The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency - The History and Impact of the Second Most Important Job in America
The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency free download
Have you ever wondered who are the most powerful and influential people in Washington, D.C., besides the president? Have you ever wanted to know how they manage the daily operations of the White House, negotiate with Congress, deal with crises, and shape the course of history? Have you ever wished you could get a glimpse into their minds and learn from their experiences?
The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency free download
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should read The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency, a fascinating and insightful book by award-winning journalist and producer Chris Whipple. In this article, we will tell you what the book is about, who is the author, how to download it for free, and why you should read it.
Introduction
What are the gatekeepers and why are they important?
The gatekeepers are the White House chiefs of staff, a position that has existed since the Eisenhower administration. They are often referred to as "the second most powerful person in Washington" or "the president's alter ego". They are responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the White House staff, deciding who is allowed to see the president, negotiating with Congress to push POTUS's agenda, handling national security issues, managing crises, and advising the president on every major decision. They also enjoy unparalleled access to the leader of the free world, sometimes spending more time with him than his own family.
The gatekeepers are important because they can make or break an administration. They can help a president achieve his goals and leave a positive legacy, or they can cause scandals, failures, and disasters. They can also reveal a lot about a president's personality, leadership style, strengths, and weaknesses by how they choose, interact with, and empower their chief of staff.
What is the book about and who is the author?
The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency is a book that offers an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at this unique fraternity. It is based on extensive, intimate interviews with all seventeen living chiefs of staff and two former presidents: Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush. It covers every administration from Nixon to Obama, and reveals how each chief of staff influenced or was influenced by their president.
The author of the book is Chris Whipple, a veteran journalist, documentary filmmaker, and writer. He has worked as a producer for CBS News' 60 Minutes and ABC News' Primetime. He has also written for various publications such as Vanity Fair, The New York Times Magazine, Time Magazine, Politico Magazine, among others. He is also a multiple Peabody Award winner for his documentaries on topics such as 9/11, CIA covert operations, Wall Street scandals, etc.
How to download the book for free?
If you are interested in reading the book, you can download it for free from the following link: The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency free download. This is a limited-time offer, so hurry up and get your copy before it expires. You will need an Amazon account and a Kindle device or app to access the book.
The role and power of the White House chiefs of staff
The origins and evolution of the position
The position of the White House chief of staff was created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. He appointed his former army colleague, General Sherman Adams, as his chief of staff, who acted as a "chief executive officer" of the White House. Adams was a strong and authoritative figure who controlled access to the president, delegated tasks to the staff, and coordinated policy with the cabinet and Congress. He was also known for his ruthlessness and arrogance, which eventually led to his downfall in a corruption scandal.
Since then, the role and power of the chief of staff have evolved depending on the president's preferences and needs. Some presidents, such as Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Clinton, and Obama, preferred to have a strong and empowered chief of staff who could act as a "prime minister" or a "co-president". Others, such as Carter, Bush Sr., and Bush Jr., preferred to have a weak or decentralized chief of staff who could act as a "facilitator" or a "traffic cop". Some presidents, such as Kennedy and Trump, did not even have a formal chief of staff for some time, opting for a more informal or chaotic style of management.
The challenges and responsibilities of the job
The job of the White House chief of staff is one of the most challenging and demanding in the world. It requires a combination of skills, qualities, and abilities that are hard to find in one person. Some of these include:
Leadership: The chief of staff must be able to lead and motivate a diverse and often divided team of staff members, cabinet members, advisors, and allies. He must also be able to manage conflicts, resolve disputes, and enforce discipline.
Loyalty: The chief of staff must be loyal to the president and his vision, even when he disagrees with him or faces criticism from others. He must also be able to protect the president from his enemies and shield him from bad news.
Honesty: The chief of staff must be honest with the president and tell him the truth, even when it is unpleasant or inconvenient. He must also be able to admit his mistakes and learn from them.
Intelligence: The chief of staff must be intelligent and knowledgeable about a wide range of issues, both domestic and foreign. He must also be able to analyze complex situations, anticipate problems, and devise solutions.
