Nicolle Wallace
White House Communications Director
In office
January 5, 2005 – July 24, 2006
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byDan Bartlett
Succeeded byKevin Sullivan
Personal details
Born
Nicolle Devenish

(1972-02-04) February 4, 1972
Orange County, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (before 2021)
Spouses
​
​
(m. 2005; div. 2019)​
    ​
    (m. 2022)​
    Children2
    EducationUniversity of California, Berkeley (BA)
    Northwestern University (MA)
    OccupationTelevision host, author

    Nicolle Wallace (née Devenish; born February 4, 1972) is an American television political commentator and author. She is the anchor of the MSNBC news and politics program Deadline: White House and a former co-host of the ABC daytime talk show The View. As a political analyst for MSNBC and NBC News, she is a frequent on-air contributor to the programs Today, The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle and Morning Joe.

    In her former political career, Wallace served as the White House Communications Director during the presidency of George W. Bush and in his 2004 re-election campaign. Wallace also served as a senior advisor for John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign.

    Wallace is the author of the contemporary political novels Eighteen Acres, It's Classified, and Madam President.

    Early life

    Nicolle Devenish was born on February 4, 1972,[1] in Orange County, California to Veronica (née Zadis) and Clive Devenish.[2][3][4] Together with her three younger siblings, Zachary, Courtney and Ashley,[5] she grew up in Orinda, a San Francisco Bay Area suburb. Her mother was a teacher's assistant for third grade in public schools, and her father was an antiques dealer.[6][7] Her grandfather, Thomas Devenish, was a Manhattan antiques dealer,[8] part of "Devenish and Company".[9] He was born in England to vaudevillian parents and immigrated to the United States with his family in 1947.[10] Nicolle is also of Greek descent.[11]

    A 1990 graduate of Miramonte High School, Wallace received a Bachelor of Arts in mass communications from the University of California, Berkeley in 1994,[5] and a master's degree from the Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism in 1996.[12][5]

    Political career

    Briefly an on-air reporter in California, Wallace started her political career working in California state politics.[13] In 1999, she moved to Florida to serve as Governor Jeb Bush's press secretary and then became the Communications Director for the Florida State Technology Office in 2000.[12] Wallace worked on the 2000 Florida election recount.[14]

    White House and Bush 2004 presidential campaign

    Wallace joined the White House staff during George W. Bush's first term, serving as special assistant to the President and director of media affairs at the White House, where she oversaw regional press strategy and outreach.[15] In 2003, Wallace joined Bush's 2004 presidential campaign as its communications director, wherein according to The New York Times she "delivered her political attacks without snarling."[16]

    On January 5, 2005, Bush named Wallace White House Communications Director.[15] The New York Times story announcing her presidential appointment carried the headline: "New Aide Aims to Defrost the Press Room" and described Wallace's intentions "to improve the contentious relationship between a secretive White House and the press."[16] According to The Washington Post, Wallace served as "a voice for more openness with reporters", and former colleagues describe Wallace as having been "very persuasive in the halls of the West Wing."[14] She left the White House in July 2006 to relocate to New York City, where her husband Mark was representing the Bush Administration at the United Nations.[14] Her White House colleague, presidential political advisor Mark McKinnon, called her a "rare talent in politics."[17]

    McCain 2008 presidential campaign

    Wallace served as a senior advisor for the John McCain 2008 presidential campaign. She appeared frequently on network and cable news programs as the campaign's top spokesperson and defender.[18]

    In late October 2008, campaign aides criticized vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. One unnamed McCain aide said Palin had "gone rogue," placing her own perceived future political interests ahead of the McCain/Palin ticket, directly contradicting her running mate's positions, and disobeying directions from campaign managers.[19][20] In response to reports of dissension within the McCain-Palin campaign, Wallace issued a statement to both Politico and CNN saying: "If people want to throw me under the bus, my personal belief is that the most honorable thing to do is to lie there."[21][19]

    Wallace was portrayed by Sarah Paulson in the 2012 film Game Change.[22] Wallace described the film as highly credible, saying the film "captured the spirit and emotion of the campaign." Wallace also told ABC News Chief Political Correspondent George Stephanopoulos that the film was "true enough to make me squirm."[23] Eight years after the election, Wallace stated that she did not vote for a presidential candidate in 2008 because Sarah Palin gave her pause.[24]

    Other work

    White House novel series

    She is the author of the 2010 novel Eighteen Acres (a reference to the 18 acres on which the White House complex sits),[25] a fictional narrative about three powerful women at the top of their careers: the first female U.S. President, her chief of staff, and a White House correspondent. Wallace said, "It's my best attempt at a story that I hope people will pick up and read and enjoy and maybe feel like they're getting to see what it's really like in the White House in this entirely fictional story."[26]

    Patrick Anderson of The Washington Post wrote, "To say that Nicolle Wallace's 'Eighteen Acres' is one of the best novels I've read about life in the White House may be faint praise—there haven't been many good ones—but her book is both an enjoyable read and a serious look at what high-level political pressures do to people."[27] Craig Wilson of USA Today wrote, "Nicolle Wallace actually knows what she's talking about"[28] and Ashley Parker of The New York Times called the book "an engaging, easy read."[29] TV personalities such as George Stephanopoulos,[30] Rachel Maddow,[31] John King,[32] and Andrea Mitchell[33] also praised Eighteen Acres.

