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When people think about The White House, their immediate thoughts go to the West Wing. However, an entire operation exists on the opposite side of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue – in the East Wing, also known as the Office of FLOTUS – the First Lady of the United States. Few are fortunate enough to gain first-hand experience into the strategic details of working in the White House and with the White House press corps. As the longest-serving Director of Communications and Press Secretary to first lady Laura Bush, I gained valuable insight into the inner-workings of the world’s most visible public stage. This semester, my lessons learned will be lessons shared with students through the Institute of Politics.

This study group will examine the nuances of East Wing politics; the value of potential first spouses to a presidential campaign; the impact of the first lady (or future “first gentleman”) on the success of a president’s election and administration, and the importance of a press secretary in periods of tranquility and times of crisis. We’ll also explore a staffer’s road to the White House and offer career tips for the journey.

This study group offers students an unplugged look into the importance of a press secretary to an administration. Topics to be discussed by the study group leader and visiting speakers may include:

• The role of the press secretary … how to get there, what to do once you’re there, and how the work compares and contrasts with that of the President’s press secretary?
• What does your principal expect from you?
• What are the challenges to the post?
• What does the portfolio include?
• What are the rewards of the position?
• What does your work schedule look like?
• What must you know before you got there?
• Who is most helpful to you in your day-to-day work?
• What advice would you have for prospective press secretaries?
• How will the function be different when there’s a “First Gentleman”?

Also important will be for students to have the perspective from other key public service posts at the White House as well as members of the media.

Session I September 26, 2007

Wait, who are you and what are you doing here? Sure, you’ve Googled Noelia Rodriguez, but search engines don’t tell the whole story. During this first session I will share my bootstraps story (but no pity, please) about entering this world in a Texas border town, moving to Los Angeles just in time to start kindergarten where I learned to speak English and growing up with absolutely no notion that I would one day work at the most powerful office in the world, the White House. All with this backdrop: the importance of bipartisan relationships and cutting my political teeth while working for the mayor of the second largest city in America.

How did I get there? How hard was the climb? Why did I leave? How difficult was the descent? Searching for the next career pedestal. What’s the importance of building relationships with reporters, producers and editors and with people on the other side of the political aisle? These and other background tidbits will be shared. We will also discuss the roadmap for the semester and solicit feedback about what you, the student, would like to explore and how we can have fun in the process.

Speaker: Noelia Rodriguez

Session II October 3, 2007

What exactly is the role of the FLOTUS? In the last 20 years we’ve had only three first ladies; and two of them are related. Have they had impact? Do the members of the press corps care about or cover her? Why or why not? What’s the strategy behind those photo-ops and press availabilities? How are the current candidates’ spouses making their mark in the media? How about some media perspective?

Speaker: Ann Gerhart, Features Editor, The Washington Post

Session III October 10, 2007

Voices from the trenches. This session will give us the opportunity to hear from another real-life press secretary (or two). What were the surprises (pleasant or otherwise), the background stories and the challenges of serving FLOTUS? Reporters – friends or foes? Is the press secretary just a mouthpiece, or truly a piece of the strategic puzzle?

Speakers: Neel Lattimore, press secretary to First Lady Hillary Clinton Anna Perez, press secretary to First Lady Barbara Bush (invited)

Session IV October 17, 2007

To be successful in the inner-workings of the White House, the press secretary has to work closely with the members of the Secret Service detail. USSS agents are the proverbial “flies on the wall” who bear witness to history. Hear from a seasoned public servant who has worked on Presidential, First Lady and cabinet details and learn about the mysteries of the agents in charge.

Speaker: Hector Hernandez, Special Agent, US Secret Service

Session V October 24, 2007

Given the snarky attitudes in Washington these days, we could use a healthy dose of bipartisanship – not the partisan rancor that dominates the airwaves. During this session we will hear from former Los Angeles mayor Dick Riordan and learn his lessons on public service, bipartisan efforts, and the importance of a press secretary to a big city mayor. The former mayor and California cabinet secretary will offer some interesting tales of bipartisan success stories when he led America’s second largest city during a decade of disasters and share his views on the hope for a more civil political landscape.

Speaker: Richard J. Riordan, former Mayor of Los Angeles and former Secretary of Education for Gov. Schwarzenegger.

Session VI October 31, 2007

To be announced.

Session VII November 7, 2007

As this week will mark exactly one year until the Presidential election, we will undertake a hands-on evaluation of the public appearances and comments; the messages; and the impact and public reaction to the candidates’ spouses on the campaign stump.

Session VII November 14, 2007

What does America expect from the President’s partner? What have been the challenges and surprises of the past 7 years? What’s next?

Speaker: To be announced.

Session VIII November 21, 2007

No session this week.

Session IX November 28, 2007

Workshop on the function of a press secretary – from strategizing the communications goals; crafting the message; delivering the message; refining the message. Most people are able communicators; press secretaries must be adept communicators. This study group will engage students on the art of the latter.

Students would come away with guidance of the importance of communications to a political organization, an elected official’s administration, and the public at large. Most importantly, the goal is to inspire you to actively pursue a career in public service.

Session X December 5, 2007

Discussion of other White House posts: Chief of staff, Scheduler/Advance Director; Social Secretary; Photographer; Projects Director, Policy Director and Personal Aide. How to prepare for these positions.

Speaker: Anita McBride, Chief of Staff to Laura Bush and former Presidential Personnel Director --invited