Who Thought This Was a Good Idea is a fun, wholesome read about better presidential times. Mastromonaco worked for BO before he was on the national scene and continued until she'd served as Deputy Chief of Staff for I think three years. It seems she left because the job was a little stressful, especially her position, which was essentially Logistics Engineer Where the Whole World Is Watching. Seriously horrible, but glamorous job. Still, Mastromonaco has time for a giant cat, who is a highlight of the story.

The story itself--all entertaining and relatable, but some people, of whom I am one, like linearity, even if some authors don't.



Re: tampons, menstruators in the White House learn to carry extra tampons, because they have each others' backs. Like, you don't want to have a leak showing through your pants when the Secret Service or the president is walking behind you. Mastromonaco's biggest achievement, celebrated only in this book, was getting a tampon dispenser installed in a West Wing bathroom. The Lordessa's work.

Another favorite moment is when she narcs on Andrew Cuomo for being an information hoarder after Hurricane Sandy.