    In September 2011, Wallace published the sequel to Eighteen Acres, It's Classified, about a fictional presidential campaign troubled by a mentally ill vice presidential candidate.[34] Wallace said the premise was inspired by her experience as a senior adviser to the McCain/Palin campaign.[35] Her third novel, Madam President, was released in April 2015.[36]

    Television

    Wallace chats with John Kerry in April 2016

    On September 3, 2014, ABC announced Wallace would join The View as a new co-host alongside newcomer Rosie Perez.[37] Wallace made her debut as a co-host on the premiere of the series' 18th season on September 15, 2014.[38] Wallace exited the series at the end of the season.[39][40]

    Following her departure from The View, Wallace joined NBC News and its cable network MSNBC as a political analyst.[41] She was also a frequent contributor and guest host on MSNBC programs The 11th Hour with Brian Williams and Morning Joe as well as on NBC's Today Show.[42] In November 2016, Wallace served as an analyst for MSNBC's live coverage of election results, which was anchored by Brian Williams, Rachel Maddow, and Chris Matthews.[43] Since May 9, 2017, Wallace has been the anchor of the afternoon news and opinion program Deadline: White House on MSNBC.[41] Deadline: White House garnered a total of 2 million viewers in July 2020, and in the following month, it was expanded to two hours.[44]

    Wallace was an executive producer on the July 3, 2022 MSNBC primetime special "Ukraine: Answering the Call", a fundraiser to support Ukraine during the 2022 invasion by Russia.[45]

    Personal life

    Wallace married American businessman, former diplomat and lawyer Mark Wallace in 2005.[4] In 2012, the couple had a son.[46] In February 2013, both Wallace and her husband publicly supported the legalization of same-sex marriage in an amicus curiae brief submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court.[47] She and Mark divorced in 2019.[48]

    Wallace described herself as a "self-loathing former Republican" in March 2021.[49]

    In April 2022, she married journalist Michael S. Schmidt.[50] In November 2023, Wallace announced she and her husband welcomed a daughter via a surrogate.[51]

    Published works

    • Wallace, Nicolle (2010). Eighteen Acres: A Novel. Atria Books. ISBN 978-1439194829.
    • Wallace, Nicolle (2011). It's Classified: A Novel. Atria Books. ISBN 978-1451610963.
    • Wallace, Nicolle (2015). Madam President: A Novel. Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books. ISBN 978-1476756899.

