The gatekeepers: how the White House Chiefs of Staff define every presidency / Chapter 9: Between Bad to Worse

Overview

• The chapter meticulously chronicles Barack Obama's critical transition into the presidency in 2008 and the formative initial stages of his administration.

• It places significant emphasis on the pivotal role played by his Chiefs of Staff, particularly focusing on Rahm Emanuel, and later Bill Daley and Denis McDonough.

• It discusses in depth the formidable challenges confronted by the administration, which included a severe global financial crisis, a deeply divided political landscape, and the ambitious pursuit of complex policy goals.

• Furthermore, it illuminates key relationships forged and tested within the White House, including those with former Chiefs of Staff and other seasoned political advisors, emphasizing their influence on decision-making processes.

1. The Setting Before Presidency

• Timeframe: Approximately one month prior to the intensely contested 2008 presidential election.

• Location: A modest hotel room in Reno, Nevada, away from the campaign trail's usual frenzy.

• Objective: Rather than focusing on continued campaigning despite favorable polling against Republican nominee John McCain, the objective was to strategically discuss the practicalities of governing and the formation of the nascent administration, preparing for possible victory.

2. The Meeting of Advisers

• Key participants: A high-caliber group of Obama's most trusted political strategists and experienced Washington insiders including David Axelrod, Valerie Jarrett, David Plouffe, Bill Daley, Peter Rouse, Erskine Bowles, John Podesta, and Leon Panetta (who joined via speakerphone).

• Main question: The central agenda item was the crucial decision of who should assume the highly demanding and influential position of Chief of Staff, a role deemed essential for the incoming president's success.

2.1. Opinions on Candidates

• Erskine Bowles' Advice:

  • Strongly cautioned against appointing close Chicago associates to the inner circle of the White House, particularly the Chief of Staff role.

  • Provided a historical reference to past presidential administrations (such as Carter, Nixon, and Johnson) where the appointment of overly loyal or inexperienced close friends to high office led to significant operational issues and political scandals.

• Leon Panetta's Input:

  • Emphatically stressed the imperative for a Chief of Staff capable of making exceptionally tough, often unpopular, decisions and willing to absorb political criticism on behalf of the president.

  • Advocated that this critical position should not be held by a close personal friend, to ensure objective and unbiased counsel.

• John Podesta's Perspective:

  • Underlined the paramount importance of the Chief of Staff in effectively managing the diverse White House team, ensuring respect from political peers, and adeptly guiding the administration's strategic policy initiatives and legislative agenda.

3. Candidates Considered for Chief of Staff

• Consideration of Pete Rouse:

  • Described as a highly knowledgeable, exceptionally calm, and extensively connected veteran of Capitol Hill, known for his deep understanding of legislative processes.

  • Despite his qualifications, Rouse strongly preferred a low-profile advisory role, offering strategic guidance behind the scenes, rather than the high-pressure, public-facing Chief of Staff position.

• Tom Daschle:

  • An early favorite, highly regarded for his thoughtful demeanor, extensive experience as a former Senate Majority Leader, and his nuanced understanding of legislative strategy and political negotiations.

  • His consideration highlighted the desire for a Chief of Staff with strong congressional ties.

• Rahm Emanuel:

  • A more controversial and ultimately chosen selection, characterized by his brash, combative political style and aggressive strategic approach.

  • His potential appointment was viewed with skepticism by some internal advisors who feared he could generate unnecessary conflicts and political friction; however, he was strongly supported by David Axelrod.

  • Obama, recognizing the severe impending economic crisis, acknowledged the absolute necessity of appointing an experienced, aggressive, and highly effective political operator to navigate the challenging landscape.

4. Emanuel's Background and Decision

• Rahm Emanuel's Upbringing:

  • Raised within a high-achieving family with prominent Israeli heritage; his brothers, Ezekiel and Ari, pursued notable career paths (Ezekiel as an accomplished bioethicist and Ari as a powerful Hollywood talent agent), instilling a competitive and driven ethos.

  • Education: He pursued liberal arts at Denison University and later earned a master’s degree in communications from Northwestern University.

• Reluctance to Join:

  • Emanuel had just successfully secured reelection as a congressman and had recently completed extensive renovations on his family home, indicating a desire to settle into his legislative career.

  • His initial reluctance was overcome by a profound sense of duty and loyalty when directly asked by Obama, adopting an attitude of compliance and commitment in the face of what he viewed as a call to national leadership.

5. Emanuel’s Tenure as Chief of Staff

• Date of assuming office: January 20, 2009, coinciding with Obama's presidential inauguration.

• Characteristics of Office:

  • Emanuel appreciated the redesigned patio space outside his office, which provided a brief respite from the intense Oval Office pressures, and the implementation of modern technology improvements, such as a GPS tracking system for legislative bills.

  • Faced extraordinarily complex and interconnected challenges from day one: the profound global financial crisis, the imminent collapse of the American auto industry, and widespread overall economic instability and high unemployment.

