Former Bush Chief of Staff Jean Becker and Senior Staffer Tom Collamore to speak at Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library on their book, Don’t Tell the President: The Best, Worst, and Mostly Untold Stor

Chamber Member Press Release

Ann Arbor, MI, September 17, 2026 – The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library is pleased to

welcome authors Jean Becker and Tom Collamore, who will present a one-hour program on their
book Don’t Tell the President: The Best, Worst, and Mostly Untold Stories from Presidential
Advance on October 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Library, 1000 Beal Ave., Ann Arbor, MI.
Becker and Collamore bring together the most harrowing and hilarious stories behind
presidential events over the past sixty years, detailing the art of preparation that goes into these
delicate, high stress operations and revealing how they have often been one step away from
disaster. Don’t Tell the President brings together the uproarious chaos of Veep and the grandeur
of The West Wing.

“I am looking forward to hosting this book talk,” said Brooke Clement, Director of the
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum. “There’s so much that goes into the
advance-work of presidential visits - the stories that we will get to hear are sure to be
entertaining.”

Jean Becker served as chief of staff for President George H.W. Bush for nearly twenty-five years.
She’s the editor of Pearls of Wisdom by Barbara Bush; author of The New York Times bestseller,
The Man I Knew: The Amazing Story of George H.W. Bush’s Post Presidency; and Character
Matters … And Other Life Lessons from George H.W. Bush. Prior to her post as chief of staff,
Becker served as deputy press secretary to First Lady Barbara Bush and was a newspaper
reporter for 10 years, including a four-year stint at USA TODAY.

Tom Collamore first met President George H.W. Bush in 1978 as his driver and became part of
his inner circle of staffers. Collamore served in various roles throughout the twelve years of
President Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush’s administrations and has been an advisor to the
George and Barbara Bush Foundation for over thirty years. 

Following the program, there will be a book signing and dessert reception.
The event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged:
www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/events

About the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum Opened to the public in April
1981, the Gerald R. Ford Library houses archival materials on the life, career, and presidency of
Gerald Ford, the president of the United States from 1974 to 1977. Visitors are invited to explore
free, temporary exhibits and programs. Part of the presidential library system of the National
Archives and Records Administration (NARA), a federal agency, the Ford Library is located on
the north campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The Gerald R. Ford Museum,
located in downtown Grand Rapids, allows visitors to experience highlights from the lives of
President Gerald Ford, the 38th President of the United States (1974–1977), and his wife, Betty
Ford. For more information, visit www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov.

About the National Archives The National Archives and Records Administration is the nation's
record keeper. It safeguards and manages the official records of the U.S. Government, ensuring
the documentation of our nation's history. For more information, visit www.archives.gov.
About the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation The Gerald R. Ford Presidential
Foundation fosters increased awareness of the life, career, values and legacy of America’s 38th
President. It does so through activities designed to promote the high ideals of integrity, honesty,
and candor that defined President Ford’s extraordinary career of public service. The Foundation
promotes the ideals, values, commitment to public service and historical legacy of President
Gerald R. Ford and further promotes greater civic engagement and recognition of integrity
wherever it exists in the public arena. It supports permanent and changing exhibits designed to
promote historical literacy; conferences; educational outreach and other programs, both scholarly
and popular.
 

Former Bush Chief of Staff Jean Becker and Senior Staffer Tom Collamore to speak at Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library on their book, Don’t Tell the President: The Best, Worst, and Mostly Untold Stor