The gatekeepers

In this book, Chris Whipple provides an in-depth analysis of the White House Chiefs of Staff, their successes and failures, and how they have shaped presidential history.

Through extensive interviews with all seventeen living White House Chiefs of Staff and two former presidents, Whipple reveals the critical functions of the Chief of Staff, including controlling access to the Oval Office, creating time and space for the President to think, and serving as an honest broker for presidential decisions.

The book also explores how effective Chiefs of Staff could have prevented major political disasters such as Watergate, the Iraq War, and the bungled Obamacare rollout.

Whipple’s work offers a vivid and insightful look into the inner workings of the West Wing and the essential role of the Chief of Staff in the success or failure of a presidency.