White House Press Secretary

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White House Press Secretary

The White House Press Secretary is a senior White House

White House

The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., it was built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the late Georgian architecture and has been the executive residence of every U.S....
official with a rank one step below Presidential Cabinet level. The Press Secretary is the primary spokesperson

Spokesman

A spokesman is someone engaged or elected to speak on behalf of others.The term spokesperson, invented to replace the conventional spokesman, is a typical example of a Gender-neutral language in English neologism....
for the Administration

Administration (government)

The term administration, as used in the Context of government, differs according to jurisdiction....
. The current Press Secretary is Robert Gibbs

Robert Gibbs

Robert L. Gibbs is an American political consultant, and the current White House Press Secretary. Gibbs was the communications director for U.S....
, who assumed the role on January 20, 2009.

onsibilities center on collecting information about what is happening inside the Administration and around the world, and getting that information to the media in a timely and accurate fashion.

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Encyclopedia

The White House Press Secretary is a senior White House

White House

Spokesman

Administration (government)

The term administration, as used in the Context of government, differs according to jurisdiction....
. The current Press Secretary is Robert Gibbs

Robert Gibbs

Robert L. Gibbs is an American political consultant, and the current White House Press Secretary. Gibbs was the communications director for U.S....
, who assumed the role on January 20, 2009.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities center on collecting information about what is happening inside the Administration and around the world, and getting that information to the media in a timely and accurate fashion. The information includes things like a summary of the President's schedule for the day, whom the President

President of the United States

The President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition....
has seen, called or had interactions with, and the official position of the Administration on the news of the day. This position pays around 170,000 dollars per year.

The Press Secretary traditionally also fields questions from the White House Press Corps

White House Press Corps

The White House press corps is the group of journalists or correspondents usually stationed at the White House to cover White House press briefings and press releases....
in briefings and press conferences, which are generally televised, and "press gaggles", which are on-the-record

Journalism sourcing

In journalism, a source is a person, publication, or other record or document that gives information....
briefings without video recording, though transcripts are usually made available.

The position of White House Press Secretary has often been filled by individuals from news media backgrounds:

Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin Delano Roosevelt , often referred to by his initials FDR, was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States....
appointed Stephen T. Early, a United Press International
United Press International

United Press International is a news agency headquartered in the United States with roots dating back to 1907. Once a mainstay in the newswire service along with Associated Press and Reuters, it began to decline as afternoon newspapers, its chief client category, began to fail with the rising popularity of television news....
reporter and Associated Press
Associated Press

The Associated Press is an Media of the United States news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, Radio station and Television station stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staffers....
correspondent
Harry S Truman appointed J. Leonard Reinsch
J. Leonard Reinsch

James Leonard Reinsch was White House Press Secretary in 1945 and served under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.Reinsch was one of the most famous names in radio broadcasting....
, a radio
Radio

Radio is the transmission of signals, by modulation of electromagnetic radiation with frequency below those of visible light.Electromagnetic radiation radio propagation by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space....
man; Jonathan W. Daniels
Jonathan W. Daniels

Jonathan Worth Daniels was an United States author, editor, and White House Press Secretary. Daniels' term serving as White House Press Secretary was the shortest since the inception of the position in 1937....
, a newspaper
Newspaper

A newspaper is a publication containing news, information and advertising, usually printed on low-cost paper called newsprint. General-interest newspapers often feature articles on Politics, crime, business, art/entertainment, society and sports....
man who was in the Franklin Roosevelt Administration in multiple agencies and boards just prior to becoming White House Press Secretary; Charles Griffith Ross
Charles Griffith Ross

Charles Griffith Ross was a White House Press Secretary between 1945 and 1950 for Harry S. Truman....
, a newspaper man who received the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize

The Pulitzer Prize is an United States award regarded as the highest national honor in newspaper journalism, literary achievements and musical composition....
in 1932; Early; Joseph Short
Joseph Short

Joseph H. Short was White House Press Secretary from 1950 to 1952. Short served under President Harry Truman....
, a newspaper man; and Roger Tubby
Roger Tubby

Roger Wellington Tubby was White House Press Secretary from 1952 to 1953 and served under President Harry Truman....
, a reporter and editor turned Democratic National Committee spokesman before becoming White House Press Secretary
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower

Dwight David ?Ike? Eisenhower was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States from 1953 until 1961 and a General of the Army in the United States Army....
appointed James C. Hagerty
James C. Hagerty

James Campbell Hagerty served as the only White House Press Secretary from 1953 to 1961 during the administration of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Together with Stephen Early, he is the longest serving Press Secretary of all time....
, a New York Times reporter
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy

John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States, serving from 1961 until John F....
appointed Pierre Salinger
Pierre Salinger

Pierre Emil George Salinger was a White House Press Secretary to President of the United States of America John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson....
, a reporter and editor
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson

Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States and List of Vice Presidents of the United States Vice President of the United States ....
appointed George Christian
George Christian

