Brookings: Topics - The White House

The Scouting Report: President Obama's First 60 Days

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

March 18, 2009, 12:30 PM to 1:30

More than halfway through his first 100 days, President Barack Obama has already tackled a multitude of foreign and domestic policy challenges, from the economy to education to the military to healthcare to energy. Brookings expert Darrell West and Senior Politico Editor Fred Barbash examined the first sixty days of the Obama Administration in an online chat.

All the President's Advisers

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

March 04, 2009, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

President Barack Obama must master a crucial challenge facing all presidents: managing the relationships among his top advisers including his chief of staff, national security adviser, economic and domestic policy advisers, among others.

The White House Office of Urban Policy: Form and Function

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Before a housing conference at the NYU School of law, and prior to the president’s executive order creating the office, Bruce Katz outlined his vision of the function and role of a White House Office of Urban Affairs. “The new office has a powerful bully pulpit to set a vision for how federal policy can unleash the potential of America’s urban and metropolitan areas given their changing role and function,” Katz told conferees.

Maintaining Presidential Popularity During a Recession

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

President Barack Obama starts his term with the highest approval rating of any recent new president. Expert Darrell West writes that President Obama can maintain his popularity, amid dismal economic news, with his oratorical skills, ability to keep people hopeful about the future, and use of new technologies for public outreach.

The 44th President of the United States

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. In his first speech as president, Obama called for a return to the values of “restraint and humility” in foreign policy, boldly declared an end to the debate over the proper role of government, and instead pledged pragmatism on domestic issues—government that works. Expert Bill Galston assesses the inaugural address.

The Next National Security Adviser

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

One of the most important figures in Obama's administration will be his national security adviser. Ivo Daalder and I.M. Destler examine previous national security advisers to use lessons from the past on how to do the job right or wrong.

Facing the Media: The View From the White House Press Room Podium

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

December 18, 2008, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

How do you explain the president's position on Iraq or the economic downturn to a roomful of flashing cameras and open notebooks? On December 18, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino joined Stephen Hess to talk about the role of the White House spokesman. The discussion included Clinton spokesman Mike McCurry and Ron Nessen, press secretary during Ford's presidency.

What Now? Choosing Your Cabinet

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Washington world is full of talented, accomplished people whose expertise in their fields is unquestioned – yet many fail as cabinet officers at the pinnacle of power. Stephen Hess advises the new president on where to look for cabinet talent.

Memorandum to the Next National Security Advisor

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Ivo Daalder and Mac Destler give the next national security advisor (NSA) advice on how to manage a heavy workload and prioritize tasks that only the NSA is in position to perform. They argue that trust and confidence in colleagues, building cooperation and getting close to the president are all important aspects of the job.

Reagan to Bush: Brookings and the 1988-89 Presidential Transition

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Even though the 1988 presidential transition featured a handover from a two-term president (Ronald Reagan) to his own vice president (George H.W. Bush), experts at Brookings recognized that even an intra-party transition between political allies suffered from a lack of communication between outgoing presidential aides and their counterparts in the new administration.

Inside Washington for International Businesses

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:09:36 GMT

This insider’s guide to policy-making will expose foreign executives in the U.S. to executive branch thinking, regulatory pressures, and political influences on Congress that will help them better advance their agenda in Washington.

White House Partnerships with Faith-Based Organizations: What Should the New Administration Do?

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:30:00 GMT

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December 05, 2008, 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM

Since its inception, the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives has drawn unprecedented attention to the issue of social service partnerships between government and religious organizations. Brookings will release a report, Serving People in Need, Safeguarding Religious Freedom, which suggests ways the next president should approach the that office, including whether to keep the office open or how to restructure it.

Transition Tracker: Lead with Confidence

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:34:31 GMT

On the Transition Tracker, Senior Fellow Darrell West explains what steps President-elect Obama can take to lead with confidence, while Senior Fellow Stephen Hess looks at ways to effectively staff the White House.

Transition Tracker: Previewing the Transition

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:36:31 GMT

In this Transition Tracker preview, Senior Fellow Stephen Hess explains what the president-elect needs to do first to ensure a smooth transition from the Senate to the White House.

What Now? Your Speechwriters

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Will the soaring rhetoric of President-elect Obama's campaign speeches translate to the White House, where he has named 26-year-old wordsmith Jon Favreau to head his speechwriting staff? Former Eisenhower speechwriter and longtime presidential aide Stephen Hess discusses the role of the speechwriter in delivering the chief executive's vision to the people.

Serving People in Need, Safeguarding Religious Freedom

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Our nation has a long and productive history of government partnerships with religious and secular groups that serve people in need. President George W. Bush’s administration raised the visibility of these partnerships and introduced certain innovations into this system. E.J. Dionne and Melissa Rogers offer the incoming administration 16 recommendations on how to retain as well as reform these partnerships.

How Obama Should Confront Climate Change

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Writing as the UN Conference on Climate Change occured in Poland, William Antholis and Bryan Mignone argued that over the past decade, the evidence for human-induced climate change has become one of the most widely accepted scientific findings of our time. They offer four recommendations for President Barack Obama to carry out a comprehensive and economically sensible approach to the issue.

A New American Realism

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Carlos Pascual writes that President-elect Obama’s choice of a national security team reflects seriousness, pragmatism and bipartisanship. Pascual believes the selections indicate Obama will take a twenty-first-century view toward national security: energy, power, economics, human rights, terrorism and poverty must be part of the agenda.

