The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency

The position of White House Chief of Staff is one of the most powerful in the federal government, an unelected role that not only controls access to the president but acts as a political advisor and manages White House operations. Chris Whipple's book The Gatekeepers explores the people who have held this position over the last forty-plus years, starting with H.R. Haldeman (who, under Nixon, significantly centralized the office) all the way through to Rahm Emanuel (who worked under Obama). It's an occasionally enlightening review of not just the nature of the job but also the effectiveness of various management styles.