Dee Dee Myers is the first woman and one of the youngest people ever to serve as White House Press Secretary. During the first years of the Clinton Administration, Ms. Myers explained the actions of the new president to a vigilant press corps and to the nation. She earned the respect of both with her sharp political instincts, sense of humor and ability to explain complex subjects in straightforward language.

Ms. Myers brings the same sense of clarity and humor to her speeches that she brought to the White House briefing room, and she talks candidly about the players in Washington and the world of politics. She is uniquely qualified to comment on the complex dynamics at work in the relationship between the president and the press. She also speaks personally and eloquently about the issues facing women in Washington and in leadership positions of all kinds.

Ms. Myers' new book, Why Women Should Rule the World (Harper Collins, 2008), a New York Times best-seller, makes the case that women's increasingly powerful role in public life is reshaping the world -- and making it better. And it's not because women are the same as men, she says, but often because of the ways they are different. Blending memoir, social history, and a call to action, Ms. Myers argues that empowering women makes business more productive, politics more representative, and communities healthier and fairer. In a highly competitive and increasingly fractious world, women possess the kind of critical problem-solving skills that are urgently needed to break down barriers, build understanding, and create the best conditions for peace. In other words, it's not about political correctness; it's about self interest.

Since leaving the White House, Ms. Myers has worked as a political analyst, commentator and writer. She is currently a Contributing Editor to Vanity Fair magazine and a frequent guest on broadcast and cable television networks. Ms. Myers was also an original consultant to the NBC series, The West Wing, and contributed story lines and technical advice throughout the show's prizewinning run.

Before joining the Clinton presidential campaign in 1991, Ms. Myers worked on a variety of local, state and national campaigns. She served as press secretary for Dianne Feinstein in her 1990 bid for governor, and worked on the presidential campaigns of Governor Michael S. Dukakis and Vice President Walter F. Mondale. She also worked on the staffs of Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley and California State Senator Art Torres.

Ms. Myers is a 1983 graduate of Santa Clara University. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband Todd S. Purdum, National Editor of Vanity Fair, and their children.