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 INTERNSHIP
PROGRAM
DESCRIPTION
Please note that the following are department descriptions.
The enclosed information is not intended to serve as a job description for each
office. Along with special projects, interns will be expected to assist with
daily administrative duties. Due to shifting personnel needs, your
qualifications, and the number of requests for placement in particular offices,
no guarantees can be made regarding office placement.
CABINET AFFAIRS
This office functions as the
liaison among members of the President's cabinet and the White House.
CHIEF OF STAFF
The Office of the Chief of Staff
is responsible for directing, managing and overseeing all policy development,
daily operations, and staff activities for the President. This office
coordinates and communicates with all departments and agencies of the
Administration. The staff of this office assists that effort by organizing the
affairs of the Chief and Deputy Chiefs of Staff. The staff also assists the
Chiefs of Staff in their duties as advisors to the President.
COMMUNICATIONS
This office is the primary
coordinator of activities that seek to explain and promote the President's
ideas on policies. Speechwriting and communications research operations are
housed within this office.
CORRESPONDENCE
This office communicates the
President's policies to the American public. The office also informs the
President about the public's concerns and interests by analyzing and responding
to the President's mail, e-mail, and telephone calls received over the Comment
Line. In addition, the department performs individual casework and assists
individuals seeking help from the Federal government, oversees the White House
Volunteer Program, prepares Presidential messages and proclamations, and
acknowledges gifts given to the First Family.
 COUNSEL TO THE
PRESIDENT
The White House Counsel advises the President on all legal
issues concerning the Office of the President and the White House. The
Counsel's Office is responsible for advising on legal aspects of policy
questions, legal issues arising in connection with the President's decision to
sign or veto legislation, ethics questions and financial disclosures, conflict
of interest during and post-employment, and appropriate lines between official
and political activities. The Counsel's Office also oversees executive
appointments and judicial selection, handles Presidential pardons, reviews
legislation and Presidential statements, and handles lawsuits against the
President in his role as President.
COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT
- LEGAL INTERN PROGRAM
Five law students are accepted each session to
the Legal Intern Program. All legal intern positions are full time. Interested
law students should send a cover letter, resume, law school transcripts, and a
legal writing sample directly to the White House Intern Office.
DOMESTIC POLICY COUNCIL
The Office of Domestic Policy oversees
development and implementation of the domestic policy agenda. This office
includes policy teams that are devoted to specific domestic issues such as
crime, education, health care, immigration, child care, civil rights, and
welfare reform. These teams develop programs and initiatives that are
consistent with the Administrations stated goals in the various policy areas.
EXECUTIVE CLERK'S OFFICE
The Executive Clerk's
Office is responsible for the preparation and disposition of all official
Presidential documents, such as nominations to the Senate, commissions of
appointment, Executive Orders, proclamations, messages to Congress, and
memoranda from the President to the units of the Executive Branch.
OFFICE OF THE FIRST LADY
The Office of the First
Lady supports the First Lady's involvement in a wide range of domestic and
international issues, particularly those relating to children, women, families,
health care, historical preservation and the arts. Components of the First
Lady's Office include press, scheduling, speechwriting, research,
correspondence and the office of her chief of staff.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
This office serves as
the liaison between the White House and state and local governments. In
addition, this office represents the views of state and local elected officials
in policy formation within the Administration. A major focus is on helping
state and local elected officials with their concerns involving the Federal
government. As part of this work, Intergovernmental Affairs works closely with
organizations representing state and local elected officials such as the
National Governor's Association and the United States Conference of Mayors.
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
The Office of
Legislative Affairs serves as a liaison between the White House and the
Legislative Branch of the Federal Government and is primarily responsible for
developing the strategy used to promote and defend the President's legislative
agenda. Legislative Affairs also acts as a contact through which Members of
Congress can forward their concerns and priorities to the President and engage
in dialogue with the White House.
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
The Office of
Management and Administration directs the management and administrative
functions of the entire White House complex and has oversight responsibilities
for all of the agencies of the Executive Office of the President. Additionally,
this office serves as a liaison between the White House and other Federal
Agencies that provide operational support to the White House.
NATIONAL
AIDS POLICY OFFICE
The Office of National AIDS Policy is responsible
for the Administration's policies on HIV/AIDS and deals with issues such as
research, prevention, media relations, communications, international affairs,
pediatrics, and women's issues regarding the virus and its effects on society.
NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL
The National Economic Council
coordinates the economic policy-making process with respect to domestic and
international economic issues. The Council ensures that economic policy
decisions and programs are consistent with the President's stated goals, and
ensures that those goals are being effectively pursued.
PHOTO OFFICE
The White House Photo Office documents, through
photographs, the daily schedules of the President and the First Lady. The
office is responsible for maintaining the Photo Library, editing and
researching photo requests for the media, and individual photo opportunities.
POLITICAL AFFAIRS
The Office of Political Affairs is charged
with ensuring that the Executive Branch and the President are aware of the
concerns of the American citizen.
PRESIDENTIAL PERSONNEL
The Presidential Personnel Office is responsible for recruiting, screening, and
recommending qualified candidates for Presidential appointments to Federal
departments and agencies.
OFFICE ON THE PRESIDENT'S INITIATIVE FOR
ONE AMERICA
The White House Office on the President's Initiative for
One America ensures that we have a coordinated and focused strategy to advance
the policies that will close the opportunity gaps that exist for minorities and
the underserved in this country, and build the One America we want for all of
our nations's children. The office builds on the foundation that has been laid
by the Race Initiative's Advisory board and continues the work of the
President's Initiative on Rave. The Initiative for One America promotes the
President's goals of educating the American public about race, encourages
racial reconciliation through national dialogue on race, identifies policies
that can expand opportunities for racial and ethnic minorities, and coordinates
the work of the White House and federal agencies to carry out the President's
vision of One America.
 PRESS SECRETARY'S OFFICE
The
Office of the Press Secretary has the primary responsibility of providing
information to the national press. Examples of national press include the
following: the country's major newspapers, major radio services, major news
magazines, the four wire services, and other the major networks. Additionally,
this office serves as the press contact for local, regional, and specialty
media in the United States. The Press Office staff coordinates the President's
weekly radio address, video tapings, satellite feeds, and provides the press
with access to and information about various White House events.
PUBLIC LIAISON
The Public Liaison Office is responsible for
promoting Presidential priorities through outreach to concerned constituencies
and public interest groups. This includes planning White House briefings,
meetings and large events with the President, Vice President, and pertinent
White House staff. This office coordinates national, state, and local
activities on behalf of Presidential initiatives.
SCHEDULING AND
ADVANCE
The Office of Scheduling and Advance is responsible for the
planning, organization, and implementation of the President's daily and
long-range schedules. All requests for appointments, meetings, or time with the
President must be directed through this office. In addition to scheduling the
President's time, this office is responsible for the design and structure of
activities at each location outside the White House complex that the President
and First Lady visit.
SOCIAL OFFICE
The White House Social Office is responsible
for the organization and execution of all social and official events that occur
in the Executive Residence and surrounding White House grounds.
Responsibilities include the planning of entertainment, guest list maintenance,
distribution of invitations, and the logistics and sequence of each event.
 SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE AMERICAS
This office advises the President and Vice President on western hemispheric
issues, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Caribbean
Basin Initiative, strengthening democracies, hemispheric security, human
rights, and other existing and emerging issues. The Special Envoy works with
the National Security Council, the National Economic Council, and the State
Department to promulgate the President's message and promote the nation's
interests in the region.
TRAVEL OFFICE
The Travel Office is responsible for handling
the overall coordination of the White House Press Corps, hotel arrangements for
White House officials and their staffs, support agencies, as well as advance
and motorcade requirements for White House staff.
OFFICE OF THE
VICE PRESIDENT
The Office of the Vice President provides continuing
assistance to the President. This includes specific assigned functions by the
President. The objective of the Office of the Vice President is to efficiently
and effectively advise, assist, and support the Vice President in areas of
administration, counsel, domestic policy, press, scheduling, and advance.
Assistance is also provided to the spouse of the Vice President.
VISITORS OFFICE
The primary responsibility of the Visitors
Office is to administer tours to the White House. These include tours for the
public (individual or groups), Congressional and Agency ticketed tours, tours
when Members of Congress personally escort guests to the gate, and tours at
special times for guests of the President. Greeting groups and special guests
and planning special events such as the Pageant of Peace and the Easter Egg
Roll are also responsibilities of the Visitors Office.
WOMEN'S INITIATIVES AND OUTREACH
This office serves as a
liaison for the President and his Administration with women and women's groups
across the nation, amplifying the President's pro-woman/pro-family agenda and
listening to the concerns of the women's constituency.
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