Reince Priebus, John Kelly And How Chiefs Of Staff Shape Every Presidency

Air Date:
Heard On The Morning Show
White House Chief of Staff John Kelly listens during a meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean defectors in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, in Washington. Evan Vucci/AP Photo

“Take everything you’ve heard and multiply it by fifty.” That’s what President Trump’s former chief of staff Reince Priebus told journalist Chris Whipple about working in the Trump White House. The job of White House chiefs of staff has been described as being a “javelin catcher” and “the president’s S.O.B.” The average tenure is just over 18 months. But according to Whipple, it might be the single most important job in the White House. We talk to Chris Whipple about his book “The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency,” and in particular how Reince Priebus and John Kelly have defined Trump’s presidency.

Episode Credits

  • Kate Archer Kent Host
  • Colleen Leahy Producer
  • Chris Whipple Guest