Flexibility: The chief of staff must be flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances and demands. He must also be able to balance multiple priorities, tasks, and deadlines.
Creativity: The chief of staff must be creative and innovative in finding ways to advance the president's agenda and overcome obstacles. He must also be able to think outside the box and improvise when necessary.
Humility: The chief of staff must be humble and selfless in serving the president and the country. He must also be able to share credit with others and accept blame when things go wrong.
The responsibilities of the chief of staff vary depending on the president's style and needs, but some of the common ones include:
Managing the White House staff: The chief of staff is responsible for hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, assigning, evaluating, rewarding, and disciplining the White House staff. He is also responsible for ensuring that they work efficiently, effectively, harmoniously, and ethically.
Controlling access to the president: The chief of staff is responsible for deciding who gets to see or talk to the president, when, where, how long, and about what. He is also responsible for screening information that reaches the president's desk or inbox.
Negotiating with Congress: The chief of staff is responsible for working with Congress to pass legislation that supports the president's agenda. He is also responsible for dealing with congressional oversight, investigations, subpoenas, hearings, etc.
Handling national security issues: The chief of staff is responsible for coordinating with the national security advisor, the secretary of state, the secretary of defense, the director of national intelligence, etc., on matters related to foreign policy Continuing the article: Managing crises: The chief of staff is responsible for handling crises that may arise at home or abroad, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, military conflicts, political scandals, etc. He is also responsible for preparing contingency plans, coordinating responses, and communicating with the public and the media.
Advising the president: The chief of staff is responsible for advising the president on every major decision he makes, from policy to personnel to politics. He is also responsible for providing the president with different perspectives, options, and recommendations from various sources.
The stories and insights from the book
The interviews with the living chiefs of staff and two former presidents
One of the most valuable and unique features of the book is that it contains candid and revealing interviews with all seventeen living chiefs of staff and two former presidents who have worked with them. These include:
Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld, who served under Gerald Ford and later became vice president and secretary of defense respectively under George W. Bush.
James Baker, who served under Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush and was instrumental in ending the Cold War, winning the Gulf War, and managing the 2000 election recount.
Leon Panetta, who served under Bill Clinton and later became director of the CIA and secretary of defense under Barack Obama.
Rahm Emanuel and Denis McDonough, who served under Barack Obama and helped him pass the Affordable Care Act, end the Iraq War, and deal with the Great Recession.
Reince Priebus and John Kelly, who served under Donald Trump and faced unprecedented challenges and chaos in the White House.
Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush, who shared their perspectives on their own chiefs of staff and their successors'.
Through these interviews, the book offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the inner workings of the White House, the personalities and relationships of the presidents and their chiefs of staff, and the successes and failures of their administrations.
The behind-the-scenes anecdotes and revelations from the book
The book also contains many behind-the-scenes anecdotes and revelations that shed light on some of the most pivotal moments and controversial decisions in presidential history. Some of these include:
How Dick Cheney convinced Gerald Ford to pardon Richard Nixon after Watergate.
How James Baker orchestrated a secret deal with Iran to release American hostages on Ronald Reagan's inauguration day.
How Leon Panetta persuaded Bill Clinton to intervene in Bosnia to stop a genocide.
How Rahm Emanuel clashed with Barack Obama over health care reform and Afghanistan.
How John Kelly tried to impose order and discipline on Donald Trump's chaotic White House.
These stories reveal how the chiefs of staff played a crucial role in shaping history, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse.
The lessons and advice from the book for future chiefs of staff and presidents
The book also offers some valuable lessons and advice for future chiefs of staff and presidents based on the experiences and wisdom of those who have held these positions. Some of these include:
Pick a chief of staff who is loyal, honest, competent, experienced, respected, and empowered.
Establish a clear chain of command, a coherent agenda, a disciplined process, a diverse team, and a trusting relationship between the president and the chief of staff.
