Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
The Gatekeepers
The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency | Chris Whipple
The first in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the White House Chiefs of Staff, whose actionsand inactionshave defined the course of our country. What do Dick Cheney and Rahm Emanuel have in common? Aside from polarizing personalities, both served as chief of staff to the president of the United Statesas did Donald Rumsfeld, Leon Panetta, and a relative handful of others. The chiefs of staff, often referred to as "the gatekeepers," wield tremendous power in Washington and beyond; they decide who is allowed to see the president, negotiate with Congress to push POTUS's agenda, andmost cruciallyenjoy unparalleled access to the leader of the free world. Each chief can make or break an administration, and each president reveals himself by the chief he picks. Through extensive, intimate interviews with all seventeen living chiefs and two former presidents, award-winning journalist and producer Chris Whipple pulls back the curtain on this unique fraternity. In doing so, he revises our understanding of presidential history, showing us how James Bakers expert managing of the White House, the press, and Capitol Hill paved the way for the Reagan Revolutionand, conversely, how Watergate, the Iraq War, and even the bungled Obamacare rollout might have been prevented by a more effective chief. Filled with shrewd analysis and never-before-reported details, The Gatekeepers offers an essential portrait of the toughest job in Washington.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
JenReadsAlot
post image
Pickpick

This was really good and I felt like I learned quite a bit as well.

33 likes1 stack add
review
Suet624
post image
Pickpick

If you like political history, this book is for you. Filled with behind the scenes stories of all those who helped or hindered their president. Detailing the times from Nixon through Obama, you‘ll know many of the key players as they seem to keep cycling through the system, from one political post to another. Detailed but never boring.

BarbaraTheBibliophage I loved this one! 7y
Suet624 @BarbaraTheBibliophage I love seeing Chris Whipple talking about Trump and his chaotic White House. 7y
73 likes4 stack adds2 comments
review
ReadingSusan
post image
Pickpick

This is such a good book. Very informative. It has great stories and gave a great overview of the chiefs of staff from Nixon on.

107 likes4 stack adds
blurb
Suet624
post image

I‘m only on page 8 and I‘m feeling nostalgic and sad. The former chiefs of staff are giving advice to Obama‘s chief of staff as he begins his new job. The weight of the position is so clearly stated. I wish some of these people (okay, not Sununu, Rumsfeld, or Cheney) were around now.

blurb
ReadingSusan
post image

Reading with my little angel. I have been battling feelings of depression the last few days and I really think it‘s due to my lack of reading time.

mabell So cozy ❤️❤️ 7y
Ruthiella Hope you feel better soon! Coziness with fur-buddies and books is a good remedy! 😺 7y
DivineDiana Reading comforts the soul. 💗 7y
See All 10 Comments
introvertedbooks Feel better sending lots of hugs ❤ 7y
TricksyTails Hugs to you. ♥️♥️♥️ 7y
Lreads Reading is a form of self-care and it really does help. 💙 7y
minkyb Sending hugs! 7y
DrSabrinaMoldenReads Agreed! Reading really has helped me greatly with both anxiety and depression throughout my whole lifetime. 7y
ReadingSusan Thank you so much for your kind words everyone. ❤️❤️ 7y
119 likes10 comments
blurb
ReadingSusan
post image

I am really enjoying this book about presidential chiefs of staff. Also my breakfast is amazing. Pimento cheese bacon omelette! Yummy.

BarbaraTheBibliophage This was a 2017 favorite for me! 7y
kspenmoll Looks sooo good! I have this book to read, hopefully somewhat soon.😊 7y
Lcsmcat Yum! 7y
132 likes4 stack adds3 comments
blurb
ReadingSusan
post image

I worked an early shift today so when I got home I grabbed my stack of books and got in bed. It‘s turned suddenly cold today so huddled under blankets.

ellenrackley I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot! 7y
105 likes1 comment
blurb
ReadingSusan
post image

When the husband is away the wife will play.. oh who am I kidding the wife will eat sushi and cake and read 🤣

LitLogophile Looks like a great night! 7y
Alfoster I‘ll be right over!🤪😂😂😂 7y
Leftcoastzen Sometimes having exactly what you want for dinner is just the best!😀🍱🎂 7y
See All 11 Comments
mrsmarch Ooo cake!!! 7y
DrexEdit Perfect. Dinner. 👏👏👏😊 7y
Reviewsbylola Sounds perfect!! 7y
Lcsmcat I love your plates! 7y
SandyW Yum 7y
Fortifiedbybooks I like to order Indian food and read, so I totally get this 🤫 7y
ReadingSusan @LitLogophile it was perfect! 7y
157 likes1 stack add11 comments
blurb
ladyonequestion
post image

Sounds like an interesting book. Enjoying the #podcast #USPolitics

blurb
ReadingSusan
post image

Currently reading these books plus Children of Blood and Bone on audio. Bracing myself for a bad weather day. I wish I didn‘t have to go to work. My anxiety is high.

blurb
ReadingSusan
post image

Happy Friday! Here are my #FridayReads that I am working on. Excited to read these this weekend. What is everyone else reading today?

