White House Counsel

The White House Counsel is a staff appointee of the President of the United States.

Role

The Counsel's role is to advise the President on all legal issues concerning the President and the White House. The current White House Counsel is Fred Fielding, who was appointed to fill the post when his predecessor Harriet Miers resigned effective January 31, 2007.

Responsibilities

The Office of Counsel to the President was created in 1943, and is responsible for advising on all legal aspects of policy questions, legal issues arising in connection with the President's decision to sign or veto legislation, ethical questions, financial disclosures, and conflicts of interest during employment and post employment. The Counsel's Office also helps define the line between official and political activities, 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, as well as serving as the White House contact for the Department of Justice.

Limitations

Although the White House Counsel offers legal advice to the President, the Counsel does so in the President's official capacity, and does not serve as the President's personal attorney. Therefore, controversy has emerged over the scope of the attorney-client privilege between the Counsel and the President. It is clear, however, that the privilege does not apply in personal matters, such as impeachment proceedings; thus, in such situations the President relies on a personal attorney for confidential legal advice.

List of White House Counsels

Samuel Irving Rosenman (1943-1946)
Clark M. Clifford (1946-1950)
Charles Murphy (1951-1953)
Thomas E. Stephens (1953)
Bernard M. Shanley (1953-1955)
Gerald D. Morgan (1955-1958)
David W. Kendall (1958-1961)
Theodore Sorenson (1961-1963)
Myer Feldman (1963-1965)
Harry McPherson (1965-1969)
Milton Serner (1965-1966)
Larry Eugene Temple (1967-1969)
Chuck Colson (1969-1970)
John Dean (1970-1973)
Leonard Garment (1973-1974)
William Casselman II (1974-1975)
Phillip W. Buchen (1975-1977)
Robert Lipshutz (1977-1979)
Lloyd Cutler (1979-1981) (1st time)
Fred Fielding (1981-1986) (1st time)
Peter J. Wallison (1986-1987)
Arthur Culvahouse (1987-1989)
C. Boyden Gray (1989-1993)
Bernard W. Nussbaum (1993-1994)
Lloyd Cutler (1994) (2nd time)
Abner J. Mikva (1994-1995)
Jack Quinn (1995-1996)
Lanny Davis (1996-1998)
Charles F.C. Ruff (1998-1999)
Beth Nolan (1999-2001)
Alberto Gonzales (2001-2005)
Harriet Miers (2005-2007)
Fred Fielding (2007- present) (2nd time)

External links

White House Offices

v t e Executive Office of the United States President
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