The briefing

For more than two decades Spicer had been a respected political insider, working as a campaign and communications strategist. In December 2016, he got the call of a lifetime: President-elect Donald J. Trump had chosen him to be the White House press secretary. Once he walked into the briefing room and the cameras started rolling, his every word was scrutinized. Every movement was parodied. Behind the scenes, things were almost as difficult in an administration plagued by leaks that frustrated and angered both Spicer and the president. Now Spicer reveals the truth behind some of the biggest news stories of our time, and offers a glimpse into what it's like to stand at the press secretary's podium-- and how he got there. -- adapted from jacket