Hillary Clinton came closest to the presidency than any woman in history. She took her defeat with grace and courage and she realized that you never stop when you are dedicated to the country. This book offers a marvelous thesis, that Hillary Clinton's loss of the presidency is still a win for all women daring to go where they haven't been before.

Helen Thomas, Dean, White House Press Corps, Hearst Columnist

Gutgold reveals how Clinton responded to the media's gender bias and navigated the double bind of gender communication with rhetorical agility and political savvy. With careful research and insightful analysis, this book makes an important contribution to the growing literature surrounding Clinton's historic presidential bid.

Linda Schifino, Carlow University

Nichola Gutgold demonstrates the remarkable rhetorical elasticity of the first woman to be a front-runner for her party's nomination for president. Dr. Gutgold shows how Clinton's ability to utilize a full range of rhetorical style-from feminine to lawyerly-brought her to the brink of the Democratic nomination for president despite unfavorable treatment by much of the mainstream media. This book is a must-read for scholars interested in presidential rhetoric and the rhetoric of women in the twenty-first century.

Steven R. Brydon

In Almost Madam President, Gutgold offers a detailed narrative of the Clinton primary campaign, allowing readers to experience it again and to draw conclusions about it. The book focuses on Clinton's Internet announcement, speeches, performance in the debates, and on television coverage and attacks.

Presidential Studies Quarterly

A strong start on the challenging and extraordinarily important task of uncovering the power of identity in politics.

Politics & Gender