White House Chief of Staff

Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff
Incumbent
Jeff Zients
since February 8, 2023
Executive Office of the President
White House Office
Reports toPresident of the United States
AppointerPresident of the United States
Formation1946 (Assistant to the President)
1961 (White House Chief of Staff)
First holderJohn R. Steelman
Websitewww.whitehouse.gov

The White House Chief of Staff is the highest-ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States and a senior aide to the President. The CoS does things previously done by the President's private secretary. Jeff Zients became White House Chief of Staff in February 2023.

List of White House Chiefs of Staff

[change | change source]
No. Portrait Chief of Staff Took office Left office Time in office Party President
1
John Steelman
Steelman, JohnJohn Steelman
(1900–1999)		December 12, 1946January 20, 19536 years, 39 daysDemocraticTruman, HarryHarry S Truman (Democratic)
(1945 – 1953)
2
Sherman Adams
Adams, ShermanSherman Adams
(1899–1986)		January 20, 1953October 7, 19585 years, 260 daysRepublicanEisenhower, DwightDwight D. Eisenhower (Republican)
(1953 – 1961)
3
Wilton Persons
Persons, WiltonWilton Persons
(1896–1977)		October 7, 1958January 20, 19612 years, 105 daysRepublicanEisenhower, DwightDwight D. Eisenhower (Republican)
(1953 – 1961)
–
Kenneth O'Donnell
O'Donnell, KennethKenneth O'Donnell
(1924–1977)
[a]		January 20, 1961November 22, 19632 years, 306 daysDemocraticKennedy, JohnJohn F. Kennedy (Democratic)
(1961 – 1963)
–
Marvin Watson
Watson, MarvinMarvin Watson
(1924–2017)
[a]		February 1, 1965April 26, 19683 years, 85 daysDemocraticJohnson, LyndonLyndon B. Johnson (Democratic)
(1963 – 1969)
–
James R. Jones
Jones, JamesJames R. Jones
(born 1939)
[a]		April 26, 1968January 20, 1969269 daysDemocraticJohnson, LyndonLyndon B. Johnson (Democratic)
(1963 – 1969)
4
H. R. Haldeman
Haldeman, HarryH. R. Haldeman
(1926–1993)		January 20, 1969April 30, 19734 years, 100 daysRepublicanNixon, RichardRichard Nixon (Republican)
(1969 – 1974)
Vacant
April 30, 1973 – May 4, 1973 (4 days)
5
Alexander Haig
Haig, AlexanderAlexander Haig
(1924–2010)		May 4, 1973September 21, 19741 year, 140 daysRepublicanNixon, RichardRichard Nixon (Republican)
(1969 – 1974)
Gerald Ford (Republican)
(1974 – 1977)
6
Donald Rumsfeld
Rumsfeld, DonaldDonald Rumsfeld
(1932–2021)		September 21, 1974November 20, 19751 year, 60 daysRepublicanFord, GeraldGerald Ford (Republican)
(1974 – 1977)
7
Dick Cheney
Cheney, DickDick Cheney
(born 1941)		November 20, 1975January 20, 19771 year, 61 daysRepublicanFord, GeraldGerald Ford (Republican)
(1974 – 1977)
Vacant
January 20, 1977 – July 18, 1979 (2 years, 179 days)
8
Hamilton Jordan
Jordan, HamiltonHamilton Jordan
(1944–2008)		July 18, 1979June 11, 1980329 daysDemocraticCarter, JimmyJimmy Carter (Democratic)
(1977 – 1981)
9
Jack Watson
Watson, JackJack Watson
(born 1938)		June 11, 1980January 20, 1981223 daysDemocraticCarter, JimmyJimmy Carter (Democratic)
(1977 – 1981)
10
James Baker
Baker, JamesJames Baker
(born 1930)		January 20, 1981February 4, 19854 years, 15 daysRepublicanReagan, RonaldRonald Reagan (Republican)
(1981 – 1989)
11
Donald Regan
Regan, DonaldDonald Regan
(1918–2003)		February 4, 1985February 27, 19872 years, 23 daysRepublicanReagan, RonaldRonald Reagan (Republican)
(1981 – 1989)
12
Howard Baker
Baker, HowardHoward Baker
(1925–2014)		February 27, 1987July 1, 19881 year, 125 daysRepublicanReagan, RonaldRonald Reagan (Republican)
(1981 – 1989)
13
Kenneth Duberstein
Duberstein, KennethKenneth Duberstein
(born 1944)		July 1, 1988January 20, 1989203 daysRepublicanReagan, RonaldRonald Reagan (Republican)
(1981 – 1989)
14
John Sununu
Sununu, JohnJohn Sununu
(born 1939)		January 20, 1989December 16, 19912 years, 330 daysRepublicanBush, GeorgeGeorge H. W. Bush (Republican)
(1989 – 1993)
15
Samuel Skinner
