Institute of Politics

Balancing the responsibility of being the President’s chief spokesperson with the pressure of dealing with a tenacious White House press corps is no easy job. Often with little time to prepare, the White House Press Secretary must be ready to face off with journalists and field complicated questions on nearly any topic, with their answers often making national and international headlines. As the upcoming Presidential election heats up and with a new Administration in the offing, there is great interest in exploring the role of the White House Press Secretary. Among other topics, we will explore what the Press Secretary does, how the role has changed, and offer a behind-the-scenes view of one of the highest profile jobs in Washington. Join the IOP as former White House Press Secretaries Robert Gibbs, Joe Lockhart and Dana Perino reflect on their time at the podium and share how they navigated such a high-stakes position. CBS News’ White House Correspondent Major Garrett will moderate this discussion.