It seems that a lot always happens behind the walls of the White House, and truth is often more strange than novels. But novels can also be very eye-catching. In the new novel "The First Gentleman" (To be published on June 2 by Brown & Co., the commander-in-chief is a woman whose husband is accused of murder. This is the third collaboration between best-selling author James Patterson and his co-author Bill Clinton.
Is there any help from Clinton in the book that Patterson cannot write? “Oh, I can’t do it any Patterson said, "I'd be lost without him. But, another thing, you know, I mean, he was the first gentleman expert. You know, he's almost a gentleman!"
"Yes, I thought about it for years. It was the only political work I wanted, but I didn't get it!" Clinton laughed. "Because I really think Hillary should be the president."
Clinton was The first The First Mr. wins his wife Hillary in the 2016 election. He said at that time he had thought a lot about his role as the president's spouse: "How would I do this if she needed me, but I wouldn't get in the way of her?"
"That's how I feel about this relationship: How can I help if it doesn't get in the way of you?" Patterson said. “I am the first gentleman in our (relationship)!”
"If you believe this, I want to get some land in Arizona, I want to show you!" Clinton smiled.
Sometimes, the White House with their makeup looks almost like real life. In this book, the president has been working hard in a painful personal crisis. President Clinton also continued to work in the 1999 impropriety lawsuit, some of whom tried to kick him out of the White House. "They were surprised by that," he said. "They would do business with me and, as far as they know, I don't remember what happened. We'd try to finalize the deal."
In the improvisation? "Because that's what I'm hiring," Clinton said. "The American people don't pay you personal feelings. They pay them to deliver."
Clinton and Patterson have been delivering since 2018 Their first book on the disappearance of the presidentin 2021, their second about the president's daughter was kidnapped. Both are bestsellers. But for them, it's not all about work.
When asked how their relationship evolved together in their three books, Clinton replied, “We played more golf.”
"He has been president many times, but I have more holes," Patterson said.
"Oh my god. OK, I have one; he has one; Nine," Clinton said. "How many Americans are in a one-on-one hole? ”
"I know. That's sick," Patterson said. "Remember I'm a novelist."
"Stop the madness for a while"
I asked: “There are a lot of political dramas in the world today, political dramas in real life.
"I think it's 100%. I mean, one of the benefits here is that you escape, but you're not completely escaping reality. It's like, 'Yes, I love this. I can't put it down.' or "I've been reading," or in some cases, it's better for me, that's what you don't want it to end up."
"I think it's useful, 'cause there are a lot of people wandering around and they're gone, 'Oh my god, oh my god, please stop'? That makes it stop for a while, and stops the madness for a while."
"One of the reasons I want to have an appetite is...I hope people will still believe in our democracy enough to stick with it and continue to push it to make it work," Clinton said.
In the summer, Patterson lives at his home in the Hudson River. The president is about five miles.
Asked what they might have learned from each other during the writing process, Patterson said: “Concept…no need to worry about something we can do. able Do something about it and try to do it. ”
Their new book is coming tomorrow, and they hope it is another bestseller. But if you spend any time completely with Patterson and Clinton, you will feel that their partnership is about money that cannot be purchased.
I asked, “When you wrote your first book together, the New York Times said that you two did each other in the sense of Jerry Maguire.”
"Well, we kind of do it," Patterson said. "It's been driving me for months, and it's: I'm short. What's the most beautiful thing I can do? In this case, it's a beautiful thing to do with my friends."
Reading excerpts: "Mr. One" by Bill Clinton and James Patterson
Web Exclusive: Watch Bill Clinton and James Patterson's Extended Interview
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A story produced by John D'Amelio. Editor: Jason Schmidt.