Channels, Fall 2018

Channels • 2018 • Volume 3 • Number 1 Page 79 president with information, relaying messages to those in the line agencies, maintaining the president's calendar, giving him technical advice when he solicits it, and generally performing whatever duties a manager could reasonably ask of a factotum." The size of the White House demands that someone must oversee the organizational process—failure to do so will be disastrous. Chiefs of staff must ensure that the policy process is functioning well, ensure that the president is not overwhelmed with paper flow, regulate access to the Oval Office, and manage the president's time (Kernell and Popkin, 1986; Buchanan, 1990; Pfiffner, 1993; Cohen 1997; Cohen and Krause, 2000; Walcott, Warshaw, and Wayne, 2001; Cohen, 2002). A COS who fails as an administrator will often lead to avoidable mistakes that reflect poorly on the president himself. However, a COS who is an expert administrator produces a well-running White House that "holds people accountable and speaks with one voice" for which the president can take public credit (Sullivan, 2004). Advisor. The COS also serves as a policy and political advisor to the president (Buchanan, 1990; Cohen, 1997; Kemell and Popkin, 1986; Pfiffner, 1993; Walcott, Warshaw, and Wayne, 2001). While most chiefs of staff insist that they are neutral policy brokers (Kernell and Popkin, 1986), the COS has strong influence as an intimate advisor to the president in a tightly knit inner circle of senior staff. Even when chiefs of staff are intentionally not advocating for a position, their judgements about policy and politics will be influential (Cohen, Hult, and Walcott, 2016). The exact importance of the COS as an advisor is highly dependent on the relationship that he has with the president; all chiefs of staff are not created equal. Further, a COS who has experience and policy acumin will almost certainly be a trusted advisor by the nature of his knowledge (Cohen and Hult, 2012). However, a COS who abuses his advisor position by shutting out opposing viewpoints will find himself without many friends in Washington. Guardian. The next role of COS (and the role that makes the COS unique to the modern presidency) is that of guardian. While a variety of White House staffers can provide management of processes and political advising to the president, the COS alone must act as guardian or protector of the president. This role often includes distasteful tasks, such as disciplining and firing administration personnel, saying no to political elites seeking favors, acting as a lightning rod for criticism of the administration, and mediating disputes within the White House and among Cabinet members (Buchanan, 1990; Ellis, 1994; Kernell and Popkin, 1986; Patterson, 2000; Pfiffner, 1993; Walcott, Warshaw, and Wayne, 2001; Cohen, 2002). The COS must protect the president, even at their own expense. Proxy . The final role for the COS is that of proxy. COS often acts as a stand-in for the president in a range of activities, including meeting with members of Congress, speaking before constituency groups, or pushing the president's agenda on the media circuit (i.e., Sunday news shows). Since the Reagan administration, most chiefs of staff spend considerable time working alongside Congress on major legislative and policy matters, particularly budget negotiations (Walcott, Warshaw, and Wayne, 2003). While many members of Congress often prefer communicating directly with the president, they usually accept the COS as a messenger to convey official administration policy preferences. The extent of any chief's proxy involvement may reflect a president's lack of interest in engaging in these actions, strategic presidential time delegation, or a growing demand for