The Nerve Center: Lessons in Governing from the White House Chiefs of Staff.(Book Review)

The Nerve Center: Lessons in Governing from the White House Chiefs of Staff. By Terry Sullivan, College Station: Texas A&M University, 2004, 176 pages

In The Nerve Center, Terry Sullivan wants to begin a study on the chief of staff position for the President of the United States. He feels that in order to fully understand and research the office of the president, a serious scholarly study must begin on the crucial job of the chief of staff. The editor of the book divides the book into two sections. This first section is further divided into four parts. These include: Starting the White House; Refocusing the White House; Campaigning, Routine, and Closing Out; and finally, In the Governing Community. Each part deals with a certain time period the president and the White House must deal with when running the country.

Section I: The first part deals with the transition from election and campaigning to governing. Terry Sullivan and the participants believe this is the most important time the new …