    References

    1. ↑ "Nicolle Devenish, Born 02/04/1972 in California". CaliforniaBirthIndex.org. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
    2. ↑ Palmer, Anna; Sherman, Jake (February 4, 2020). "POLITICO Playbook: Election chaos: There's an app for that, apparently". Politico. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
    3. ↑ Holloway, Daniel; Maglio, Tony (July 15, 2015). "Nicolle Wallace Won't Return as Permanent Co-Host of 'The View' Next Season". TheWrap. Retrieved March 7, 2020. The 43-year-old Republican political commentator and former White House staffer under President George W. Bush will not return as a permanent co-host next season, an insider with knowledge tells "The Wrap."
    4. 1 2 Pappu, Sridhar (January 20, 2018). "Nicolle Wallace's Road From the White House to 30 Rock". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 31, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
    5. 1 2 3 Pogash, Carol (Fall 2011). "Novel Approach". Cal Alumni Association. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
    6. ↑ "Contact". Clive Devenish Antiques. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
    7. ↑ BUMILLER, ELISABETH (January 10, 2005). "New Aide Aims to Defrost the Press Room". The New York Times.
    8. ↑ "The Trade Loses a Legendary English Antiques Dealer". Antiques And The Arts Weekly. November 5, 2002. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
    9. ↑ "Deaths DEVENISH, THOMAS". The New York Times. November 3, 2002.
    10. ↑ Moonan, Wendy (April 4, 2008). "Every Piece Was His Favorite". The New York Times. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
    11. ↑ "Meet 'The View's' New Greek American Co-Host Nicolle Wallace". The Pappas Post. September 24, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
    12. 1 2 Appleman, Eric M. (March 25, 2006). "President George W. Bush-Campaign Organization". Democracy in Action. George Washington University. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
    13. ↑ "The Note". ABC News. May 30, 2003. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
    14. 1 2 3 Abramowitz, Michael (June 28, 2006). "White House to Lose a Top Mouthpiece". The Washington Post.
    15. 1 2 "Personnel Announcement". Office of the Press Secretary. White House. January 5, 2005. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
    16. 1 2 Bumiller, Elisabeth (January 10, 2005). "New Aide Aims to Defrost the Press Room". The New York Times. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
    17. ↑ "Novel Approach". California Magazine. Cal Alumni Association. September 26, 2011.
    18. ↑ Ana Marie Cox (October 28, 2008). "A Q and A With Nicolle Wallace, Palin's Chaperone". The Daily Beast. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
    19. 1 2 Bash, Dana; Hamby, Peter; King, John (October 26, 2008). "Palin's 'going rogue,' McCain aide says". CNN. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
    20. ↑ Agrell, Siri. "'Rogue' Palin eyeing 2012 White House campaign, party insiders say". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Archived from the original on October 30, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
    21. ↑ Smith, Ben (October 25, 2008). "Palin allies report rising camp tension". Politico. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
    22. ↑ Hall, Katy (March 12, 2012). "Former McCain-Palin Aide: 'Game Change' Was 'True Enough To Make Me Squirm'". The Huffington Post.
    23. ↑ Stephanopoulos, George (March 11, 2012). "Former Sarah Palin Adviser Says 'Game Change' Was 'True Enough to Make Me Squirm'". ABC News. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
    24. ↑ Collizza, Chris (July 12, 2016). "Jeb Bush has a major-league sad about the 2016 election". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
    25. ↑ Jackson, David (February 4, 2010). "Ex-White House staffer pens book – fiction, about a female president". USA Today. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
    26. ↑ Holland, Steve (August 9, 2010). "Nicolle Wallace's novel about White House: Eighteen Acres". Reuters. Archived from the original on September 15, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
    27. ↑ Anderson, Patrick (October 18, 2010). "Review of 'Eighteen Acres,' a political thriller by Nicolle Wallace". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
    28. ↑ Wilson, Craig (October 18, 2010). "Washington's inner workings revealed in 'Eighteen Acres'". USA Today. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
    29. ↑ Parker, Ashley (October 24, 2010). "What Change Could Look Like". The New York Times. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
    30. ↑ Stephanopoulos, George (October 19, 2010). "Inside the 'Eighteen Acres'". ABC News. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
    31. ↑ Maddow, Rachel. "The Interview". MSNBC. Archived from the original on May 26, 2009. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
    32. ↑ King, John (October 21, 2010). "GOP insider's novel approach". CNN. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
    33. ↑ Mitchell, Andrea. "Andrea Mitchell Reports". MSNBC. Archived from the original on December 25, 2003. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
    34. ↑ It's Classified. Simon & Schuster. September 26, 2011. ISBN 9781451610970.
    35. ↑ Oct 2011 – Palin 'Incredibly Withdrawn' as VP Candidate; Sparked Talk of Removal from Ticket
    36. ↑ Rhule, Patti (April 28, 2015). "A female president stars in new novel". USA Today. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
    37. ↑ "Rosie Perez and Nicolle Wallace Join The View as Co-hosts". ABC. September 3, 2014.
    38. ↑ Lee, Ashley (September 15, 2014). "'The View': Rosie O'Donnell Returns, Rosie Perez and Nicolle Wallace Debut". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 31, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
    39. ↑ Iannucci, Rebecca (July 15, 2015). "'The View': Nicolle Wallace Leaving After Current Season – TVLine". TVLine. Archived from the original on June 27, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
    40. ↑ Setoodeh, Ramin (August 13, 2015). "'The View': Nicolle Wallace on Getting Fired and Other Hot Topics (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
    41. 1 2 "Deadline: White House on MSNBC". MSNBC.com.
    42. ↑ "Nicolle Wallace Biography". MSNBC. May 8, 2017. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
    43. ↑ Birnbaum, Debra (November 8, 2016). "MSNBC Election Coverage: Analyzing the Unhappy Electorate". Variety. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
    44. ↑ Johnson, Ted (August 3, 2020). "MSNBC Changes Daytime Lineup: Nicolle Wallace's Show Expands To Two Hours, Chuck Todd's 'MTP Daily' Moves To Early Afternoon And Adds Streaming Show". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
    45. ↑ Weprin, Alex (July 1, 2022). "A Drive-Through Window Revelation and Pitching the CEO at a Buffet: How MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace Cooked Up NBC's Ukraine Fundraiser". The Hollywood Reporter.
    46. ↑ Heil, Emily (September 4, 2014). "Meet Nicolle Wallace, the new co-host of ABC's 'The View'". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
    47. ↑ Avlon, John (February 28, 2013). "The Pro-Freedom Republicans Are Coming: 131 Sign Gay-Marriage Brief". The Daily Beast. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
    48. ↑ Bustillos, Maria (November 15, 2019). "MSNBC public editor: Who exactly are these people?". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
    49. ↑ Moran, Lee (March 9, 2021). "MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace Reveals What Now 'Terrifies' Her About The GOP". HuffPost. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
    50. ↑ Quinn, Dave; Patterson, Charmaine (April 5, 2022). "MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace Marries Michael Schmidt". People. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
    51. ↑ "MSNBC Host Nicolle Wallace Welcomes 'Perfect' Baby Girl: We Are 'Smitten with Her'". Peoplemag. Retrieved November 22, 2023.

    Further reading

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