November 2008
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.
November 2008
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.
November 2008
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?.
November 21, 2008
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.
December 05, 2008
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.
December 12, 2008
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.
December 19, 2008
As the capital has grown more partisan in recent years, confirmation battles over high-level appointments have grown increasingly fractious and fraught with peril for appointees. Stephen Hess advises the new president on how to navigate the process.
January 08, 2009
Will the new president’s Oval Office be a room for pomp and circumstance, or a personal study where the serious work of government is done? Stephen Hess shows that past presidents have taken different approaches.
January 15, 2009
Filled with symbol and ceremony, the whole world will be watching as never before. Stephen Hess discusses how former presidents have chosen music, poetry, representatives of the clergy and family bibles to set the scene.
January 16, 2009
The very best a new president can hope for is a soaring inaugural speech that draws the nation together in hope and common purpose, and earns respect from a listening world. Only a few have topped that bar, as Stephen Hess explains.