For two and a half years, Ari Fleischer served as the official liaison between the White House and members of the press, acting as the voice of President George W. Bush and his administration, and was one of the President's most trusted advisers. In this riveting account, Fleischer goes behind the scenes as he recalls his experiences in the West Wing and his encounters with the White House press corps. He took the heat, fielded the questions, and brought the President's message into living rooms around the world. In Taking Heat, Fleischer, for the first time, gives his perspective on: The 2000 election, from the recounts to the transitionto power September 11, 2001, its aftermath, and the anthrax scare The pressure-filled buildup to the war in Iraq The White House press corps, who they are, and how they report the news The factors that led to his decision to leave Washington. Taking Heat is an introspective and analytical exploration of the early Bush administration.