The East Wing: Power, Intrigue, and the Untold Story of America's First Ladies
Azadeh Moaveni discusses *The East Wing*, her examination of women, power, and political influence in Washington through the often complicated relationships between First Ladies and their staffs. In conversation with Karen Tumulty, Moaveni explores how East Wing aides have shaped civil rights policy, diplomacy, women’s participation in government, abortion-rights advocacy, media strategy, and the social dynamics of Washington.
Drawing on original reporting, interviews with former East Wing figures, historical research, and political analysis, the book traces the First Lady’s office from the New Deal era and the Kennedy years through the upheavals of the 2020s. It presents the East Wing as a center of influence where aides can help advance major initiatives, but where rivalries, political risks, and struggles for access can also lead to failure.
When: Saturday, November 14 at 1:00 p.m. The page identifies the event as postponed and says it was moved from Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: Free.
Seating: First come, first served.
Speakers: Azadeh Moaveni, in conversation with Karen Tumulty.
About Azadeh Moaveni: Moaveni is an associate professor of journalism at New York University, where she directs the Global Journalism program. She has reported on women’s movements, gender, conflict, and political leadership across three continents, including work as a correspondent for *TIME* and the *Los Angeles Times*. She is a Pulitzer finalist and the author of *Lipstick Jihad*, *Honeymoon in Tehran*, and *Guest House for Young Widows*, which received multiple major literary prize nominations. Her writing has appeared in the *London Review of Books*, *The New York Times*, and *The New Yorker*.
About Karen Tumulty: Tumulty is chief political correspondent for *The Washington Post*. Her career has included reporting on national politics, Congress, and the White House for major newspapers and news magazines, as well as serving as an associate editor and columnist at *The Post*, national political correspondent for *TIME*, and a correspondent for the *Los Angeles Times*. She is the author of *The Triumph of Nancy Reagan* and holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and Harvard Business School.
Venue: Politics and Prose at 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, 5015 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008.
Accessibility: To request accommodations or ask about accessibility, email events@politics-prose.com, ideally at least one week before the event. The venue says it will make an effort to accommodate requests received up to the event.
Related book: *The East Wing: Power, Intrigue, and the Untold Story of America’s First Ladies* by Azadeh Moaveni is available for preorder, with publication listed for November 17, 2026.