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!

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.

Show notes and transcript.

Listen to Quite By Accident on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you like to get podcasts.

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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.

Show notes and transcript.

Listen to Quite By Accident on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you like to get podcasts.

Learn about other Brookings podcasts from the Brookings Podcast Network.