Wine & Wisdom – Confessions Behind Presidential Visits

Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?)

Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance.

This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record?

Jean Becker, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service.

Becker will share candid, often humorous, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road, offering a rare glimpse into the precision, pressure, and unpredictability behind presidential events.

What we’ll explore over wine

• Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it matters
• Moments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlines
• When Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest level
• Life on the Road: The pace, pressure, and people behind presidential travel
• Lessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making