And the Good News Is

What does it mean to live your life with grace, positivity, and purpose—even in the glare of politics and media? In And the Good News Is…, Dana Perino explores that question through her journey from a Wyoming ranch to the White House, and finally to Fox News. She argues that optimism isn’t naïve—it’s discipline. It’s a form of courage that lets you face adversity with dignity while staying focused on what matters: service, civility, and gratitude.

Perino contends that leadership and communication are not just skills for politicians—they are ways of living that sustain you through uncertainty. Whether you’re at a ranch in the Black Hills or briefing the press in the West Wing, you’re judged not by what you know but by how you show grace under pressure. Her core argument is that success doesn’t depend on privilege or pedigree but on character, curiosity, and the courage to say yes to unexpected opportunities.

From Ranch to White House: A Story of Values

Perino’s life begins in Wyoming and Colorado—a world of wide-open spaces and living by timeless virtues like work ethic, respect for animals, humility, and community. Her family’s Italian immigrant roots and multigenerational resilience taught her that America is a land where faith meets hard work. These Western values become her foundation for navigating D.C. politics later on. She learned early that independence and self-reliance were not about isolation but about contribution. As her grandfather told her when she was a child, strength and gentleness go hand in hand—a lesson that later guided her interactions as Press Secretary under pressure from an unforgiving press corps.

Courage Through Communication

Perino realizes communication is both a profession and a moral act. From her days answering constituent calls on Capitol Hill to eventually speaking for President George W. Bush, she discovers that one’s words can shape public trust. The White House isn’t an ivory tower—it’s a pressure cooker—and she approaches it by borrowing lessons from her ranch upbringing: stay calm, stay humble, speak plainly. When President Bush teaches her that forgiveness and civility are leadership’s prerequisites, she internalizes it not just as political strategy but personal guiding philosophy. (Compare this to Peggy Noonan’s view in What I Saw at the Revolution, which Perino cites as her awakening to the power of words.)

Optimism as a Leadership Strategy

Throughout the book, Perino reframes optimism as pragmatic courage. During crises—from 9/11 to Iraq to Hurricane Katrina—she learns that hope isn’t a slogan but a strategic skill. Optimism allows you to steady others when chaos sets in. It lets leaders pivot from reactive fear to proactive calm. She calls it “living on the sunshine side of the mountain,” echoing Reagan’s metaphor for choosing hope amid difficulty. To her, optimism is an expression of service—it means crafting solutions rather than dwelling on problems.

Civility and Forgiveness in a Divided World

Later in life, Perino turns her lens on America’s fractured discourse. When she writes about political incivility—the language of outrage and partisanship—her point is that true strength lies in composure. She uses real examples from Washington: President Bush declining to retaliate against critics such as Senator Harry Reid; or her own moment of learning to forgive Scott McClellan, a colleague whose tell-all memoir hurt her deeply. Perino insists that choosing civility isn’t weakness; it’s power under control. And that applies to everyone—from corporate boardrooms to casual social media debates. (She extends these ideas through practical advice in later chapters: take the criticism with grace, stick up for others quietly, and let kindness be your professional currency.)

The Private Side of Leadership

Perino shows that public strength relies on private balance: love and partnership shape resilience. Her relationship with her husband Peter McMahon—whom she met on an airplane—is as central to the book as her career. Their story, both humorous and romantic, illustrates that companionship provides stability in a hectic professional world. When she shares lessons from her mentors, from Margaret Spellings to Barbara Bush, it’s clear that emotional steadiness underpins success just as much as hard skills do. Grace isn’t just political—it’s personal.

Across these stories and reflections, Perino's message emerges clearly: the good news isn’t that life is easy; it’s that even in difficulty, Americans have the freedom and tools to overcome. Whether you’re briefing the President, debating colleagues, or navigating everyday challenges, civility and optimism are renewable resources. Through humor, humility, and hard-earned wisdom, Perino invites readers to rediscover what American leadership—and personal strength—look like when anchored in grace.