George Eastland Christian was a United States of America journalist and White House press secretary from 1966 to 1969....
, a reporter for International News Service
Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford

Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the List of Vice Presidents of the United States Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974....
appointed newspaper
Newspaper

A newspaper is a publication containing news, information and advertising, usually printed on low-cost paper called newsprint. General-interest newspapers often feature articles on Politics, crime, business, art/entertainment, society and sports....
veteran Jerald terHorst
Jerald terHorst

Jerald Franklin terHorst was the first person to serve as press secretary for U.S. President Gerald Ford. Before being appointed press secretary, terHorst had been a newspaper reporter from Michigan who had covered Ford's career since 1948....
and NBC News
NBC News

NBC News is the news division of United States television network NBC, a part of NBC Universal, which is majority-owned by General Electric. Its current president is Steve Capus....
correspondent Ron Nessen
Ron Nessen

Ronald Harold Nessen was White House Press Secretary for President Gerald Ford from 1974 to 1977. He replaced Jerald terHorst, who resigned in the wake of President Ford's pardon of former president Richard Nixon....
to the post
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan

Ronald Wilson Reagan was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States and the 33rd Governor of California . Born in Illinois, Reagan moved to Los Angeles, California in the 1930s, where he was an actor, president of the Screen Actors Guild , and a spokesman for General Electric ....
appointed Larry Speakes
Larry Speakes

Larry M. Speakes is a former acting spokesman for the White House under President of the United States Ronald Reagan, having held the position from 1981 to 1987....
, a newspaper man, and Marlin Fitzwater
Marlin Fitzwater

Max Marlin Fitzwater was White House Press Secretary for six years under presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, making him one of the longest-serving press secretaries in history....
, a newspaper man
George H.W. Bush retained Fitzwater
Marlin Fitzwater

Max Marlin Fitzwater was White House Press Secretary for six years under presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, making him one of the longest-serving press secretaries in history....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush

George Walker Bush served as the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States from 2001 to 2009. He was the 46th List of Governors of Texas from 1995 to 2000 before being United States presidential inauguration as President on January 20, 2001....
appointed Fox News anchor Tony Snow
Tony Snow

Robert Anthony "Tony" Snow was an United States Pundit , television news news presenter, syndicated columnist, radio personality, and the third White House Press Secretary under President of the United States George W....
, who also had extensive experience in the fields of print and radio journalism

