They Said This Day Would Never Come

Chasing the Dream on Obama's Improbable Campaign

By: Chris Liddell-Westefeld

Narrated by: Chris Liddell-Westefeld, Dion Graham, Graham Halstead, Melissa Dodd, Joniece Abbott Pratt, Dara Rosenberg, Sarah Mollo-Christensen, Lisa Flanagan, Tracey Leigh, Zeno Robinson, Ron Butler, Barack Obama, Jon Favreau, Dan Pfeiffer, David Plouffe

Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

The thrilling, unlikely story of Barack Obama's first presidential campaign, as told by the volunteers and staff who propelled the longshot candidate to the presidency

In the year leading up to the Iowa caucuses, few thought a freshman senator named Barack Hussein Obama would be able to win the Democratic nomination - not to mention become the most popular leader in the world.

But something was stirring. Hundreds of young people from all over the country began assembling first in Iowa. These "kids" became the foundation of one of the most improbable presidential campaigns of the modern era.

Chris Liddell-Westefeld was one of those kids. He and thousands of other staff and volunteers dedicated every minute of their time, intelligence, and resources to help elect Barack Obama, as what started in the midwest spread nationwide. Drawn from more than 200 interviews with alumni including David Axelrod, David Plouffe, Alyssa Mastromonaco, Dan Pfeiffer, Valerie Jarrett, Josh Earnest, Tommy Vietor, Jon Favreau, and President Obama himself, They Said This Day Would Never Come takes listeners deep inside the most inspirational presidential campaign in recent history.

This audiobook is voiced by the following contributors: The Author, Chris Liddell-Westefeld, Ally Coll, Alyssa Mastromonaco, Anne Filipic, Annick Febrey, Ava Hinds Lawson, Barack Obama, Bess Evans, Brynne Craig, Carianna Suiter, Chelsea Kammerer, Chris Wyant, Cody Keenan, Dan Pfeiffer, David Axelrod, David Plouffe, Danielle Crutchfield, Dean Fluker, Elizabeth Wilkins, Emily Parcell, Esther Morales, Francis Iacobucci, Graham Wilson, Greg Degen, Howli Ledbetter, Jackie Bray, Jamal Pope, James Schuelke, Janice Rottenberg, Jason Waskey, Jeremy Bird, Joe Cupka, Joe Paulsen, Jon Carson, Jon Favreau, Josh Earnest, Kal Penn, Katherine Onyshko, Kristin Avery, Lauren Champaign, Lauren Kidwell, Maggie Thompson, MaryGrace Galston, Megan Simpson, Meghan Goldenstein, Michael Blake, Michael Halle, Mitch Stewart, Nicole Young, Patricia King, Paul Tewes, Paulette Aniskoff, Pete Rouse, Rachel Haltom-Irwin, Shannon Valley, Stephanie Speirs, Steve Dunwoody, Tom Zimmerman, Tommy Vietor, Tony Rediger, Tripp Wellde, Tyler Lechtenberg, Valerie Jarrett, Victoria McCullough, Yohannes Abraham

©2020 Chris Liddell-Westefeld (P)2020 PublicAffairs

Critic reviews

"A readable collective chorus of hopeful voices tirelessly promoting Obama's patriotism, moral clarity, and honorable leadership.... As a campaign diary, the book succeeds in gathering representative perspectives from those who participated in its success.... Adulatory reflections on a historic presidency sure to fuel hope for future elections." (Kirkus Reviews)

"An amazing read in the words of the organizers on the ground who elected Barack Obama president. If you care about bringing about change, there are lessons in this book for you." (David Plouffe, former campaign manager and White House senior adviser for Barack Obama)

"Chris's book reminds us that politics doesn't have to feel hopeless or slimy if we're willing to put in the effort - this is a beautiful and genuinely moving oral history of how young people who believe in something and are willing to actually DO something about it can change the world." (Amanda Litman, cofounder of Run for Something)

2008 re-lived

It felt so good to remember the details of the 2008 Iowa caucus and the election.
It was great to hear the words of my neighbors and friends. It made me cry to hear President Obama's complete sentences and inspiring words. It was even better to feel hopeful, excited and proud again while living in the dystopian nightmare of the Trump administration.

We owe you big time

Wow, I didn’t know you guys did all this for the country. We owe you more than we can ever repay. Thank you so much for this book

awesome awesome oral history

This audiobook is awesome. Using the different voices and the recordings of speeches made it a unique and amazing experience.

Thank you so much for producing it!