Dana Perino begins her memoir with the story of her family—a lineage blending Italian immigrants and rugged Western ranchers—to show that values, not status, define success. Her grandparents embodied a kind of everyday patriotism where hard work, faith, and neighborly duty were a way of life. They lived by the code of the land: adapt, contribute, and keep your word. For Perino, that upbringing wasn’t quaint nostalgia—it was political preparation.

Wyoming Lessons for Washington

Her early life in Colorado-Wyoming taught independence and respect for community. On her grandfather’s ranch, she learned to balance toughness with compassion—helping animals in distress, practicing responsibility, and observing her family’s teamwork. These lessons translated seamlessly later when she stood behind the White House podium. Her grandfather’s quiet wisdom—"strength and gentleness go hand in hand"—echoed each time she faced criticism from journalists.

A Family of Immigrants and Idealists

Perino recounts her great-grandparents’ immigration story from Italy to Wyoming as a tribute to what she calls the “frontier of opportunity.” Their perseverance deepened her belief in America’s role as a moral leader in the world. Her grandfather’s service in World War II added layers of patriotism built on sacrifice rather than politics. These roots remind her—and, she argues, should remind all Americans—that civic responsibility flows naturally from gratitude.

Humanity as Heritage

The ranch stories convey that American identity is not abstract—it’s personal. Perino watched her family care for animals, neighbors, and land alike. When her grandfather spares the wildlife from brush fires, or risks his comfort to tend the newborn calves, he models responsible stewardship—a principle Perino later applies to environmental policy at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. For her, conservation isn’t liberal or conservative—it’s cultural; the West taught her that care for creation mirrors respect for life.

Work, Love, and Duty

Her family’s devotion extended beyond work. Perino’s parents and grandparents shared partnerships built on kindness and teamwork, providing a blueprint for her marriage and professional relationships. She emphasizes that romantic and professional partnerships function the same way—each requires loyalty and shared purpose. These intertwined family narratives offer readers an example of how moral grounding sustains ambition without arrogance.

Through these origins, Perino reframes patriotism not as ideology but as identity. Her ancestors’ perseverance and kindness become a practical moral compass—proof that values born in open plains can guide integrity at the highest levels of government.

Perino’s life is shaped by serendipity as much as strategy. Her biggest leaps happen when she says yes to unexpected opportunities—from meeting her husband Peter McMahon on a plane to joining the Bush Administration after 9/11. Yet she insists that these turning points aren’t accidents; they’re the intersection of preparation and risk-taking. The secret, she writes, is being ready to act when opportunity whispers instead of shouts.

Quarter-Life Crisis and Self-Doubt

At twenty-five, despite professional success, she feels adrift—a common modern anxiety among young adults that she labels a “quarter-life crisis.” Her job in Congress was steady but uninspiring; her dating life nonexistent. This crisis becomes her first education in self-leadership. Through introspection and church mentoring, she learns not to fear uncertainty but to use it as momentum. When a mentor advises her to write “Fear Not” on paper and carry it in her pocket, it became her first personal mantra for courage.

Love at First Flight

Perino’s meeting with Peter McMahon—an older British businessman seated next to her on a flight—changes everything. Their quick bond challenges her cautious nature and forces her to question conventional wisdom about relationships and career timing. She leaves Washington for England, discovering that love sometimes demands the same faith as ambition. What started as an impulsive move becomes a test of adaptability—proof that true partnership mirrors the same principles she learned on the ranch: trust, patience, and courage.

Seizing Opportunity After Tragedy

Returning to the U.S. after 9/11, she channels her patriotism into service. Perino’s leap from the Justice Department to the White House Council on Environmental Quality shows her philosophy of saying yes—but only when she can contribute meaningfully. She points out that chance favors preparation. Each prior decision—from her public relations experience to her congressional role—builds credibility. Her climb isn’t luck; it’s readiness aligned with timing.

