Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?: And Other Questions You Should Have Answers to When You Work in the White House

by Alyssa Mastromonaco

But in New York there is like a $10 toll just for stepping out of your apartment. (Today it’s more like $25.)

A Fuck You account is the money you keep around in case you need to say “Fuck you!” to someone or something, fast—a boyfriend or girlfriend, a terrible job, a shitty landlord. The more money you have in savings, the more mental space you can give yourself in making decisions, and the more secure you’ll feel.

I did not hesitate in thanking them for this blessed opportunity and immediately started thinking about ways I could spice up Top Ramen.

😂

I have learned a lot about myself over the years, mostly because I was open to hearing feedback.

I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I usually dislike someone before I like them. I’m sensitive—especially when I’m tired or feel I’m being misunderstood.

there is a very fine line between too many hands and not enough.

So I went rogue. We added the local elected officials to the conference call ourselves and only told the governor’s office at the last minute.

Badass move

flooding, Amtrak needed divers to go and check it out, but there was some issue with their divers and they hadn’t gone down yet. I asked if the Army Corps had divers. Turns out they did. I asked why they couldn’t go. They could! So we sent them. And the trains (slowly) started running again.

Sadly, we often don’t hear about these small but high impact things that govt officials do.

I emailed Pfeiffer to tell him, and he wrote back saying he had read my email as “I got enraged” before he realized it said “engaged.”

I don’t know why, but this made me lol for 5 straight minutes.

(We ultimately brokered a deal that, in front of other senators, I would call him Senator Obama, but otherwise it was Barack.)

So humble...

He was just messing with us. Still, when Obama walked by, we no longer said “Hey” and kept working—we stood up. He would tell us to sit back down, but we always stood up.

Respect!

He gave me a prescription for Zoloft.

Just love how real she is. Not a ton of people would admit this, let alone half the other things in this book.