Off the Record: My Dream Job at the White House, How I Lost It, and What I Learned Hardcover – August 11, 2020

Incredibly well written. I devoured this in a matter of hours after it was delivered. Very brave of the author to “put it all out there” in the aftermath of such a huge—and very public—life lesson. She writes about the President as a person, as anyone would write about their boss, and it is refreshing to read a more authentic view of him from someone who worked with him every day. Incredible recount of what it is like to live and work in such a powerful position—especially during the age of what can get the most “clicks”. Hats off to Ms. Westerhout for this honest and courageous work!

I loved this book! I bought it because I was impressed by her interviews. It was wonderful to hear from someone who worked closely with the President, and who obviously had such affection and respect for him. The mainstream press is so unfair to him, and I knew that he was a true patriot. To have it confirmed by someone so close to him is a wonderful thing. I have always said, look at what he DOES. The first President in my lifetime who kept his promises to the American people. I will vote for him again this year. Thank you Madeliene. President Trump could not have a better spokesperson than you!

Anyone who follows politics will enjoy seeing the inside scoop of how DC works. Fascinating to find out little details of what it’s truly like to serve a president in the White House.

“Have I been wrong about him?” This was the question, former White House Director of the Oval Office Operations, Madeleine Westerhout, asked herself about President Trump after beginning work as a greeter in the Trump White House. This put her close to the President, his staff, and White House visitors. Her eventual promotion to Director of Oval Office Operations put her even closer as she then interacted with the President many times in a typical day.Westerhout’s “Off the Record” is about her journey into politics as a staffer for the Mitt Romney campaign in 2012, then the RNC (Republican National Committee), and then landing at the White House working directly with Donald J. Trump. She provides her record of what she experienced in each of these roles.While she does share some thoughts about some Presidential staff members – General John Kelly, Mick Mulvaney, Jared Kushner, Peter Navarro, Reince Priebus, Steve Bannon, Omarosa Newman - and White House visitors including Mitt Romney, Jim Mattis, Lindsay Graham, Mike Pompeo, Rick Perry, and many celebrities, this is not a kiss-and-tell book.For those who have not bought into the media narrative about Trump, this will satisfy as it provides a different portrait of Trump, one that comes from someone who does not have an agenda or narrative to push. The portrait painted by the Mainstream Media (MSM) is colored by “reporters wrote their story first, then weighed in as both as judge and jury, and never worried about the truth.”“Off the Record” provides much needed perspective, one that rarely surfaces on the field of battle where those who oppose him resort to fabrications and distortions to damage him.Westerhout’s portrait of Trump and the Trump White House serves as an excellent counterpoint to the popular, over-reported MSM narrative. In it, she notes: - Trump keeps a grueling work schedule, from early in the morning until 9 o’clock at night. As reported, he has boundless energy and is focused on getting things done. - “He is a president for the people; he talks to them not at them.” The President is convinced he can learn something from everyone and takes time as he can to learn from all he meets. He takes the opportunity to meet people as often as he can and asks probing questions. He believes that the more ideas that can be presented to him, the better he can serve the country. He has a way of making everyone feel valued. He is kind and respectful, can let go of negative feelings and always returns phone calls - Contrary to fabricated reports to the contrary, Trump is a voracious reader. - “The president respects women more than any other man I have worked for.” He has surrounded himself with powerful and talented women – Hope Hicks, Kellyanne Conway, Nikki Haley, Elaine Chao and many more. Omarosa Newman was a big mistake. - Tump has deep compassion…and shows it in actions that are never reported. He took the afternoon off after Congressman Scalise was shot. He went to the hospital to check on him. She also tells the story of meeting with the family of William Ryan Owens, a Navy SEAL who was the first soldier to die in his watch and of stories of families he talked to after the fires in California.Westerhout provides many more stories in “Off the Record,” all of which paint a different picture of our 45th president than that presented by the MSM. She also fills in the blanks regarding her being fired after sharing insider information on the First Family to several reporters at an “off the record” dinner.My own personal story of Donald Trump centers on a day at the ATT Pebble Beach Open in the early 2000s when I wore a red NYFD baseball cap and stood along the #2 Fairway. Trump spotted the hat from the middle of the fairway and walked over to shake my hand for wearing it. He was polite and most of all, authentic. He was then, as he is now, a man of the people.Those who are anti-Trumpers will not find anything redeeming about “Off the Record.” Those who are pro-Trump and those who are at least neutral will find much of interest. I fully expect this positive review about a book that puts Donald J. Trump in a positive light will be smeared. It is to be expected today in an environment in which so many are trying to suppress anything that resembles truth.

A book that I couldn’t put down. Very interesting look at Donald Trump and the people that surround him at the White House. Westerhout initially was not an admirer, but her close contact and inside look at the President and his administration changed her opinion. A quick read that provides a lot of insight into the 45th President.

Interesting book on the behind-the-scenes of the Trump White House. It’s a story of coming of age in a tough town, the duplicitousness of the fourth estate, DC politics, and heartwarming details of President Trump that few get to see up close. I really enjoyed Madeleine’s honest self-reflection that we can all relate to, and the lessons she learned along the way we can all stand to benefit from.

While I'm sure she was competent as Executive Assistant, I must say that calling this job a "dream job" is simply stating how low her expectations are. This book is a colossal waste of time not worth the paper it's printed on.