Quite By Accident: A Life in Washington

Brookings scholar Stephen Hess didn't plan to start working in Eisenhower's White House at age 25—he began his career at the heart of American politics quite by accident. Hosted by Katie Dunn Tenpas, Hess shares some of his favorite stories from 60 years as a presidential staffer, advisor, and scholar in Washington, D.C.

Episode 6: On coming to Brookings, and reflections on today’s politics 12/14/2023

Episode 6: On coming to Brookings, and reflections on today’s politics In this sixth and final episode of Quite By Accident, Steve Hess shares stories with host Katie Dunn Tenpas about how he came to Brookings, what he did for Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, how he met Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and more. He ends with reflections on today’s politics, the role of luck in a person’s life, and his hopes for the country. . Listen to Quite By Accident on , , or you like to get podcasts. Learn about other Brookings podcasts from the . /episode/index/show/6c7062d6-2456-4488-b348-93f44725ceb5/id/29058948

Episode 5: Moynihan, Nixon, and Watergate 12/14/2023

Episode 5: Moynihan, Nixon, and Watergate In episode 5 of Quite By Accident, Steve Hess shares with host Katie Dunn Tenpas his feelings on his close friendship with Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Steve also recounts how, through a series of fortunate connections, he got a job in Nixon’s White House, what he did there, and his thoughts about Nixon and Watergate. . Listen to Quite By Accident on , , or you like to get podcasts. Learn about other Brookings podcasts from the . /episode/index/show/6c7062d6-2456-4488-b348-93f44725ceb5/id/29058923

Episode 4: How Steve Hess met Richard Nixon 12/14/2023

Episode 4: How Steve Hess met Richard Nixon In episode 4 of Quite By Accident, Steve Hess explains how he entered the orbit of Richard Nixon, the former vice president. Host Katie Dunn Tenpas hears from Steve on his role in the 1960 presidential campaign, learns what Steve did on Nixon’s 1962 California gubernatorial campaign, and finds out what both Nixon and Hess were doing on that fateful day in Dallas, November 22, 1963. . Listen to Quite By Accident on , , or you like to get podcasts. Learn about other Brookings podcasts from the . /episode/index/show/6c7062d6-2456-4488-b348-93f44725ceb5/id/29058908

Episode 3: State dinners, White House staff, and farewell to Eisenhower 12/14/2023

Episode 3: State dinners, White House staff, and farewell to Eisenhower In episode 3 of Quite By Accident, Steve Hess, a young staffer in Eisenhower’s administration, shares stories of feeling surprised to attend State Dinners and other formal White House functions. Host Katie Dunn Tenpas also asks Steve to reflect on Eisenhower’s leadership and the end of his administration in 1961. . Listen to Quite By Accident on , , or you like to get podcasts. Learn about other Brookings podcasts from the . /episode/index/show/6c7062d6-2456-4488-b348-93f44725ceb5/id/29058893

Episode 2: Writing speeches for President Eisenhower 12/14/2023

Episode 2: Writing speeches for President Eisenhower In episode 2 of Quite By Accident, Steve Hess recounts some of the lines he wrote for President Eisenhower’s speeches, including a word he made up that the president used. Host Katie Dunn Tenpas also asks about Eisenhower’s most famous line: the military-industrial complex. . Listen to Quite By Accident on , , or you like to get podcasts. Learn about other Brookings podcasts from the . /episode/index/show/6c7062d6-2456-4488-b348-93f44725ceb5/id/29058878

Episode 1: How Steve Hess got a job in Eisenhower’s White House 12/14/2023

Episode 1: How Steve Hess got a job in Eisenhower’s White House In this first episode of Quite By Accident, 25-year-old Steve Hess, fresh out of U.S. Army service in Germany, lands a job in Eisenhower’s White House. Host Katie Dunn Tenpas finds out how that happened and gets a ground-level tour of the White House in the late 1950s. . Listen to Quite By Accident on , , or you like to get podcasts. Learn about other Brookings podcasts from the . /episode/index/show/6c7062d6-2456-4488-b348-93f44725ceb5/id/29058848

Introducing Quite By Accident, a podcast about a life in Washington, DC 12/07/2023

Introducing Quite By Accident, a podcast about a life in Washington, DC Brookings scholar Stephen Hess didn't plan to start working in Eisenhower's White House at age 25—he began his career at the heart of American politics quite by accident. Hosted by Katie Dunn Tenpas, Hess shares some of his favorite stories from 60 years as a presidential staffer, advisor, and scholar in Washington, D.C. Stay tuned for the full show drop on December 14! /episode/index/show/6c7062d6-2456-4488-b348-93f44725ceb5/id/28958388

Quite By Accident: A Life in Washington

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