A Spouse Also Runs: A Conversation with Chasten Buttigieg

<p><a href='https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gL5vmRHFo_8/X1f8UD08GQI/AAAAAAAAJPk/4TQO4s9U1xshgN0MrHL5PizzyrtDvVcIACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-09-08%2Bat%2B2.48.39%2BPM.png'></a>As the late Richard Ben Cramer so brilliantly detailed in his seminal book “What it Takes.” running for president, as a serious candidate, is one of the hardest, most grueling and challenging things one can do. Cramer wrote about the 1988 campaign, before the internet, before 24/7 news and yet he said even then that politics had become a kind of a public utility, with hot-and cold-running politics any time of the day or night.</p> <p>Today in our hyper politicized non stop news environment it’s even worse.</p> <p>Now imagine breaking barriers and taboos along the way, as Pete Buttigieg did as the first LGBTQ candidate.</p> <p>Just as challenging, again as Cramer wrote about, is being the spouse of the candidate. For Chasten Buttigieg, a 31 year old gay man with not political experience, he had only his own personal experience and history from which to draw upon.</p> <p>He shares that journey in his new memoir <a href='https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1982138122/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1982138122&linkCode=as2&tag=jeffschechtma-20&linkId=c068ecbd32227b0f481e34ce41ded2ea'>I Have Something to Tell You: A Memoir</a>.</p> <p>My conversation with Chasten Buttigieg: </p>