Includes index

Top secret delivery -- Before the book -- For the President's eyes only -- The birth of the book -- Out in the cold -- Face-to-face -- Plains and simple -- Write one for the Gipper -- The Spymaster President -- Ebb and flow -- "The good stuff" -- Under investigation -- The PDB, today and tomorrow

"Every day, a member of the CIA presents to the president a report detailing the most sensitive activities and analysis of world events. These can range from the behavior of America's allies to the maneuvering of its adversaries, from imminent dangers to long-term strategic opportunities, and are often based on the words of highly placed sources or the interceptions of astonishingly nimble technologies. This report--for the president's eyes only--forms the basis of the president's assessment of US intelligence and strength. The story of the President's Daily Brief--the PDB, in the jargon--is a window into the character of each president and his administration, and the degree to which his worldview and policy was shaped by the information from the security services"--