The Gatekeepers audiobook cover - How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency

The Gatekeepers

How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency

Chris Whipple

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The Gatekeepers
Core Concept of the Role+
Richard Nixon+
Gerald Ford+
Jimmy Carter+
Ronald Reagan+
George H. W. Bush+
Bill Clinton+
George W. Bush+
Barack Obama+
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Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 9
How did H.R. Haldeman shape the modern role of the White House chief of staff during Richard Nixon's presidency?
  • A. By acting as a co-president who drafted all domestic policy without the president's input.
  • B. By ending the practice of 'end running' and forcing anyone who wanted to see the president to go through him first.
  • C. By encouraging lesser staff members to bring sealed envelopes directly to the president to ensure transparency.
  • D. By eliminating the chief of staff position entirely to avoid concentrating too much power in one person.
Question 2 of 9
Which public gaffe significantly damaged President Gerald Ford's 1976 election campaign, despite the disciplined organization of his chief of staff?
  • A. He claimed during a debate that there was no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe.
  • B. He accidentally revealed the existence of the Watergate tapes to the press.
  • C. He suggested that the US should covertly sell weapons to Iran.
  • D. He promised to heavily raise taxes during a nationally televised address.
Question 3 of 9
What major organizational mistake did both Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton make at the beginning of their presidencies?
  • A. They appointed vice presidents who entirely controlled their national security agendas.
  • B. They attempted to act as their own chief of staff, leading to an overwhelmed and chaotic White House.
  • C. They gave absolute authority to chiefs of staff who ultimately alienated Capitol Hill.
  • D. They relied exclusively on executive orders rather than attempting to work with Congress.
Question 4 of 9
During Ronald Reagan's presidency, what was the disastrous consequence of James Baker switching jobs with Secretary of the Treasury Don Regan?
  • A. The administration failed to pass the massive tax cuts known as Reaganomics.
  • B. The White House was unable to secure the release of American hostages in Tehran.
  • C. Don Regan's lack of political tact allowed the Iran-Contra Scandal to occur.
  • D. Reagan was convinced to make his highly unpopular 'tear down this wall' speech.
Question 5 of 9
What ultimately led to the downfall of George H. W. Bush's first chief of staff, John Sununu?
  • A. He failed to manage the 1990 economic recession effectively.
  • B. He was caught using military aircraft for personal trips at the taxpayers' expense.
  • C. He was blamed for the administration's failure to pass new environmental regulations.
  • D. He secretly authorized a break-in at the Democratic National Committee offices.
Question 6 of 9
How did Leon Panetta change the dynamic of the White House when he became Bill Clinton's chief of staff?
  • A. He demanded absolute authority to reorganize the chaotic staff and ended the 'dorm room' atmosphere.
  • B. He encouraged staffers to bypass him and speak directly to the president to foster creativity.
  • C. He shifted the administration's focus entirely away from domestic issues to foreign policy.
  • D. He convinced Clinton to resign in the wake of the Lewinsky scandal.
Question 7 of 9
According to the book, what was unique about the power dynamic in George W. Bush's White House regarding the chief of staff role?
  • A. The chief of staff role was officially abolished and replaced by a bipartisan committee.
  • B. Chief of Staff Andy Card held absolute power over both domestic and foreign policy.
  • C. Vice President Dick Cheney effectively acted as the chief of staff and set the president's agenda on national security.
  • D. The president's wife took on the informal duties of the chief of staff to control his schedule.
Question 8 of 9
How did Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten help President George W. Bush ward off immediate disaster during the 2008 financial crisis?
  • A. He convinced the president to buy $700 billion in toxic assets from major financial institutions.
  • B. He orchestrated a massive tax cut to stimulate the housing market.
  • C. He persuaded Bush to veto a controversial banking regulation bill.
  • D. He negotiated a bailout deal exclusively funded by European allies.
Question 9 of 9
How did Barack Obama's chiefs of staff in his second term help secure his legacy in the face of a Republican-controlled Congress?
  • A. They successfully negotiated bipartisan legislation for comprehensive healthcare reform.
  • B. They utilized executive orders to advance policies like the Paris climate accord and the Iran nuclear deal.
  • C. They convinced Obama to adopt a highly centrist platform to appease Republican lawmakers.
  • D. They focused exclusively on repairing the president's ties with Wall Street and the business world.

The Gatekeepers — Full Chapter Overview

The Gatekeepers Summary & Overview

The Gatekeepers (2017) challenges the standard view of the US government. To most people, the United States is embodied by its president. After all, it’s he who appears on all the TV screens. But the mechanics of the executive branch means there’s a key figure who’s too easily forgotten: the chief of staff. It’s his responsibility to control who or what reaches the president. Chris Whipple traces the history of the best – and the worst – of these gatekeepers.

Who Should Listen to The Gatekeepers?

  • Political junkies
  • Students of history or public policy
  • Anyone interested in how the White House works behind the scenes

About the Author: Chris Whipple

Chris Whipple is a Peabody- and Emmy-award-winning author, documentarian and journalist. He recently wrote and produced Showtime’s The Spymasters: CIA in the Crosshairs.

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