Guide to the White House Staff

Book excerpt: Guide to the White House Staff is an insightful new work examining the evolution and current role of the White House staff. It provides a study of executive-legislative relations, organizational behavior, policy making, and White House–cabinet relations. The work also makes an important contribution to the study of public administration for researchers seeking to understand the inner workings of the White House. In eight thematically arranged chapters, Guide to the White House Staff: Reviews the early members of the White House staff and details the need, statutory authorization, and funding for staff expansion. Addresses the creation of the Executive Office of the President (EOP) and a formal White House staff in 1939. Explores the statutes, executive orders, and succession of reorganization plans that shaped and refined the EOP. Traces the evolution of White House staff from FDR to Obama and the specialization of staff across policy and political units. Explores how presidential transitions have operated since Eisenhower created the position of chief of staff. Explains the expansion of presidential in-house policymaking structures, beginning with national security and continuing with economic and domestic policy. Covers the exodus of staff and the roles remaining staff played during the second terms of presidents. Examines the post–White House careers of staff. Guide to the White House Staff also provides easily accessible biographies of key White House staff members who served the presidencies of Richard M. Nixon through George W. Bush. This valuable new reference will find a home in collections supporting research on the American presidency, public policy, and public administration.