Amos Snead - Climbing the hill : how to build a career in politics and make a difference

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

AMOS SNEAD

First, I would like to thank my wife, Whitney Drew. You have been an amazing supporter of every crazy idea I have ever dreamed up. You are a wonderful mom to our kiddos and I am thankful we get to spend our lives keeping up with the Sneads!

To Emery, Harrison, and Barrett, I hope you read this book one day and each decide to follow a dream of your own. And remember, if you misstry, try again.

Thank you to my family: my parents Brad and Ann Snead, my brothers Joel and Mark Snead. We started out selling fireworks on Highway 411 in Northeast Alabama and now Im writing acknowledgments for a book about Congress. You each taught me to think big and end the show with a strong finale.

Thank you to all of the teachers along the way. I would like to especially thank Gary Davis of Cherokee County High School in Centre, Alabama, for first introducing me to creative writing.

To the S-3 family, lets keep building an empire. I consider it an honor to work alongside Rob Collins, Mike Ference, John Scofield, Tara Bauer, Matt Bravo, Noelle Clemente, Martin Delgado, Kate Dickens, Stephanie Genco, Lisa Kramer, Arjun Mody, Andrea Riccio, and Todd Wooten.

To the Alabama Army, thank you for starting the couch circuit and helping many people move from Alabama to Washington, DC. Thank you Jason Britt, Collier Craft, Aaron Latham, Alex Igou, Fred Miller, Leroy Nix, and Willie Phillips.

To the FamousDC team, supporters, and Friday Round-Up tipsters, thank you for making Washington, DC, and Capitol Hill a more interesting place to live, work, and play. Thank you Josh Shultz, Nathan Imperiale, Drew Ellis, Andrew Fimka, Natasha Flint, Marie Formica, Morgan Gress, Paige Gress, Ryan Hill, DJ Jamiel, Taz Jones, and Kathryn Lyons. We threw a party in Las Vegas with Ken Bone!

I also want to thank everyone I got to know and work with on Capitol Hill. From the fifth floor of Cannon HOB crew to the Blunt Force family (2006 and 2007 Congressional Co-Ed Football League Champions). There are way too many people to thank in this section. Capitol Hill is a place where many people work every day for something they believe in. Thank you all for helping shape our country.

To Blake Dvorak, you are a patient man! Thank you for keeping us on track, and thank you for believing in usespecially close to deadline.

To the great Shawn Pasternak, you are a gifted researcher and writer. Thank you for your quick analysis and research. I wish I could enter a smirk emoji here.

To Dana Newman, I still have the email you sent on July 5, 2017, telling us Ten Speed Press was interested in our book. Thank you for taking us over the finish line.

Thank you to the amazing team at Ten Speed Press: Lisa Westmoreland, acquiring editor; Emma Rudolph, editor; Michelle Li, Mari Gill, and Chloe Rawlins, designers; Dan Myers, production; Windy Dorresteyn, marketing strategist; and Kristin Casemore, publicist.

To my coauthor, Jaime Harrison, thank you for agreeing to speakfor no charge!to that group of students visiting Washington for the first time from South Carolina. Your willingness to help others started a friendship that turned into a book. Keep doing big things!

JAIME HARRISON

Dum spiro spero. While I breathe, I hope.

This book is for those fascinated by politics and its power to change peoples lives. This book is for those who believe that the American Dream is not for a select few but can be enjoyed and experienced by all. This book is for those little boys and girls who grow up in impoverished communities devoid of hope and overflowing with low expectations. As the naysayers constantly tell them they cant, this book is their testament that they can and they will climb the Hill!

First, I want to thank my wonderful wife, Marie, and our son, William. The two of you have been my inspiration, and your love fuels me. Marie, I dedicate this book to youthank you for being my best friend and my biggest fan. I love you!

I want to thank my entire family, particularly my parents Patricia and Rodney Stewart, my in-laws Harvey and Sherryl Boyd, my grandparents Jimmie Lou (Ms. Bookie) and Willie (Mr. Bookie) Harrison, and Ron and Patsy Stewart, siblings Ashley, Nate, and Dave (yeah, I included you, Drewesy), Robert, aunts, uncles, and cousins for their unwavering love and encouragement.

Thanks to my former teachers, classmates, friends, colleagues, and members of Congress who equipped me for every step of my journey. Thank you to my mentors: the late representative Earl Middleton, Senator John Matthews, Master Harvey Goldblatt, and J.B. Schramm.

Climbing the Hill would not have been worthwhile without my Clyburn Hill family. From our legendary holiday feasts to issuing open invitations on the House floor to hilarious Danny/Jennie/Barvetta/Lindy/Acacia/Andrea personal office debates, Clyburn staffers work very hard while having a lot of fun doing it. To my Clyburn Family (district, personal, leadership office colleagues (caucus/whip), and interns), thank you for always having my back! Also, a special shout-out to my Hill Rat Pack: Munir, Micah, Bernard, Sydney, Albert, Adam, Jon, Shawn, Dion, and David Robinson (RIP, brother, we miss you)!

I also want to thank my colleagues and friends at College Summit, Podesta Group, SC Democratic Party, Jaime for DNC Chair Team, and DNC. It was hard at times wearing multiple hats, and I wouldnt have been able to do it without your support. David (Kusnet), thanks for the title and guidance my friend!

To my political father, Congressman Jim Clyburn, you have taught me so much and have been my mentor, inspiration, and career guide post. Thank you and Ms. Emily for always believing in me and giving me an opportunity when others would not.

If Congressman Clyburn is my political father, then Yebbie Watkins and Clay Middleton are my political brothers. You each have taught me so much about friendship, loyalty, and humility. Thank you! Clay, outside of Marie, I dont think there has been anyone who has stayed on my case more about getting this book done! Love you, brother!

To Blake Dvorak, this book would not have happened without you! You are an amazing thought partner and a gifted writer. Thank you for helping us navigate this process. To Dana Newman, thank you! You are a class act and one hell of an agent!

To Elizabeth Morra, Anant Raut, Nadeam Elshami, Jon Samuels, Matt Moore, Tonya Williams, Eric Feldman, and Angela Rye: Thank you for your friendship and for agreeing to share your amazing stories or provide insight on how you successfully climbed the Hill.

A huge thank-you to our amazing team at Ten Speed Press: Lisa Westmoreland, acquiring editor; Emma Rudolph, editor; Michelle Li, Mari Gill, and Chloe Rawlins, designers; Dan Myers, production; Windy Dorresteyn, marketing strategist; and Kristin Casemore, publicist. Thank you for all of your efforts to make this dream a reality!

Finally, to my coauthor and friend, Amos Snead: Dude, this has been fun! Who would have thought two southern boys from Alabama and South Carolina would make it to DC and then write a book about succeeding on Capitol Hill?! I am so glad that you were my partner in this amazing journey! When do we begin the next book?!

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

AMOS SNEAD

Amos Snead is an innovator whose personable approach to communications is matched by his long list of accomplishments in the field. Snead is a founding Partner at S-3 Public Affairs, where he draws from in-depth experience working with leading print, television, and online journalists to counsel clients on digital communications and media strategies.