This chapter is a guide to the offices inside the White House. It says what each one does. It says who each one should report to. It also says what kind of person should be hired for each job. Most of it explains how things already work. A smaller part asks for changes.
The document says “should”Who acts: President, White House CounselHow: internal managementp. 27 in the PDF
What the document says
“it should function more as an activist yet ethical plaintiffs’ firm that advocates for its client”
The chapter argues the Counsel's office should not act as a credentialing stop for future judges or firm partners who limit their opinions to protect their reputations, and should instead advocate for the Administration's agenda within the limits set by the Constitution and legal ethics. It states elsewhere that the office's lawyers should not erect roadblocks out of an abundance of caution but offer practical advice on advancing the agenda lawfully.
What the document actually says
“it should function more as an activist yet ethical plaintiffs’ firm that advocates for its client”
That sentence, in plain words
The lawyers in this office should act more like a law firm that fights for its client.
What this is about
The White House has its own lawyers. This chapter says they should not just warn the president about what he cannot do. It says they should look for legal ways to help him do what he wants. It says they should not block things just to be safe.
The document says “must”Who acts: White House CounselHow: internal managementp. 28 in the PDF
What the document says
“including recommendations for reconsidering or reversing positions of the previous Administration in any significant litigation”
The chapter says the White House Counsel must come up to speed quickly on significant ongoing legal challenges across the executive branch and be ready at the outset to recommend to the President which of the previous Administration's litigating positions to reconsider or reverse, consulting new political leadership at the Justice Department during the transition.
What the document actually says
“including recommendations for reconsidering or reversing positions of the previous Administration in any significant litigation”
That sentence, in plain words
This should include advice on the big court cases. The last president picked a side in them. The new one may want to switch sides.
What this is about
The government is always in court cases. The last president chose what side to argue. This chapter says the new president's lawyers should be ready on day one. They should say which of those court positions to change.
The document says “should”Who acts: President, White House Counsel, Attorney GeneralHow: internal managementp. 28 in the PDF
What the document says
“The next Administration should reexamine this policy and determine whether it might be more efficient or more appropriate for communication to occur through additional channels.”
The chapter describes the traditional practice by which the White House Counsel and the Attorney General each issue a memo restricting contact between the White House and the Justice Department to the Counsel's office and the Attorney General or Deputy Attorney General. It says the next Administration should reexamine that policy and decide whether communication through additional channels would be better. The chapter proposes no replacement policy.
What the document actually says
“The next Administration should reexamine this policy and determine whether it might be more efficient or more appropriate for communication to occur through additional channels.”
That sentence, in plain words
The next president should look at this rule again. He should decide whether it is better to allow more ways to talk.
What this is about
There is a long-standing rule about the White House and the Justice Department. Only a few named people are allowed to talk to each other. This is meant to keep politics out of legal cases. The chapter says the next president should look at that rule again. It does not say what should replace it.
The document says “should”Who acts: PresidentHow: appointmentp. 28 in the PDF
What the document says
“the best one will be above all loyal to the President and the Constitution”
The chapter says the President should choose a Counsel well versed in the Constitution, administrative and regulatory law and the workings of Congress, should prefer broad experience to a specialism, and that although a candidate with elite credentials might seem ideal, the best candidate will above all be loyal to the President and the Constitution.
What the document actually says
“the best one will be above all loyal to the President and the Constitution”
That sentence, in plain words
The best person will be loyal above all. That means loyal to the president and to the Constitution.
What this is about
The president picks his own top lawyer. The chapter says a famous name or a top school is not the main thing. It says the most important thing is that the lawyer is loyal.
The document says “should”Who acts: PresidentHow: internal managementp. 29 in the PDF
What the document says
“the next Administration should reexamine the balance between media demands and space constraints on the White House premises.”
The chapter states that no legal entitlement exists to permanent space for the media on the White House campus, and says the next Administration should reexamine the balance between media demands and space constraints on the premises. It does not say what change, if any, should follow.
What the document actually says
“the next Administration should reexamine the balance between media demands and space constraints on the White House premises.”
That sentence, in plain words
The next president should take another look at how much room the press gets at the White House.
What this is about
News reporters have desks and a room inside the White House. The chapter says no law says they must have that space. It says the next president should look again at how much room they get.
The document says “should consider”Who acts: PresidentHow: internal managementp. 30 in the PDF
What the document says
“The new Administration should examine the nature of the relationship between itself and the White House Correspondents Association and consider whether an alternative coordinating body might be more suitable.”
The White House Correspondents Association is the body that organizes the press corps covering the White House, including seating and pool arrangements. The chapter says the new Administration should examine its relationship with the Association and consider whether a different coordinating body would be more suitable. It names no alternative.
What the document actually says
“The new Administration should examine the nature of the relationship between itself and the White House Correspondents Association and consider whether an alternative coordinating body might be more suitable.”
That sentence, in plain words
The new president should look at how he deals with the group that speaks for White House reporters. He should ask whether a different group would work better.
What this is about
One group organizes the reporters who cover the White House. It decides things like who sits where. The chapter says the new president should look at that group. It says he should ask whether another group should do the job instead.
The document says “is responsible for”Who acts: Office of Presidential PersonnelHow: internal managementp. 32 in the PDF
What the document says
“Identifying programmatic political workforce needs early and developing plans (for example, Schedule F).”
In its list of the Office of Presidential Personnel's responsibilities, the chapter includes identifying political workforce needs early and developing plans, giving Schedule F as its example. Schedule F is the subject of a separate proposal in chapter 3, which asks for the 2020 order creating it to be reinstated.
