The Voice News: Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and bestselling thriller author James Patterson recently spoke to the BBC about their latest political thriller novel The First Gentleman. The book, now available in stores and published by Century, blends the intense atmosphere of the White House with themes of responsibility and personal crisis.
At the heart of the story are U.S. President Madeline Wright and her husband Cole Wright, a former American football star. Cole finds himself on trial for the alleged murder of a former cheerleader. The character of Cole Wright reflects Bill Clinton’s own position—had Hillary Clinton won the 2016 election, Bill would have been the country’s first “First Gentleman.”
Clinton remarked, “During my time in the White House, I wasn’t just facing impeachment efforts from Republicans; we went through some extremely difficult times due to various controversies. Often, I felt that those reporting on me didn’t see me as a real person, but rather as a character in a story. We’ve tried to reflect that experience in this novel.”
However, The First Gentleman is not merely a courtroom drama. It is possibly the first thriller in history that centers around America’s national debt and fiscal policy. At the core of the narrative lies the critical question: will President Wright remain fair to her husband, or prioritize her duties to the country?
Clinton stated, “I know that even when war is declared against you, you still have to do your job.”
Interestingly, the story gives even more prominence to two journalists—Brea Cook and Garrett Wilson—who are investigating the mystery behind the 17-year-old disappearance of cheerleader Suzanne Bonanno. Patterson commented, “Journalists chase the truth, and that’s what we want. Though sometimes, what they find is what they deserve.”
Clinton agreed, noting that honest journalists will always endure, even if they must admit mistakes to tell the truth.
More than just a courtroom thriller, this novel uniquely brings America’s debt and spending challenges to the forefront of popular fiction. “Along with telling a compelling story, we wanted readers to learn something,” Clinton said, adding that the book conveys important messages about budgetary discipline.
Patterson admitted that the initial draft of the book was quite weak. “The characters didn’t feel real,” he said. Clinton once called him late at night saying, “I’m not feeling anything for these characters.” That prompted them to add more depth to the story.
The success of their collaboration lies in their shared worldview. “We both believe the world isn’t black and white—it’s layered and complex,” said Patterson.
Previously, their 2018 novel The President Is Missing sold over 3 million copies worldwide, and their 2021 follow-up The President’s Daughter was also a major success.