Eggs Perhaps The Great Alone 7y
ReadingSusan @Eggs I loved that one! 7y
ReadingSusan @DrexEdit ohhh that looks good. Love the cover. 7y
87 likes4 comments
blurb
WanderingBookaneer
post image

#CurrentListen If it is good enough for @BookishMarginalia , it‘s good enough for me!

BookishMarginalia I loved it! 7y
Lissa00 I learned so much from this book....so interesting! 7y
89 likes7 stack adds2 comments
review
BookishMarginalia
post image
Pickpick

I highly recommend this informative and engaging look at the pivotal role of the Chief of Staff in the White House. Each chapter focuses on a different president and his chiefs of staff, from Nixon to Obama. It‘s a history lesson with a light touch and a deft hand. #Recommendsday (it would make an excellent gift for history and politics buffs in your Christmas list, regardless of party affiliation) #GiftABook

TheBookStacker I have been wanting to read this!!! 7y
132 likes11 stack adds1 comment
review
BarbaraTheBibliophage
post image
Pickpick

This great nonfiction, based on a documentary, illuminated behind-the-scenes politics from the 1960s to today. White House Chiefs of Staff are neither elected not confirmed by the Senate. They‘re appointed by Presidents, work their butts off, and hopefully leave their mark before they collapse.

Full review www.TheBibliophage.com

#nonfictionchallenge17

117 likes6 stack adds
quote
BarbaraTheBibliophage
post image

When I first started this book, I‘d commented on how the fictional chief of staff and others on ABC‘s Designated Survivor seem impossibly young. Turns out it‘s entirely possible, although none of these young people in Carter‘s administration were his chief of staff. #politics #nonficnov

DebinHawaii This book sounds interesting! 📚🤓 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @DebinHawaii It is. While historical, it reads easily for me. It‘s not at all dry! 7y
87 likes3 stack adds2 comments
blurb
BarbaraTheBibliophage
post image

I'm diving into this one today, and loving it already. Lately politics is my jam.

This question is only partly related. If you watch Designated Survivor, don't you think Tom Kirkman's two Chiefs of Staff are impossibly young and inexperienced? Love the show, though!

LibrarianRyan Yes. But a lot of the experienced staff would have died in the bombing. I miss that show. Dang CBS 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @LibrarianRyan I know, but there had to be more qualified people who hadn't been at the Capital that night. We've been watching the new season. It's back - or did something happen mid-season? 7y
LibrarianRyan @BarbaraTheBibliophage I no longer have cable so I have seen none of season 2. And I'm too cheep to pay for the CBS app. 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @LibrarianRyan Oh gotcha! We keep talking about dumping our satellite service. I'd rather read, but not Mr. B. 😏 7y
85 likes3 stack adds4 comments
review
keithmalek
Pickpick

Great book. However, I could've done without the line, "You can't diss the Majority Leader." I know that ghetto slang has somehow replaced English and became our national language, but intelligent people do not write this way.

quote
keithmalek

Introducing Rahm Emanuel at a charity event, Obama told the audience about the time Rahm, a teenager working at a deli, suffered a terrible accident with a meat grinder; part of his middle finger was sliced off--rendering him "practically mute." Later Obama would tease Rahm about a camel ride during a trip to Egypt. "This is a wild animal known to bite, kick, and spit," Obama said, "and who knows what the camel might do."

quote
keithmalek

On a state visit to England, Baker and Deaver arranged for the president to go horseback riding with Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle. When the time came, the queen's horse took off at a gallop--farting uncontrollably. Reagan and his horse rode just behind. Upon their return, the queen stammered, "Mr. President, I am so terribly sorry." Reagan smiled and cocked his head. "That's funny, " he responded. "I thought it was the horse."

Laura317 😂😂😂 7y
Suet624 I am cracking up over here. 7y
12 likes2 comments
quote
keithmalek

Meese was adept at framing issues for his boss but famously disorganized; his briefcase was known as the "black hole": Papers went in and never came out. Stuart Spencer, Reagan's old friend and campaign manager, thought Meese was a nonstarter. "Ed couldn't organize a two car funeral," he says.

quote
keithmalek

"He was giving these very dull, terrible speeches," recalls Cannon. "And one day they wrote a line in a speech and the sentence was, 'And I say to you, this is nonsense.' And they made a note in the speech: with emphasis. And Ford read it aloud: 'And I say to you, this is nonsense--with emphasis.' And Cheney says, 'Well, that's another thing we can't do--write instructions in the speech text.'"