What the document actually says
“Identifying programmatic political workforce needs early and developing plans (for example, Schedule F).”
That sentence, in plain words
Work out early what political staff are needed, and make plans, such as Schedule F.
What this is about
One White House office picks people for government jobs. The chapter lists what that office should do. One item is planning ahead for tools like Schedule F. Schedule F would make some workers much easier to fire.
The document says “should”Who acts: Office of Cabinet AffairsHow: internal managementp. 33 in the PDF
What the document says
“It should also organize and administer regular meetings of the Deputy Secretaries”
The chapter says the Office of Cabinet Affairs should organize and run regular meetings of Deputy Secretaries, on the grounds that they hold vital roles in departments and often become acting secretaries when a Cabinet member resigns.
What the document actually says
“It should also organize and administer regular meetings of the Deputy Secretaries”
That sentence, in plain words
It should also set up meetings for the number two at each agency. These should happen often.
What this is about
Each department has a second in command. They often take over when the boss leaves. The chapter says the White House should hold regular meetings with them.
The document says “should try to”Who acts: PresidentHow: internal managementp. 38 in the PDF
What the document says
“The next Administration should try to limit the number of detailees to ensure more direct presidential control.”
Detailees are staff lent to the National Security Council from departments and agencies rather than appointed to it. The chapter notes NSC staff has been reduced from a peak of about 400 in 2015 to 100 to 150 professionals, and says the next Administration should try to limit detailees so that the President has more direct control.
What the document actually says
“The next Administration should try to limit the number of detailees to ensure more direct presidential control.”
That sentence, in plain words
The next president should try to use fewer borrowed staff. Then he would have more control.
What this is about
One team handles safety and war. It borrows staff from other parts of government. Those staff still work for their old boss too. The book says to borrow fewer of them.
The document says “will help to”Who acts: PresidentHow: internal managementp. 38 in the PDF
What the document says
“Identifying these potentially problematic areas and assigning policy responsibilities to only one council where possible will help to speed up the policy-coordination process.”
The chapter observes that the three policy councils overlap on immigration and border security, on health care, energy and environment, and on trade and international economic policy, and says assigning each such area to only one council where possible will speed up coordination.
What the document actually says
“Identifying these potentially problematic areas and assigning policy responsibilities to only one council where possible will help to speed up the policy-coordination process.”
That sentence, in plain words
Find the subjects that two teams share. Give each one to just one team. That will speed things up.
What this is about
Three groups in the White House handle policy. Some subjects belong to more than one of them. That can cause delay and confusion. The chapter says each subject should be given to just one group.
The document says “will need to”Who acts: NSC, NEC, DPCHow: internal managementp. 38 in the PDF
What the document says
“incoming policy councils will need to move rapidly to lead policy processes around cross-cutting agency topics, including countering China, enforcing immigration laws”
The chapter lists the cross-cutting topics on which incoming policy councils will need to move rapidly: countering China, enforcing immigration laws, reversing regulatory policies in order to promote energy production, combating what it calls the Left's attacks on life and religious liberty, and confronting what it calls wokeism throughout the federal government. The wording quoted here is the opening of that list.
What the document actually says
“incoming policy councils will need to move rapidly to lead policy processes around cross-cutting agency topics, including countering China, enforcing immigration laws”
That sentence, in plain words
The new policy teams must act fast on big subjects. These subjects touch many parts of government. Two of them are China and immigration law.
What this is about
Some subjects touch many parts of government at once. The book names the ones to start with. They are China, immigration, and more energy. It also names two more fights. The book calls them fights about life, religion, and being woke.
The document says “should”Who acts: PresidentHow: internal managementp. 40 in the PDF
What the document says
“The President should establish an economic opportunity working group, chaired by the DPC Director, to coordinate the development of policies that promote economic opportunity.”
The chapter says the President should set up a working group on economic opportunity chaired by the Director of the Domestic Policy Council, as part of a domestic agenda it says should also cover innovation, health care costs and border security.
What the document actually says
“The President should establish an economic opportunity working group, chaired by the DPC Director, to coordinate the development of policies that promote economic opportunity.”
That sentence, in plain words
The president should set up a small team. Its job is to help people get ahead. The head of the domestic policy group should run it.
What this is about
The chapter wants a new team inside the White House. Its job would be to help more people get ahead. The head of the domestic policy group would lead it.
The document says “should”Who acts: DPCHow: internal managementp. 40 in the PDF
What the document says
“To this end, the Director should chair a standing meeting with the principals from each of the other EOP offices to enhance coordination from within the White House.”
The chapter says the Domestic Policy Council needs to work closely with other offices in the Executive Office of the President, naming the Office of Management and Budget and its Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, the Council of Economic Advisers, the Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and that the Director should chair a standing meeting of their principals.
What the document actually says
“To this end, the Director should chair a standing meeting with the principals from each of the other EOP offices to enhance coordination from within the White House.”
That sentence, in plain words
To do this, the Director should hold a set meeting. The heads of the other White House offices should come.
What this is about
Several offices inside the White House work on related things. The chapter says they do not talk enough. It says one director should hold a regular meeting with all of their heads.
The chapter's discrete recommendations. This chapter is mostly a manual: it describes what each White House office does, who reports to whom, and what qualities a President should look for when filling each job. Only the passages asking for a change are indexed as proposals.
Descriptions of existing practice, which make up most of the chapter, and the chapter's advice on what personal qualities each post-holder should have. Neither is a policy proposal.
Several recommendations here ask an Administration to 'reexamine' or 'consider' something rather than to do it. The modality field records that, and a reader should weigh it: an invitation to look at a question is not a plan.
