lewis Baach Kaufmann Middlemiss PLLC, enabled me to focus on the campaign and not all the legal stuff that comes up throughout a long and entangled political season. When I needed clarity, you provided sound and wise advice. Thanks to Jeffrey Robinson, Eric Lewis, and your assistant for being part of my team.
To Mia Coffman, a proud Navy veteran, Betsy’s partner, and my friend who can handle herself in an alley fight, thank you for providing me with delicious meals (shout-out to Hello Fresh), midday humor, and for reminding me to get back on my bike. Of course, you made me buy a bike, too, but riding again helped to jog my memory and get out of my house.
You also brought a special little angel into my life—Kai Wolf Coffman-Marvin. While you recuperated, I was one of his babysitters. For six weeks, I held this little boy in my arms, and he made me smile again. Now he’s walking and calling me Nana. Betsy and Mia, you know what it means to be part of the Who Dat family. Thank you for allowing me to insert myself into your lives until I could get back to my own. Our weekend meals, yawl tolerance for my crazy hours, for keeping Chip beyond the call of friendship, for endless meals, support, love, prayers, watering my plants, grabbing my mail, helping me navigate a new security system and protocol, and for checking on my house and allowing me to vent in a no-judgment zone. Your friendship means the world to me.
Kai, with those bright blue eyes. I look forward to watching him grow up and, of course, teaching him how to dance.
To another son from another mother, Adam Talbot. You’re talented, and I can’t thank you enough for helping me during some tumultuous storms.
To David Kusnet for your keen insights and intelligence. For helping me understand the breaking news from the perspective of working people. And to David Dreyer, for keeping me grounded and focused on the day-to-day struggles within our party.
To the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, SEIU, Teamsters, Laborers, UAW, Carpenters, Machinists and other major international unions who once again pulled out the stops to help us register new voters, organize vast numbers of communities, and help us raise much needed funds for voter protection and turnout, I am proud to be not only a member of two unions, but so very grateful for your supp
ort over my long years in politics and organizing.
To my colleagues at Georgetown University, including my TA, Jeanna Galper, the Women and Gender Studies Department, and all my students. Thanks for your steadfast support.
A special thank-you to my neighbors in Crestwood, my colleagues at Brazile and Associates—my great assistant, Ro’Chelle Williams; my editor, Neil Scott; the most talented and most supportive writer, Bruce Cherry; pollsters Stefan Hankins and Cornell Belcher; my IT and tech guru, Dan Hopkins (Mr. Two Steps); and the late David Kaufmann, who taught me so much about acts of goodness and kindness. To my former editor, Clint Hooker, and colleagues at Universal U’Click. Special thanks to all my former editors and colleagues at Ms. magazine, Essence magazine, and O, the Oprah Magazine.
To President Barack Obama, for fulfilling one of my dreams to serve as a member of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. And to Vice President Joe Biden, for those special “Black on Black” meetings.
To my former colleagues at CNN. I miss y’all, especially the hair and makeup crew and so many wonderful producers and former producers like Lucy Spiegel. You all taught me to “stay calm and carry on.” And to my colleagues at ABC News, especially George Stephanopoulos, Robin Roberts, executive producer Marc Burstein, Jonathan Greenberger, Mae Joo, Kate Bosland, Kerry Smith, and so many others, including Elena George for outfitting me and encouraging me to wear those mink eyelashes. Thanks for allowing me to be part of the team that won an Emmy.
Last but never forgotten—my large and extended family. You have always been in my corner. Your love and support keeps me strong and picks me up when I stumble. Our parents raised us to stick together, and you continue to stand by me—warts and all.
My phenomenal sisters Cheryl, Lisa, Demetria, and Zeola—all I can say is you are my role models and personal heroes. I know that it’s often tough to place you and your family in the line of target, especially in the heat of a presidential campaign. Rest assured, I will continue to try to live up to our mother Jean’s high standards.
My amazing brothers Chet and Kevin—whose strength matches that of our late father, Lionel. Your prayers were truly amazing. I heard your prayers when you sent those words: “No weapon formed against Thee shall prosper.”
To my many nieces and nephews who kept me posted on family gossip, sent me their grades (go Brianna and Chet Jr.), shared family photos, posted favorable things about their Aunt Donna when I was under attack, and came up postelection for our traditional New Orleans–style Thanksgiving meal, I love you all from the bottom of my heart.
To all my cousins and especially Louis Smalls, Tina Yancy, Gina Theis, and Michael Brown—y’all kept texting me to stay the course. Your prayers were powerful and I am grateful beyond words.
I will never forget the many friends who wrote, called, or texted me to encourage me to stand up. Your thoughts and prayers were indeed a powerful blessing to me through the many storms. Special thanks to author Iyanla Vanzant, my longtime mentor Eleanor Holmes Norton, longtime friends Dr. Toni Luck, Priscilla Perkins, and Julia Hudson, my healing sisters Sherry Dmytrewycz, Sandra Andacht, Dr. Andrea Sullivan, Dr. Sonya Chawla, and my acupuncturist Dr. Ni, the amazing financial guru Suze Orman, my New Orleans cup buddy Mary Matalin, and lawyer, TV whiz, and friend Greta Van Susteren—sisters for life.
If I left anyone out, it wasn’t because you’re forgotten or unloved. I will never forget you—for you not only prayed for me, you had my back.
To Mr. Singh who never failed to be there to pick me up and was always on time. Mark Penn for encouraging me to get back on the saddle, along with Michael Eric Dyson. To Henry Louis “Skip” Gates and Glenn Hutchins, who helped me to stay calm in the storm and find my way back to shore. To Elaine Kamarck, who introduced me to the Spook. And yes, to the Spook, who kept me steady.
This book is for all of you—and for our great country. But I urge everyone to remember what former Senator Ted Kennedy taught us in defeat when he said “the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.”
I’m proud to be an American.
ALSO BY DONNA BRAZILE
Cooking with Grease: Stirring the Pots in American Politics
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