Organizing the Presidency

Organizing the Presidency, published by Brookings Institution Press, examines how presidents from FDR to George W. Bush organized the executive branch and distributed power. To celebrate the publication of the third edition of the book, author Stephen Hess, a former speech writer for President Eisenhower and advisor to President Nixon, brought together six former White House staff members to share their stories and provide insights on the subject. The panelists included: George Elsey, an aid to both President Roosevelt and President Truman; Fred Fielding, assistant to Nixon counsel John Dean and counsel to President Reagan; Harry McPherson, special counsel to President Johnson; Ron Nessen, press secretary to President Ford; James Steinberg, deputy national security advisor under President Clinton; and Gene Sperling, chief economic advisor to President Clinton. close