In normal times, the role of presidential gatekeeper is widely coveted. But under Trump it is seen as a poisoned chalice
James Baker famously called it “the worst fucking job in government”. But it is also arguably the second most powerful, with past occupants including Dick Cheney (who blamed it for his first heart attack), Donald Rumsfeld, Leon Panetta, Rahm Emanuel and Baker himself.
The White House chief of staff is the president’s gatekeeper, controlling the flow of information and access to the Oval Office. In normal times, it is widely coveted. But when the president is Donald Trump and he is tweeting around the clock, it is seen as a poisoned chalice.
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