5.1. Approach to Governance

• Belief in the principle that crises inherently present unique opportunities for transformative change: famously stating, "A crisis is a terrible thing to waste." This philosophy guided his urgent and decisive approach to policy-making.

• Expertly managed the delicate balance of rapidly developing political strategy amid intense media scrutiny and the overwhelming public necessity to act swiftly and decisively on multiple fronts.

• Initiated a massive $$787 billion economic stimulus package (the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009), comprising tax cuts, infrastructure spending, and aid to states, specifically designed to combat the severe economic woes. He placed significant emphasis on cultivating strong congressional relationships across party lines to ensure crucial legislative support and passage.

• Navigated persistent tensions between his own pragmatic, politically expedient approach and Obama's more idealistic campaign promises, often clashing over the speed and scope of policy implementation.

6. Key Decisions During Tenure

• Health Care Reform:

  • A major debate arose immediately after the stimulus package's passage regarding the next legislative priority; Emanuel vehemently argued for focusing on financial regulatory reform first, citing its urgency, while Obama resolutely prioritized comprehensive health care reform as a cornerstone of his domestic agenda, leading to significant internal friction.

• Recruitment of Nancy-Ann DeParle:

  • DeParle was specifically brought into the administration due to her extensive and highly respected health care policy experience, having previously directed Medicare and Medicaid services. She initially harbored reservations about working closely with Emanuel, given his reputation for aggressive tactics, but ultimately accepted the role, becoming a key player in the Affordable Care Act's development.

• Managed the intricate legislation process and painstakingly built broad coalitions with various powerful stakeholders, including pharmaceutical companies, hospital industries, and medical associations, to garner essential support and ensure substantive progress on the landmark health care reform legislation.

7. Emanuel's Resignation

• Timeframe: Officially announced his departure on September 7, 2010, expressing his intention to run for mayor of Chicago.

• Achievements highlighted by Obama during his farewell remarks included Emanuel's critical role in preventing a second Great Depression and his instrumental work in enacting significant, transformative legislation, such as the stimulus package and the early phases of health care reform.

8. Bill Daley's Leadership

• Successor: Bill Daley, a seasoned corporate executive and former Secretary of Commerce, was appointed to the role. His primary objective was to leverage his extensive corporate experience and relationships to bridge widening gaps with the business community and foster greater economic confidence.

• Immediate crisis faced: Daley's tenure began under immense pressure, notably including the response to the tragic shooting of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords in January 2011, which occurred just as he was starting his duties and underscored the volatile political climate.

• Leadership Style: He initially struggled to inject a sense of authoritative new direction, concerned over effectively pushing Obama’s ambitious second-term agenda while simultaneously dealing with significant staffing challenges, particularly with the departure of many battle-tested campaign veterans, and the increasingly polarized political landscape.

9. McDonough's Appointment

• Following Bill Daley, the role of Chief of Staff transitioned to Jacob (Jack) Lew, known for his deep expertise in budget and economic policy.

• Later, Denis McDonough, a long-serving foreign policy advisor, was appointed Chief of Staff. McDonough was characterized by a highly disciplined, systematic approach to policy formulation and governmental processes, marking a stylistic contrast with the more politically aggressive earlier chiefs and ushering in a focus on meticulous policy execution.

10. Challenges in Second Term

• Notable crises: The administration grappled with devastating domestic tragedies, including the mass shootings in Aurora, Colorado (July 2012) and Newtown, Connecticut (December 2012), which intensely affected gun control efforts and prompted renewed calls for legislative action.

• Presidential dynamics shifted; Obama often struggled to gain consistent traction on key legislative issues due to heightened political gridlock, including comprehensive immigration reform and ambitious climate change initiatives, facing staunch opposition in Congress.

• To circumvent congressional obstruction and advance his legacy projects, particularly on immigration and climate change, Obama increasingly adopted the use of executive orders, especially as the implications of upcoming midterm elections were being closely analyzed.

11. The Syria Crisis

• This section describes the profoundly significant and intensely complex decision-making process surrounding potential U.S. military action against Syria in August 2013, following strong evidence of chemical weapons attacks by the Assad regime.

• The final decision, made after considerable internal debate and international consultation, was to involve Congress in approving any military action rather than proceeding unilaterally. This was described as a pivotal moment in Obama’s foreign policy approach, demonstrating a commitment to international law and domestic consensus-building, but also leading to criticism regarding perceived indecision.

Conclusion

• Provides overall reflections on the intricate and evolving relationships between President Obama and his various Chiefs of Staff, highlighting how their dynamic interactions and influence changed significantly over the course of his two terms.

• Emphasizes the formidable challenges faced by the administration, acknowledges its notable successes in navigating crises and enacting landmark legislation, and analyzes how the internal balance of power and advisory dynamics among his most trusted counselors developed and adapted throughout his presidency.