Welcome to Talking Feds, a roundtable that brings together prominent former federal officials

and special guests for a dynamic discussion of the most important political and legal topics

of the day.

I'm Harry Littman, happy Memorial Day weekend to everyone.

This week we are running a special episode recorded alive during the first impeachment

proceeding against President Trump that previously was available only to paid subscribers.

It's called White House Council, from the sublime to the ridiculous.

And the topic, the position of the White House Council, one of the most important players

in government yet one that remains obscure to many if not most people.

The White House Council is always at the center of any scandals involving the President that

goes from John Dean, Nixon's White House Council who famously told him there's a cancer

on the presidency to Don McGahn who navigated Trump around some of his more illegal instincts

and also stood up to him more than once when Trump's orders were beyond the constitutional

pale.

And of course, Pat Sipeloni, who later replaced Don McGahn and was the White House Council

during the second impeachment of the former President.

But even in scandal free days, the White House Council plays a critical position.

He is the ultimate Washington insider.

The President's personal advisor who doesn't require confirmation, depending on her relationship

with the President, she plays an integral role in everything from picking judges to ethics

to dealing with Congress.

As you'll hear, the White House Council represents the presidency and not the President.

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