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John Adams: Organization of the White House


Prior to Executive Order 8248 (1939), which created the Executive Office of the President, the nation’s highest-ranking official has had only a handful of assistants at his disposal. In fact, it wasn’t until 1857 that Congress even appropriated funds for the President to hire a secretary; if a President wanted a larger staff, he had to pay for it himself. As a result, many Presidents used family members – oftentimes sons – to keep track of appointments and to maintain files.

During the latter part of the nineteenth century and on into the twentieth, Presidents began to seek more specialized kinds of assistance. They often looked to other parts of the executive branch -- retaining someone from the Departments of State or War, on a temporary basis –  to help them with particular tasks. At other times, Presidents sought a more sustained commitment from individuals who could provide political advice, write speeches, and improve the chief’s relations with Congress. With little money to pay for such support, however, these tasks often fell to one person, making the choice of presidential secretary an increasingly important one.

 It wasn’t until the dawn of World War II that Presidents gained the ability to appoint – and have Congress pay for – expert assistance across a range of fields. Confronted with the demands of running an increasingly complex government, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in September 1939, created the Executive Office of the President, endowing himself and his successors with a permanent staff to help manage the affairs of the modern presidency.

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last updated on 02/03/2005 - 16:25