Press & Reviews
What They're Saying
Praise, endorsements, and media coverage for The First Chair
"I love it, and I believe the intimate look at the personalities, human nature, and situations of conflict will draw readers to better understand the complexities and importance of the office. The insiders will definitely like this.machinery of state government with the authority of someone who was truly inside it."
— Betty t. Yee
Critical Praise
Reviews & Endorsements
Press
"It is captivating on some many levels: the office, the personality, human nature, and more. I love it,”
Betty Yee
Press
"Chivaro writes with the precision of an insider and the conscience of a citizen. This is the book that needed to be written."
The Policy Review
Endorsement
"I've spent thirty years covering state politics. This book captures what I've always known but could never fully document. Remarkable."
Veteran Political Correspondent
Press
"The First Chair is a masterclass in political memoir — specific, honest, and deeply important for our understanding of democratic governance."
American Governance Quarterly
Academic
"Every political science student, every aspiring public servant, every engaged citizen should read this book. It will change how you see government."
University Press Review
Press
"Chivaro doesn't just tell you what happened — he tells you why it happened, and who made it happen. That's the difference between a reporter and a witness."
State Government Digest
For Journalists & Media
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