The White House Internship Program: Department Descriptions

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	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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