Obama's centers of power
His new chief of staff faces a unique challenge


At the beginning of his first term, President Obama concentrated power in a handful of close aides, all of them working in the White House complex, all of them, save one, having the audacity to be longtime loyalists. Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and senior adviser David Axelrod worked hand-minus-a-part-of-a-finger-in glove on domestic policy. Valerie Jarrett, Obama's best friend, handled outreach, the president's personal affairs and style, and the business community. Foreign policy was determined largely by Obama's consultations with long-time advisers like Denis McDonough and Ben Rhodes, rather than by an integrative process where outsiders like National Security Adviser Jim Jones and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton played roles as equals.
In some ways, Emanuel was ideal for Obama's first year: A force of nature, brimming with ideas, Washington know-how, and savvy. Maybe he made the wrong calls, but he got things done. He was feared and respected. As Obama eased into his office, he gradually expanded the circle of first-among-equals. His next two chiefs of staff were managers; Bill Daley and Jack Lew kept the trains running on time.
Now McDonough steps into a far different office than the ones his predecessors inherited. He ran a nice policy process at the National Security Council (since renamed the National Security Staff), but the centers of gravity in the administration are dispersed. Jarrett still runs her portfolio. Peter Rouse has served as chief operating officer or general manager at the White House for the past two-and-a-half years and will likely stay in that role for a bit. David Plouffe succeeded David Axelrod's role as communications and political strategist. Dan Pfeiffer, another Obama lifer, will assume much of Plouffe's portfolio. Lew now runs the economy (or will run the economy, assuming he is confirmed as the next secretary of the Treasury.) Tom Donilon, the National Security Adviser, has an iron grip on national security. There will be two heavyweights in cabinet posts — John Kerry and Chuck Hagel.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
So what is there left for Denis McDonough to do, policy-wise? Not much. Having served as a legislative director in the Senate for a year, he does not bring the domestic policy experience to the job that Emanuel did. Obama trusts McDonough as much as anyone, and he'll be in the room for all the major decisions. But his actual influence may decline even though his title is now as grand a title as one can get.
That's a function of Obama's management style, one that McDonough helped to reify in his previous role. There is a lot to get done, and there is no Rahm-like enforcer in the White House. Perhaps the president's political capital, along with the Republican internal infections and the growing economy, are sufficient to generate enough headwinds for most domestic policy proposals, but that's a big if. Gun control, immigration, implementing health care reform, likely Supreme Court appointments later in the year and more: All this is on McDonough's plate. It will be interesting to see what approach he takes to these unfamiliar challenges.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Marc Ambinder is TheWeek.com's editor-at-large. He is the author, with D.B. Grady, of The Command and Deep State: Inside the Government Secrecy Industry. Marc is also a contributing editor for The Atlantic and GQ. Formerly, he served as White House correspondent for National Journal, chief political consultant for CBS News, and politics editor at The Atlantic. Marc is a 2001 graduate of Harvard. He is married to Michael Park, a corporate strategy consultant, and lives in Los Angeles.
-
What does the Le Pen verdict mean for the future of French politics?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Convicted of embezzlement and slapped with a five year ban on running for public office, where does arch-conservative Marine Le Pen go from here — and will the movement she leads follow?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Discount stores were thriving. How did they stumble?
The Explainer Blame Walmart — and inflation
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Kaja Kallas: the EU's new chief diplomat shaping the future of European defense
In the Spotlight Former Estonian Prime Minister's status as an uncompromising Russia hawk has gone from liability to strength
By David Faris Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published