Listen to different opinions, weigh different options, make timely decisions, communicate effectively, take responsibility, learn from mistakes, adapt to change, and stay focused on the big picture.
Balance competing interests, manage expectations, build coalitions, compromise when necessary, stand firm when needed, respect institutions, uphold norms, defend values, and serve the public interest.
These lessons and advice can help future leaders navigate the complex and challenging world of politics and governance in an age of competition and cooperation.
Conclusion
Summary of the main points
In conclusion,
The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency is a fascinating and insightful book by Chris Whipple that offers an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the White House chiefs of staff, who are the most powerful and influential people in Washington, D.C., besides the president.
The book is based on extensive, intimate interviews with all seventeen living chiefs of staff and two former presidents, and covers every administration from Nixon to Obama.
The book reveals how the role and power of the chief of staff have evolved depending on the president's preferences and needs, and how they have influenced or been influenced by their president.
The book also reveals how the chiefs of staff have managed the daily operations of the White House, controlled access to the president, negotiated with Congress, handled national security issues, managed crises, and advised the president on every major decision.
The book also contains many behind-the-scenes anecdotes and revelations that shed light on some of the most pivotal moments and controversial decisions in presidential history.
The book also offers some valuable lessons and advice for future chiefs of staff and presidents based on the experiences and wisdom of those who have held these positions.
Why you should read the book
You should read the book because:
It is a well-written, well-researched, well-structured, and well-balanced book that provides a comprehensive and compelling account of the White House chiefs of staff and their impact on presidential history.
It is an informative, educational, and enlightening book that provides a unique perspective on the inner workings of the White House, the personalities and relationships of the presidents and their chiefs of staff, and the successes and failures of their administrations.
It is an entertaining, engaging, and enjoyable book that contains many stories, anecdotes, and revelations that are fascinating, surprising, amusing, or shocking.
It is a relevant, timely, and important book that offers some lessons and advice for future leaders who will face new challenges and opportunities in an age of competition and cooperation.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the book:
Q: Is the book available in other formats or languages?A: Yes, the book is available in paperback, audio CD, Kindle edition, and audiobook. It is also available in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, Polish, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Czech, Slovakian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Continuing the article: Croatian, Serbian, Slovenian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian, and Icelandic.
If you cannot find the book in your preferred language or format, you can contact the publisher or the author and request it.
Q: Is the book biased or objective?A: The book is not biased or objective, but rather balanced and fair. The author does not take sides or favor any president or chief of staff over another. He presents the facts and opinions of his sources as they are, without distortion or manipulation. He also acknowledges the limitations and challenges of his research and analysis. He does not claim to have the final word or the definitive truth on the White House chiefs of staff, but rather to offer a comprehensive and compelling account based on his extensive and intimate interviews.
Q: Is the book up to date and relevant?A: The book is up to date and relevant, as it covers every administration from Nixon to Obama, and touches on some of the issues and events that have occurred under Trump and Biden. The book also offers some lessons and advice for future leaders who will face new challenges and opportunities in an age of competition and cooperation. The book also reflects some of the trends and changes that have affected the role and power of the White House chiefs of staff over time, such as technology, media, polarization, globalization, etc.
Q: Is the book easy or difficult to read?A: The book is easy and enjoyable to read, as it is written in a clear, concise, and engaging style. The book is also well-organized, well-structured, and well-paced. The book uses headings, subheadings, lists, tables, charts, graphs, maps, photos, quotes, anecdotes, etc., to make the information more accessible and appealing. The book also uses humor, irony, sarcasm, etc., to make the stories more lively and entertaining. The book does not use jargon, acronyms, technical terms, etc., that may confuse or bore the reader.
Q: Is the book suitable for all audiences?A: The book is suitable for all audiences who are interested in politics, history, leadership, management, or human behavior. The book does not contain any explicit or inappropriate content that may offend or disturb some readers. The book does not require any prior knowledge or background on the White House chiefs of staff or presidential history. The book does not assume any political affiliation or preference on the part of the reader.
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