White House Office of the Staff Secretary
Encyclopedia
The Staff Secretary is a position in the White House Office
, responsible for managing communications to the president and circulating documents among senior staff for comment. Sometimes described as "the nerve center of the White House," the position was created under President Dwight D. Eisenhower
. Under Eisenhower, the first staff secretaries focused particularly on screening national security communications; in this role, Colonel Andrew J. Goodpaster was thought to overshadow the President's special assistant for national security
. Prior to 1989, the staff secretary was designated as a Deputy Assistant to the President. Rajesh De, an attorney, is currently staff secretary to President Barack Obama
.
White House Office
The White House Office is an entity within the Executive Office of the President of the United States. The White House Office is headed by the White House Chief of Staff, which was temporarily Pete Rouse, replaced on January 6, 2010 with the permanent appointment of William M. Daley, who is also...
, responsible for managing communications to the president and circulating documents among senior staff for comment. Sometimes described as "the nerve center of the White House," the position was created under President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
. Under Eisenhower, the first staff secretaries focused particularly on screening national security communications; in this role, Colonel Andrew J. Goodpaster was thought to overshadow the President's special assistant for national security
National Security Advisor (United States)
The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor , serves as the chief advisor to the President of the United States on national security issues...
. Prior to 1989, the staff secretary was designated as a Deputy Assistant to the President. Rajesh De, an attorney, is currently staff secretary to President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
.
Holders of the office (incomplete list)
- (2011–Present) Rajesh De
- (2009–2011) Lisa BrownLisa Brown (lawyer)Lisa Brown was named by Barack Obama's office of presidential transition to serve in the Obama Administration as Staff Secretary, assuming that post on January 20, 2009, where she is responsible for managing the flow of information, advice and decision-making between staff members and the President...
- (2006–2009) Raul F. Yanes
- (2003–2006) Brett M. Kavanaugh
- (2001–2003) Harriet MiersHarriet MiersHarriet Ellan Miers is an American lawyer and former White House Counsel. In 2005, she was nominated by President George W. Bush to be an Associate Justice of the U.S...
- (2000–2001) Lisel Loy
- (1999–2000) Sean P. MaloneySean Patrick MaloneySean Patrick Maloney is an American politician from New York State and, in 2006, was a Democratic candidate for state Attorney General. He is the former First Deputy Secretary to the Governor, which made him a senior adviser and Cabinet member of New York Gov. David Paterson. He also served as...
- (1998–1999) Phillip M. Caplan
- (1995–1998) Todd SternTodd SternTodd D. Stern is the United States Special Envoy for Climate Change, leading talks at the United Nations climate change conferences and smaller sessions, appointed by U.S...
- (1993–1995) John D. Podesta
- (1991–1993) Phillip D. BradyPhillip D. BradyPhillip D. Brady was Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary in the White House from 1991 to 1993 under President George H.W. Bush, as well as General Counsel to the US Department of Transportation...
- (1989–1991) James W. Cicconi
- (1985–1988) David L. Chew
- (1977–1981) Richard G. Hutcheson III
- (1976–1977) James E. Connor
- (1974–1976) Jerry H. Jones
- (1961–1962) William J. Hartigan
- (1954–1961) Andrew J. Goodpaster
- (1953–1954) Paul Thomas Carroll