American Government and Politics Today, Brief Edition, 2014-2015

240 PART THREE • insTiTuTions of AmERiCAn GovERnmEnT

White House Office

The personal office of the

president, which tends to

presidential political needs

and manages the media.

Chief of Staff

The person who is named

to direct the White House

Office and advise the

president.

Several of the offices within the EOP are especially important, including the White

House Office and the Office of Management and Budget.

The White House office. The White House Office includes most of the key personal

and political advisers to the president. Among the jobs held by these aides are those of sec-

retary, press secretary, appointments secretary, and legal counsel to the president. Often,

the individuals who hold these positions are recruited from the president’s campaign staff.

Their duties—mainly protecting the president’s political interests—are similar to campaign

functions. In 2013, the White House Office was made up of the following units:

n    Domestic Policy Council

n    National Economic Council

n    National Security Adviser

n    Office of Cabinet Affairs

n    Office of the Chief of Staff

n    Office of Communications

n    Office of Digital Strategy

n    Office of the First Lady

n    Office of Legislative Affairs

n    Office of Management and

Administration

n    Oval Office Operations

n    Office of Presidential Personnel

n    Office of Public Engagement and

Intergovernmental Affairs

n    Office of Scheduling and Advance

n    Office of the Staff Secretary

n    Office of the White House Counsel

Key White House staff. In all recent administrations, one member of the White House

Office has been named chief of staff. This person, who is responsible for coordinating

the office, is also one of the president’s chief advisers. In addition to civilian advisers, the

president is supported by a large number of military personnel, who are organized under

the White House Military Office. These members of the military provide communications,

transportation, medical care, and food services to the president and the White House staff.

members of the national security team receive an update on the mission against Osama

bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House on May 1, 2011. Those present included Vice President

Joe Biden (left), President Barack Obama (second left), then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (second right),

and then Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (right). (Pete Souza/EPA/Landov)

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