Lessons on Risk and Reward

Every career pivot Perino makes stems from answering one question: “What’s the worst that could happen?” She credits President Bush for embodying that courage in decision-making—a leadership principle she later applies in her transition to television at Fox. Saying yes to uncertain new platforms becomes her defining pattern. These episodes teach readers a practical mindset for growth: opportunities don’t announce themselves; they appear disguised as detours.

Her turning points make an enduring point—fear will always accompany progress, but wisdom arrives when courage and preparation meet the unknown halfway.

Behind the scenes of world events, Dana Perino captures an intimate portrait of President George W. Bush as mentor and model. Her tenure as his press secretary reveals political leadership at its most human—rooted in humility, faith, and steadiness. She describes Bush as decisive but gentle, principled yet forgiving. In an era of outrage politics, his disciplined civility stands out.

The Power of Calm

In crises like the Iraq War or Hurricane Katrina, Perino notes that Bush’s calm was contagious. He showed that composure itself is a form of communication: leaders who stay steady signal trust. Whether comforting grieving families at Walter Reed hospital or praising colleagues privately, Bush acted with grace even under attack. He taught Perino that effective leadership combines moral conviction with emotional restraint—a rare mix in politics.

The Lesson of Forgiveness

Perino’s most poignant lesson comes from Bush’s reaction to Scott McClellan’s critical memoir. Instead of anger, Bush urges her to forgive, telling her not to live bitterly. “You’re better than that,” he says. This moment reshapes her career philosophy—she learns that resentment drains strength while forgiveness renews purpose. For Bush, integrity isn’t about winning arguments but rising above them. (His approach mirrors that of Lincoln’s “team of rivals” described by Doris Kearns Goodwin.)

Duty and Compassion

Through vivid stories—such as Bush kneeling beside a wounded Marine’s hospital bed or comforting distraught parents—Perino shows leadership as empathy in action. Each act of compassion strengthens public trust more than any speech. Bush’s philosophy, she observes, was that leadership begins in private moments of conscience. That principle guides her own approach to public service and media work.

Humility and Humor

Perino also highlights Bush’s playful side—a man who jokes with staff, stumbles through self-deprecating comments, and values moral humility over showmanship. His easy laughter eased tension and reinforced loyalty. Perino learns that humor, when sincere, humanizes authority. “It’s our burden to bear,” Bush once said of the need to turn the other cheek—a line that becomes Perino’s mantra for leadership amid criticism.

In recounting these moments, Perino invites readers to rethink leadership not as charisma or dominance but as a practiced blend of grace and responsibility—a legacy she calls the Bush Doctrine of character.

One of Perino’s most passionate sections, drawn from her chapter “Civility, Lost and Found,” is a plea for restoring decency to public discourse. She diagnoses America’s political bitterness as not a policy failure but a cultural one—a breakdown of manners, humility, and mutual respect. Civility, she insists, isn’t about agreement; it’s about how we disagree.

The Decline of Civility

Perino traces the erosion of politeness through cable news shouting matches, partisan sound bites, and online pile-ons. She recalls how figures like Senator Harry Reid engaged in personal slanders once unthinkable in professional politics. Unlike earlier luminaries who debated with wit and elegance—such as Ann Richards or Ronald Reagan—modern politicians, she laments, substitute insult for persuasion. The problem isn’t disagreement; it’s contempt.

Civility as Strength

To Perino, civility is a strategic advantage. It disarms hostility, clarifies argument, and preserves dignity. She argues that conservatives could regain public trust by practicing grace instead of rage. Emotional restraint, she says, makes ideas more persuasive. Civility doesn’t mean blandness—it means discipline. “Being nice,” she quips, “is not weakness—it’s tactical wisdom.” She applies this even to workplace and digital behavior: pause before replying, seek understanding before reacting, and use humor as a bridge rather than a weapon.

