Wyoming Arts Council

From White House to political thriller writer


From a Teton County Public Library press release:

Author Karna Small Bodman will describe how she weaves her White House experience into suspenseful novels when Teton County Library presents a free talk, “From Politics to Political Thrillers” with Karna Small Bodman, on Wednesday, August 13, from 7-8 p.m., in the Teton County Library’s Ordway Auditorium in Jackson.

Bodman is an author, television journalist and former Senior Director of the White House National Security Council under President Reagan. During her talk, she will share startling details of her life in the political arena. As one example, she was scheduled to be in the car with Press Secretary Jim Brady the day of the assassination attempt on President Reagan. At the last minute, she stayed back at the White House. She spent that day in the Situation Room with members of the President’s Cabinet.

“I would have been walking out of the Hilton Hotel with Jim and the President the moment that John Hinckley shot them both,” she said. She’ll describe the events of that fateful day along with many other White House experiences she’s incorporated into her political thrillers. Her novels include “Checkmate” and its sequel, “Gambit,” which was featured on the “Today Show.” A book signing will follow her talk.

Bodman served in the White House for six years. When she left to become Senior Vice President of a public affairs firm, she was the highest ranking woman on the White House staff. Her last post was Senior Director of the National Security Council. She was also on the air for 15 years as a TV news reporter and anchor in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and New York.

For more information on this program, contact the library’s Adult Humanities Coordinator Oona Doherty at 733-2164 ext. 135 or visit the library’s website, www.tclib.org.


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