White House Jewish Liaison
Encyclopedia
The White House staff position of Liaison to the Jewish Community (popularly known as the Jewish Liaison) is a role charged with serving as the Administration's voice to the American Jewish community
and gathering the community's consensus viewpoint on issues affecting it for the benefit of White House policymakers. It has existed at least as early as the Carter Administration.
At times, the post has operated within the White House Office of Public Liaison, and its formal title has depended on the rank of the person holding it. Thus, liaisons have held the position of Administrative Assistant for Jewish Affairs, Special Adviser for Jewish Affairs, or Deputy-Chief-of-Staff for Jewish Affairs. At other times, the post has been held by persons outside of the Public Liaison Office.
The position is a difficult one to hold. The liaison must be in contact with Jewish organization leaders who believe that they should be able to interact with White House policymakers as the need arises. The Liaison must also gather consensus from, and represent the Administration to, an American Jewish community that is deeply divided on many major issues, including foreign policy, such as the method of achieving Mideast peace, and domestic policy, like school vouchers and aid to parochial schools.
Recently, the position has been handled by younger staffers holding their first jobs in the executive branch, with little power, and frequently many years younger than the leaders to whom they represent the Administration viewpoint.
’s Jewish liaison. He was involved in explaining to White House chief of staff
Donald Regan
why Jews were angry over Reagan's 1985 visit to a Bitburg, West Germany cemetery that included the graves of Waffen-SS
soldiers. The position was a strong one in the Reagan and Clinton administrations; the position was shuffled relatively more often during the George W. Bush administration.
in the primary in 2008.
Adam Goldman, succeeded by HHS Deputy Secretary Tevi Troy
, and others at the White House, were said to have angered more liberal leaders of American Jewish organizations by allegedly bypassing their counsel in favor of more conservative Jews, functioning as a gatekeeper.
Additional Jewish Liaisons in the Bush White House included researcher and scheduler Jeff Berkowitz; staff assistant Jay Zeidman, the son of U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Council chair Fred Zeidman; speechwriter Noam Neusner, son of Jacob Neusner
, a prominent rabbi and author; and special policy assistant to the President Jeremy Katz. Troy left to work on the Bush 2004 reelection campaign, while both Berkowitz and Zeidman left to join 2008 Republican presidential campaigns.
The last liaison was Scott Arogeti.
, at least five candidates were interested in the position. The post was initially co-held by Susan Sher, chief of staff
to the First Lady
, and Danielle Borrin, who holds the position of Special Assistant for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement to Vice President Biden. However, Sher left the White House in January 2011.
American Jews
American Jews, also known as Jewish Americans, are American citizens of the Jewish faith or Jewish ethnicity. The Jewish community in the United States is composed predominantly of Ashkenazi Jews who emigrated from Central and Eastern Europe, and their U.S.-born descendants...
and gathering the community's consensus viewpoint on issues affecting it for the benefit of White House policymakers. It has existed at least as early as the Carter Administration.
At times, the post has operated within the White House Office of Public Liaison, and its formal title has depended on the rank of the person holding it. Thus, liaisons have held the position of Administrative Assistant for Jewish Affairs, Special Adviser for Jewish Affairs, or Deputy-Chief-of-Staff for Jewish Affairs. At other times, the post has been held by persons outside of the Public Liaison Office.
The position is a difficult one to hold. The liaison must be in contact with Jewish organization leaders who believe that they should be able to interact with White House policymakers as the need arises. The Liaison must also gather consensus from, and represent the Administration to, an American Jewish community that is deeply divided on many major issues, including foreign policy, such as the method of achieving Mideast peace, and domestic policy, like school vouchers and aid to parochial schools.
Recently, the position has been handled by younger staffers holding their first jobs in the executive branch, with little power, and frequently many years younger than the leaders to whom they represent the Administration viewpoint.
Carter Administration
In 1978, Carter administration Jewish liaison Mark Siegel resigned the position after he became distressed with the administration's position towards Israel and Middle East policy and felt unable to influence it.Reagan Administration
Marshall Breger was President Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
’s Jewish liaison. He was involved in explaining to White House chief of staff
White House Chief of Staff
The White House Chief of Staff is the highest ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States and a senior aide to the President.The current White House Chief of Staff is Bill Daley.-History:...
Donald Regan
Donald Regan
Donald Thomas Regan ,was the 66th United States Secretary of the Treasury, from 1981 to 1985, and Chief of Staff from 1985 to 1987 in the Ronald Reagan Administration, where he advocated "Reaganomics" and tax cuts to create jobs and stimulate production.-Early life:Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts,...
why Jews were angry over Reagan's 1985 visit to a Bitburg, West Germany cemetery that included the graves of Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
soldiers. The position was a strong one in the Reagan and Clinton administrations; the position was shuffled relatively more often during the George W. Bush administration.
Clinton Administration
Former Clinton Administration liaison Jay Footlik was a candidate for Congress in Illinois's 10th congressional district, losing to Dan SealsDan Seals
Danny Wayland "Dan" Seals was an American musician. The younger brother of Seals & Crofts member Jim Seals, he first gained fame as the "England Dan" half of the soft rock duo England Dan and John Ford Coley, which charted nine pop and adult contemporary singles between 1976 and 1980, including...
in the primary in 2008.
George W. Bush Administration
During the Bush Administration, seven people held the position of White House Liaison to the Jewish community.Adam Goldman, succeeded by HHS Deputy Secretary Tevi Troy
Tevi Troy
Tevi David Troy is the former Deputy Secretary of United States Department of Health and Human Services in the administration of George W. Bush.-Personal history:...
, and others at the White House, were said to have angered more liberal leaders of American Jewish organizations by allegedly bypassing their counsel in favor of more conservative Jews, functioning as a gatekeeper.
Additional Jewish Liaisons in the Bush White House included researcher and scheduler Jeff Berkowitz; staff assistant Jay Zeidman, the son of U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Council chair Fred Zeidman; speechwriter Noam Neusner, son of Jacob Neusner
Jacob Neusner
Jacob Neusner is an American academic scholar of Judaism who lives in Rhinebeck, New York.-Biography:Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Neusner was educated at Harvard University, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America , the University of Oxford, and Columbia University.Neusner is often celebrated...
, a prominent rabbi and author; and special policy assistant to the President Jeremy Katz. Troy left to work on the Bush 2004 reelection campaign, while both Berkowitz and Zeidman left to join 2008 Republican presidential campaigns.
The last liaison was Scott Arogeti.
Obama Administration
During the Presidential transition of Barack ObamaPresidential transition of Barack Obama
The presidential transition of Barack Obama began when he won the United States presidential election on November 4, 2008, and became the President-Elect. He was formally elected by the Electoral College on December 15, 2008...
, at least five candidates were interested in the position. The post was initially co-held by Susan Sher, chief of staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
to the First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
, and Danielle Borrin, who holds the position of Special Assistant for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement to Vice President Biden. However, Sher left the White House in January 2011.
External links
- The White House Office of Public Liaison - has some background on position