What Now? Your Congressional Relations Chief

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

President-elect Obama has chosen Phil Schiliro, a veteran of the Senate and House of Representatives, to be his liaison to Capitol Hill. Stephen Hess, author of What Do We Do Now?, says that Schiliro’s long congressional experience and low profile have been hallmarks of success for his predecessors.

What Now? Picking Your Press Secretary

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Many new presidents pick their campaign spokesperson to handle the White House press corps. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, as Stephen Hess advises in this installment of What Do We Do Now?.

What Now? Staffing the White House

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this second installment of What Do We Do Now?, his new workbook for the president-elect, Stephen Hess advises the winner to start staffing the White House right away, from the chief of staff, counsel, press secretary and speech writers.

Lead With Confidence

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

November 07, 2008, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Brookings held the first of 12 events to provide timely policy recommendations and advice to the incoming president and his transition team. Darrell West offered a public memo to the president-elect with advice on bringing a polarized electorate together, the first of 12 Brookings memos on the most crucial public policy priorities. He was joined by former White House chiefs of staff Ken Duberstein and Leon Panetta; Brooking Senior Fellow Stephen Hess; and other experts.

Where Obama Should Find Cabinet Members

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Stephen Hess offers suggestions to the new president-elect on how to best fill his cabinet. Hess cautions Obama, who will need to fill twice as many jobs than John F. Kennedy did, to factor in diversity as well as political and managerial talent.

Transition Memo to the President-Elect

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

President-elect Barack Obama will be besieged by proposals to reorganize government. Stephen Hess offers five tips for avoiding political minefields on the way to inauguration day.

Obama's White House Transition Strategy Begins to Emerge

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Stephen Hess joined Norman Ornstein and Judy Woodruff on the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer to provide insight on President-elect Obama’s transition process.

What Now? Getting Started

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The new president has just 77 days between the election and the inauguration to prepare for taking over the highest office in the land. This excerpt from Stephen Hess’s book offers tips on where he should start.

A Primer For Obama's Transition Team

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In Defense of Caution: Why President Obama Shouldn't Push For Too Much Too Fast

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

By the end of February 2009, the next president will have to define his top domestic priorities, submit a budget, and begin the difficult process of unwinding America's combat presence in Iraq. Despite today's crisis environment, William Galston cautions that the next president shouldn’t emulate FDR's first 100 days, or LBJ's feverish legislative pace in 1965 and 1966. The more ambitious the agenda, the more likely it is to fall victim to entrenched political realities.

The Scouting Report: Lead With Confidence

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

November 04, 2008, 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM

Winning an election in a polarized nation is one thing—governing it is quite another. The Scouting Report chat launched with a special Election Day edition. Brookings Vice President of Governance Studies Darrell West and Politico Senior Editor David Mark discussed the advertising, the candidates and the status of the race on election day.

“Change” or Plus Ça Change…? Pondering Presidential Politics and Policy after Bush

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

President-elect Obama faces daunting challenges when he assumes office in January. Pietro Nivola and Charles O. Jones examine these and the probable policy outcomes, at home and abroad, of an Obama presidency.

The 9/11 Development Imperative

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

On the seventh anniversary of September 11, Lael Brainard and Noam Unger examine how the global development agenda has changed and how the U.S. can take critical steps to lead on efforts to reduce global poverty.

U.S. Foreign Assistance: Advancing National Security, Interests, and Values

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As the world faces security threats from impoverished states, the global community searches for solutions to poverty. Lael Brainard offers Congress recommendations for modernizing the U.S. aid infrastructure.

Prevent Federal Court Nomination Battles: De-Escalating the Conflict over the Judiciary

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Infected by polarization, confirmation rates for federal judges have plummeted and long delays are commonplace. Brookings’s Russell Wheeler recommends that the next president should create a bipartisan commission and set a timetable to prevent the lengthy nomination battles.

Global Service Fellowships: Building Bridges through American Volunteers

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

David L. Caprara, John Bridgeland, and Harris Wofford argue that as policy-makers search for ways to share the best of America with the world, they should start with our international volunteers, who embody this country's spirit of generosity, resourcefulness and hope. With the support of Congress and the Bush Administration, volunteers can become the first face of America to communities in many nations, while advancing concrete initiatives that lift up the lives of the poor throughout the world.

Navigating China's Rise: Develop a Sustained, High-Level Trade Strategy

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

China’s growth in economic and military power has presented both challenges and opportunities to U.S.-China relations and to the global economy. In an Opportunity 08 paper, Lael Brainard and Wing Thye Woo examine five elements to a successful approach to trade with China.

Tackling Trade and Climate Change: Leadership on the Home Front of Foreign Policy

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

For the next President, effective leadership abroad will depend largely on marshalling bipartisan support for foreign policy at home. Combating terrorism, constricting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, reducing global poverty, promoting an efficient, equitable world trading system, and reversing the process of climate change are all issues that require far more effective diplomacy and skillful management of U.S. domestic politics.

A Credible Foundation for Long Term International Cooperation on Climate Change

Mon, 01 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Warwick McKibbin and Peter Wilcoxen propose a detailed climate change policy that establishes long-term incentives for investments in new energy-sector capital, and in research and development, as well as enhancing coordination and collaboration between countries, rather than on coercion.

Placing the Call to Service: How Past and Future Presidential Appointees View the Appointment Process

Thu, 01 Mar 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Review article by Paul C. Light (Spring 2001)

Open letter to the President

Mon, 13 Mar 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Open letter on South Asia to the Honorable William J. Clinton, Independent Task Force on U.S. Policy Toward South Asia, Co-Sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations, March 13, 2000, by Richard N. Haass, Foreign Policy Studies, The Brookings Insti