List of Press Secretaries

Year(s)	Press Secretary	President
1929–1930	George Akerson	Herbert Hoover Herbert Hoover Herbert Clark Hoover was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States . Besides his political career, Hoover was a professional mining engineer and author....
1930–1933	Ted Joslin
1933–1945	Stephen Early Stephen Early Stephen Tyree Early was a United States journalist and government official. He served as White House Press Secretary under Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1933 to 1945 and again under President Harry S....	Franklin Roosevelt
1945	J. Leonard Reinsch J. Leonard Reinsch James Leonard Reinsch was White House Press Secretary in 1945 and served under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.Reinsch was one of the most famous names in radio broadcasting....
1945	Jonathan Daniels Jonathan W. Daniels Jonathan Worth Daniels was an United States author, editor, and White House Press Secretary. Daniels' term serving as White House Press Secretary was the shortest since the inception of the position in 1937....
1945		Harry Truman
1945–1950	Charlie Ross Charles Griffith Ross Charles Griffith Ross was a White House Press Secretary between 1945 and 1950 for Harry S. Truman....
1950	Stephen Early
1950–1952	Joseph Short Joseph Short Joseph H. Short was White House Press Secretary from 1950 to 1952. Short served under President Harry Truman....
1952–1953	Roger Tubby Roger Tubby Roger Wellington Tubby was White House Press Secretary from 1952 to 1953 and served under President Harry Truman....
1953–1961	James Hagerty	Dwight Eisenhower
1961–1964	Pierre Salinger Pierre Salinger Pierre Emil George Salinger was a White House Press Secretary to President of the United States of America John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson....	John Kennedy John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States, serving from 1961 until John F....
1961–1964		Lyndon Johnson
1964–1965	George Reedy George Reedy George Edward Reedy was White House Press Secretary from 1964 to 1965. Reedy served under President Lyndon B. Johnson....
1965–1966	Bill Moyers Bill Moyers Bill Moyers is an United States journalist and public commentator. He served as White House Press Secretary in the Lyndon B. Johnson Administration from 1965-67....
1966–1969	George Christian George Christian George Eastland Christian was a United States of America journalist and White House press secretary from 1966 to 1969....
1969–1974	Ron Ziegler Ron Ziegler Ronald Louis Ziegler was White House Press Secretary during United States President Richard Nixon's administration, from 1969–1974, and Assistant to the President of the United States in 1974....	Richard Nixon Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States and the only president to resign the office....
1974	Jerald terHorst Jerald terHorst Jerald Franklin terHorst was the first person to serve as press secretary for U.S. President Gerald Ford. Before being appointed press secretary, terHorst had been a newspaper reporter from Michigan who had covered Ford's career since 1948....	Gerald Ford Gerald Ford Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the List of Vice Presidents of the United States Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974....
1974–1977	Ron Nessen Ron Nessen Ronald Harold Nessen was White House Press Secretary for President Gerald Ford from 1974 to 1977. He replaced Jerald terHorst, who resigned in the wake of President Ford's pardon of former president Richard Nixon....
1977–1981	Jody Powell Joseph Lester Powell Joseph "Jody" Lester Powell was the White House Press Secretary during the presidency of Jimmy Carter....	Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. served as the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States from 1977 to 1981 and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize....
1981–1989	James Brady James Brady James Scott ?Jim? Brady is a former Assistant to the President of the United States and White House Press Secretary under President Ronald Reagan.... ¹	Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States and the 33rd Governor of California . Born in Illinois, Reagan moved to Los Angeles, California in the 1930s, where he was an actor, president of the Screen Actors Guild , and a spokesman for General Electric ....
1981–1987	Larry Speakes Larry Speakes Larry M. Speakes is a former acting spokesman for the White House under President of the United States Ronald Reagan, having held the position from 1981 to 1987.... ²
1987–1989	Marlin Fitzwater Marlin Fitzwater Max Marlin Fitzwater was White House Press Secretary for six years under presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, making him one of the longest-serving press secretaries in history.... ²
1989–1993	Marlin Fitzwater	George H.W. Bush George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker Bush served as the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States from 1989 to 1993. Bush held a variety of political positions prior to his presidency, including Vice President of the United States in the administration of Ronald Reagan and Director of Central Intelligence under Gerald R....
1993–1994	Dee Dee Myers Dee Dee Myers Dee Dee Myers served as White House Press Secretary for the first two years of the Clinton administration, from January 20, 1993 to December 22, 1994.... ³	Bill Clinton Bill Clinton William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton served as the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He was the fifteenth Democrat elected to that office....
1993	George Stephanopoulos George Stephanopoulos George Robert Stephanopoulos is an United States broadcaster and former political adviser. He is currently ABC News's Chief Washington Correspondent and the host of American Broadcasting Company's Sunday morning news show This Week .... ⁴
1994–1998	Mike McCurry
1998–2000	Joe Lockhart Joe Lockhart Joseph Lockhart served as White House Press Secretary from October 5, 1998 to September 29, 2000, during the administration of President Bill Clinton....
2000–2001	Jake Siewert Jake Siewert Richard L. "Jake" Siewert, Jr. served as White House Press Secretary from September 30, 2000, to January 20, 2001, during the administration of United States President of the United States Bill Clinton....
2001–2003	Ari Fleischer Ari Fleischer Lawrence Ari Fleischer was the White House Press Secretary for President of the United States George W. Bush from January, 2001 to July, 2003. Fleischer was born in Pound Ridge, New York....	George W. Bush George W. Bush George Walker Bush served as the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States from 2001 to 2009. He was the 46th List of Governors of Texas from 1995 to 2000 before being United States presidential inauguration as President on January 20, 2001....
2003–2006	Scott McClellan Scott McClellan Scott McClellan is a former White House Press Secretary for President of the United States George W. Bush, and author of a controversial book about the Presidency of George W....
2006–2007	Tony Snow Tony Snow Robert Anthony "Tony" Snow was an United States Pundit , television news news presenter, syndicated columnist, radio personality, and the third White House Press Secretary under President of the United States George W....
2007–2009	Dana Perino Dana Perino Dana Marie Perino served as the White House Press Secretary for President of the United States George W. Bush. Perino served from September 14, 2007 to January 20, 2009....
2009-Present	Robert Gibbs Robert Gibbs Robert L. Gibbs is an American political consultant, and the current White House Press Secretary. Gibbs was the communications director for U.S....	Barack Obama Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II is the List of Presidents of the United States and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office....
¹ Did not brief the press after wounded in the Reagan assassination attempt Reagan assassination attempt The Reagan assassination attempt occurred on March 30, 1981, just 69 days into the Presidency of Ronald Reagan of Ronald Reagan. While leaving a speaking engagement at the Hilton Washington in Washington, D.C., President Reagan and three others were shot and wounded by John Hinckley, Jr..... . ² De-facto Press Secretary (as White House Deputy Press Secretary). ³ Did not brief the press while Stephanopoulos was Communications Director George Stephanopoulos George Robert Stephanopoulos is an United States broadcaster and former political adviser. He is currently ABC News's Chief Washington Correspondent and the host of American Broadcasting Company's Sunday morning news show This Week .... . ⁴ De-facto Press Secretary (as White House Communications Director White House Communications Director The White House Director of Communications, also known as Assistant to the President for Communications, is part of the senior staff of the President of the United States, and is responsible for developing and promoting the President's agenda and leading the President's media campaign after he occupies the White House.... ).

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