Practical Etiquette for a Modern World

Perino offers practical methods for everyday civility: practice “conversation stranger danger” (avoid leading with politics or religion at social events), pay genuine compliments, and learn to disagree without being a jerk. Her examples—from awkward dinners in D.C. to her playful banter on Fox’s The Five—make it relatable. Civility, she concludes, is a daily choice, not a national law—it starts with one person deciding to speak gently even when provoked.

Hope for Restoration

Perino ends on hope: Americans haven’t lost civility permanently; we’ve just forgotten its rewards. Manners, she writes, make communities function. To rediscover them, we must value listening as much as speaking. Comparing her insights to Charles Krauthammer’s Things That Matter, she reminds readers that small courtesies sustain large civilizations. In a polarized age, civility may be our most revolutionary act.

For Perino, communication is not about talking—it’s about connecting. Whether briefing the President, debating co-hosts on The Five, or mentoring young women, she refines communication into an art of empathy and precision. Good communicators, she observes, think before they speak; great ones think while they listen.

Finding Your Strong Voice

In her professional tips, she urges young professionals to find their “strong voice” by banishing uptalk (“making every sentence sound like a question?”). Confidence, she says, is audible—it starts from the diaphragm. She teaches that tone creates credibility, and simplicity builds authority. This applies beyond speech: e-mails, posture, and eye contact communicate leadership long before words do.

Leading Through Language

Perino’s time as Press Secretary taught her that words can calm nations or inflame them. She praises Reagan, Bush, and Tony Snow for using humor and empathy as rhetorical anchors. From Tony Snow she learned the golden rule of public speaking—“You are better at this than you think you are”—which became her antidote to self-doubt. (This parallels Dale Carnegie’s timeless message in How to Win Friends and Influence People about sincerity as persuasion.)

Listening as Leadership

Real communication, Perino insists, demands listening. She cites Vice President Cheney’s practice of silent participation in meetings as an example of power through restraint. The lesson: when you talk less, others reveal more. In daily life, she urges professionals to “zip it” sometimes—silence protects dignity and aids judgment.

Mentorship and Multiplying Wisdom

Her Minute Mentoring initiative expands the communication philosophy to community level. By teaching young women career skills through rapid mentor exchanges, she transforms dialogue into empowerment. She calls mentorship the echo of gratitude—if you’ve received wisdom, you owe it forward. In communication as in leadership, everyone is simultaneously student and teacher.

For Perino, persuasion begins not with speaking louder but with speaking wiser—a blend of facts, kindness, and clarity that turns talking points into human connection.

Toward the book’s conclusion, Perino focuses on the inner side of success—the art of balancing productivity with peace. Her career, she admits, nearly consumed her health. Sleepless nights, stress migraines, and constant travel made her realize that ambition without serenity leads to burnout. The antidote is what she calls productive serenity: living actively calm.

Redefining Success

Productive serenity means combining purpose with boundaries. You can be sharp but not snappy, strong but not aggressive. She recounts how Margaret Spellings helped crystallize this philosophy with blunt advice before Perino’s first White House briefing: “Put your big girl panties on and deal with it.” Assertiveness, Perino learned, comes from preparation—not anger. Success, she concludes, requires self-command as much as skill.

Health and Energy as Leadership Tools

Within her professional reflections are warnings: unchecked workaholism erodes empathy and insight. She urges readers to treat wellness as strategic discipline—sleep, nutrition, and exercise fuel not vanity but clarity. Her migraines in Africa become metaphors for imbalance. She compares self-care to a “401(k) for your body”—an investment yielding long-term leadership endurance.

Living with Purpose and Forgiveness

The book ends with her search for balance through forgiveness and gratitude. She quotes a Zen card placed on her hotel pillow as her guiding philosophy: “Say little, but when you speak, utter gentle words that touch the heart.” These words remind her—and the reader—that serenity is a choice renewed daily through kindness. President Bush’s parting gesture of pride and reassurance becomes her compass for that journey.

In closing, Perino redefines balance not as stillness but as steady movement—an alignment between your inner calm and outward effort. Leadership begins when you learn to be peaceful in motion.