Skinner, SamuelSamuel Skinner
(born 1938)		December 16, 1991August 23, 1992251 daysRepublicanBush, GeorgeGeorge H. W. Bush (Republican)
(1989 – 1993)
16
James Baker
Baker, JamesJames Baker
(born 1930)		August 23, 1992January 20, 1993150 daysRepublicanBush, GeorgeGeorge H. W. Bush (Republican)
(1989 – 1993)
17
Mack McLarty
McLarty, MackMack McLarty
(born 1946)		January 20, 1993July 17, 19941 year, 178 daysDemocraticClinton, BillBill Clinton (Democratic)
(1993 – 2001)
18
Leon Panetta
Panetta, LeonLeon Panetta
(born 1938)		July 17, 1994January 20, 19972 years, 187 daysDemocraticClinton, BillBill Clinton (Democratic)
(1993 – 2001)
19
Erskine Bowles
Bowles, ErskineErskine Bowles
(born 1945)		January 20, 1997October 20, 19981 year, 273 daysDemocraticClinton, BillBill Clinton (Democratic)
(1993 – 2001)
20
John Podesta
Podesta, JohnJohn Podesta
(born 1949)		October 20, 1998January 20, 20012 years, 92 daysDemocraticClinton, BillBill Clinton (Democratic)
(1993 – 2001)
21
Andrew Card
Card, AndrewAndrew Card
(born 1947)		January 20, 2001April 14, 20065 years, 84 daysRepublicanBush, GeorgeGeorge W. Bush (Republican)
(2001 – 2009)
22
Joshua Bolten
Bolten, JoshuaJoshua Bolten
(born 1954)		April 14, 2006January 20, 20092 years, 281 daysRepublicanBush, GeorgeGeorge W. Bush (Republican)
(2001 – 2009)
23
Rahm Emanuel
Emanuel, RahmRahm Emanuel
(born 1959)		January 20, 2009October 1, 20101 year, 254 daysDemocraticObama, BarackBarack Obama (Democratic)
(2009 – 2017)
–
Pete Rouse
Rouse, PetePete Rouse
(born 1946)
Acting
[b]		October 1, 2010January 13, 2011104 daysDemocraticObama, BarackBarack Obama (Democratic)
(2009 – 2017)
24
Bill Daley
Daley, WilliamBill Daley
(born 1948)		January 13, 2011January 27, 20121 year, 14 daysDemocraticObama, BarackBarack Obama (Democratic)
(2009 – 2017)
25
Jack Lew
Lew, JackJack Lew
(born 1955)		January 27, 2012January 20, 2013359 daysDemocraticObama, BarackBarack Obama (Democratic)
(2009 – 2017)
26
Denis McDonough
McDonough, DenisDenis McDonough
(born 1969)		January 20, 2013January 20, 20174 years, 0 daysDemocraticObama, BarackBarack Obama (Democratic)
(2009 – 2017)
27
Reince Priebus
Priebus, ReinceReince Priebus
(born 1972)		January 20, 2017July 31, 2017192 daysRepublicanTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (Republican)
(2017 – 2021)
28
John F. Kelly
Kelly, JohnJohn F. Kelly
(born 1950)		July 31, 2017January 2, 20191 year, 154 daysIndependentTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (Republican)
(2017 – 2021)
–
Mick Mulvaney
Mulvaney, MickMick Mulvaney
(born 1967)
Acting
[c]		January 2, 2019March 31, 20201 year, 89 daysRepublicanTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (Republican)
(2017 – 2021)
29
Mark Meadows
Meadows, MarkMark Meadows
(born 1959)
[d]		March 31, 2020January 20, 2021295 daysRepublicanTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (Republican)
(2017 – 2021)
30
Ron Klain
Klain, RonRon Klain
(born 1961)		January 20, 2021February 8, 20232 years, 19 daysDemocraticBiden, JoeJoe Biden (Democratic)
(since 2021)
31
Jeff Zients
Zients, JeffJeff Zients
(born 1966)		8 February 2023-1 year, 275 daysDemocraticBiden, JoeJoe Biden (Democratic)
(since 2021)
Designate
Susie Wiles
Wiles,SusieSusie Wiles
(born 1957)		January 20, 2025
Incoming		Incoming−72 daysRepublicanTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (elect) (Republican)

Notes

[change | change source]
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 De facto, as Appointments Secretary.
  2. ↑ Pete Rouse served as ad interim White House Chief of Staff following the resignation of Rahm Emanuel and until the appointment of Bill Daley.
  3. ↑ Mick Mulvaney served as "Acting White House Chief of Staff" following the resignation of John Kelly.
  4. ↑ Mark Meadows serves as "White House Chief of Staff" following the resignation of Mick Mulvaney.
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