1. Presidential Support Staff
Unit 4: Institutions

2. The White House

3. The Trump Era White House
The White House Staff & Administration in the last 13 months has changed people more times than people can count.
The Trump Administration is being called a “Revolving Door”
Trump’s Revolving Door
This Revolving Door is very indicative of the type of administration the Trump presidency is demonstrating

4. I. Executive Office of the President
The Oval Office

5. The President’s World

6. White House Office/ White House Staff
Immediate staff of President: Office space in West Wing of White House Proximity to President. “Rule of Propinquity”: power is wielded by people who are in the room where decisions are made
Organization: Two general forms 
Circular method (used by FDR and Carter, Obama):
Pyramid method (used by Ike, Nixon, and Reagan, Bush 43):

7. Visual for Forms of Organization
Circular Method
Pyramid Method

8. Analysis of Methods
Circular Method
Pyramid Method
The circular method allows for greater access and more information
But at the expense of efficiency.
Presidents (i.e. Obama) can become overworked and overwhelmed with details- losing sight of greater picture and their broad goals.
Pyramid method allows for greater efficiency
But at the expense of access and information.
Presidents can be “kept in the dark” by “palace guard”  loses touch with nation

9. 2. Appointments to the White House Office-
Chief of Staff, generally do not require Senate consent
The following appointments do require Senate confirmation
B. OMB: prepares the annual budget and reviews federal programs
NSC (National Security Council)
NSA (National Security Agency)
CEA (Council on Economic Advisory
Council on Environmental Quality

10. II. Cabinet
Definition: heads of the Cabinet depts. And 5 others who hold “cabinet rank” (OMB Director, CIA Director, White House Counselor, UN Ambassador, US Trade Rep)
Each of these is appointed by the President w/ Senate consent
Comparing U.S. vs European Cabinet Systems:
C. In European parliamentary
systems
Hammers out policy w MPs
MPs are part of cabinet

11. Const. ban from being members of Cong
In our system:
Const. ban from being members of Cong
Interest is to empower their own depts, not hammer out policy for all stakeholders
E. President influence over Cabinet is limited- Examples:
Can fire appointees
Little control over Civil Service employees
Factors affecting selection of Cabinet Secretaries:
Party affiliation
Interest group influence
Race
Geographic diversity
Sex
“Confirmability”

12. III. Who gets appointed to federal positions?
Dependence on staff recommendations
Background of appointees

13. IV. Vice President

14. Only two constitutional duties:
Traditionally VP is a dull do nothing job:
“The vice presidency isn’t worth a pitcher of warm spit”- John Nance Garner
“I do not choose to be buried until I am really dead”- Daniel Webster on refusing a VP nomination in 1848
“…the most insignificant office ever conceived”- John Adams

15. VPs job is whatever the president says it is Importance of the office:
9/43 Presidents have not finished their terms of office
VP can become Acting President if the President is disabled
In recent years, Presidents (i.e. Carter, Reagan, Clinton) have made more effective use of VP. Esp Bush-Cheney
Vice Presidency can be a stepping stone to the Presidency- i.e. Bush 41

16. Lecture DQs
List and discuss the two methods of organization for the President’s office. Provide examples of presidents for each.
Discuss the role of the Cabinet. Provide 2 examples that demonstrate the role.