Lindy Ha! 7y
LauraBeth 😂😂 I really enjoyed this book! 7y
Laura317 🤣🤣🤣 7y
14 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
AAdamson
post image
Pickpick

This was interesting. Picked it up on a whim.

review
Sfbeavers
Pickpick

I thought this was an excellent book-very interesting description of how the presidents and chiefs of staff dealt with the challenges of each presidency. For those of you who don't want to read a book that describes a lot of partisan fighting, to me it didn't read that way. It was fast-paced, and I learned a lot!

review
Lissa00
post image
Pickpick

I learned so much from this book! Starting with Nixon and continuing through the end of Obama's presidency, this book discusses the different roles that the Chief of Staff has played and how successful they've been. I felt this was fairly unbiased, politically, and completely full of fascinating anecdotes. Really glad I picked his one up!

106 likes6 stack adds
review
LauraBeth
post image
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Released tomorrow! Here's my review:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31159759-the-gatekeepers

ValerieAndBooks Sounds good! 8y
141 likes2 stack adds1 comment
blurb
LauraBeth
post image

My friend has MS and is blind so she can't drive - she's always amazed that I offer to drive her to her doctor's appointments. I can sit in a quiet waiting room and read? Really, I seriously don't mind one bit!

Mariposa_Bookworm How wonderful you are! ❤ 8y
DGRachel 😍😍 8y
LittlePixels LOL, I can relate. Hubby always commends me on sitting and waiting during my kiddo's dance classes. Yep, I'm a saint. That quiet reading time is awful. 😉 8y
See All 7 Comments
LeahBergen 💗💗 8y
CherylDeFranceschi You are the best! 💕 8y
Cinfhen Love that you drive her, and I know you would even if you couldn't read a single page 💖💖 8y
139 likes7 comments
blurb
LauraBeth
post image

You know when you're going merrily along with everything and then all of a sudden, without any warning whatsoever, you're sicker than a big dog's stomach? ? but you're also like, "I'm gonna read 'til that NyQuil kicks in..."

RealBooks4ever Hope you feel better FAST!! 😞 8y
Jas16 Get well soon! 8y
[DELETED] 3216391035 Feel better! 8y
See All 22 Comments
Lmstraubie Awwww...Feel better 💕 8y
TheBookDream Feel better! 8y
BookishMarginalia Hug 💜💜💜 8y
Laura317 Hoping the NyQuil works fast! 💕💕 8y
Cinfhen Oh no 😫feel better 😘💕 8y
SharonGoforth Hope you feel better ❤❤ 8y
DGRachel NO! Feel better soon!! 8y
NCNY Feel better! 8y
LauraBrook Ugh, that sucks! Hope the NyQuil kicks in soon. 💚 8y
MicheleinPhilly Oh no! Hugs! 8y
minkyb Feel better. 8y
LeahBergen Oh, no! 💗💗 8y
KaatjeH Hope you feel better soon! 8y
Tanner Oh no (although silver lining, still able to read?). Feel better soon! 8y
RadicalReader @LauraBeth so wonderful to know that feeling of enjoying a book to the furthest limits of the NyQuil bottle 8y
SaraFair Oh no! It has gone through both of my kids, and I am Clorox wiping everything! Forgot about Nyquil, can you use that on teenagers? 8y
LauraBeth @RealBooks4ever, @Jas16, @Basia, @Lmstraubie, @TheBookDream, @BookishMarginalia, @Laura317, @Cinfhen, @SharonGoforth, @DGRachel, @NCNY, @LauraBrook, @MicheleinPhilly, @minkyb, @LeahBergen, @KaatjeH, @Tanner, @RadicalReader thanks for all of your kind words - I slept all day and all night and am feeling much better (will hopefully be able to take Bitsy for her walk) 😽😽 @SaraFair oh no! My daughter had this a few days ago and I gave her Nyquil 😀 8y
RadicalReader @LauraBeth what a nice thing to wake up to. Honestly that is why I get so many notifications on my phone daily is due to this wonderful app but I would not have it any other way 8y
LauraBeth You're right @RadicalReader - Litsy is a wonderful thing to wake up to 😀💕 8y
123 likes22 comments
blurb
LauraBeth
post image

I'm so excited to start this! I love politics and being able to see past administrations through different prisms. This book tells the untold stories of the past Chiefs of Staff -from Nixon to Obama - (I had no idea that most of the living former Chiefs of Staff -from both parties - met with Rahm Emanuel to pass on their advice to help him succeed). If you enjoy Presidential history, then you'll enjoy this. Thanks @Crownpublishing for the ARC 😀

Suet624 Sounds great 8y
Laalaleighh I. Need. This. 📚 8y
LauraBeth It's really good @Suet624 😀 8y
See All 7 Comments
LauraBeth @Laalaleighh I meant to tag you on this book! It's so great that I dreamt about it last night. I have also been inundating the husband with, "did you know..." Chris Whipple will be at Politics and Prose on April 6 ? 8y
Laalaleighh @LauraBeth only 4 more months til I can go to Politics and Prose any time I want! We are scoping out D.C. and D.C. area neighborhoods now, trying to pick the best place. I can't wait! I'm pre-ordering the hell out of this! 8y
LauraBeth @Laalaleighh Hope that the next four months flies by 😀 8y
Laalaleighh @LauraBeth thank you! Me too!! 8y
120 likes5 stack adds7 comments