White House Counsel

For other United States offices of special counsel, see United States Office of Special Counsel (disambiguation).

"Office of Counsel to the President" redirects here. For the Sri Lankan position, see President's Counsel.

White House Counsel
Incumbent W. Neil Eggleston since June 1, 2014
Formation	1943
First holder	Samuel Irving Rosenman

The White House Counsel is a staff appointee of the President of the United States whose role is to advise the President on all legal issues concerning the President and his/her Administration. The current White House Counsel is W. Neil Eggleston.

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

Counsel	President	Years
Samuel Irving Rosenman	Franklin Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman	1943 – 1946
Clark M. Clifford	Harry S. Truman	1946 – 1950
Charles S. Murphy	Harry S. Truman	1950 – 1953
Thomas E. Stephens	Dwight D. Eisenhower	1953
Bernard M. Shanley	Dwight D. Eisenhower	1953 – 1955
Gerald D. Morgan	Dwight D. Eisenhower	1955 – 1958
David W. Kendall	Dwight D. Eisenhower	1958 – 1961
Theodore Sorensen	John F. Kennedy	1961 – 1963
Myer Feldman	Lyndon Johnson	1963 – 1965
Harry McPherson	Lyndon Johnson	1965 – 1969
Milton Serner	Lyndon Johnson	1965 – 1966
Larry Eugene Temple	Lyndon Johnson	1967 – 1969
Charles Colson	Richard Nixon	1969 – 1973
John Ehrlichman	Richard Nixon	1969 – 1970
John Dean	Richard Nixon	1970 – 1973
Leonard Garment	Richard Nixon	1973 – 1974
William E. Casselman II	Gerald Ford	1974 – 1975
Philip W. Buchen	Gerald Ford	1974 – 1977
Robert Lipshutz	Jimmy Carter	1977 – 1979
Lloyd Cutler	Jimmy Carter	1979 – 1981
Fred Fielding	Ronald Reagan	1981 – 1986
Peter J. Wallison	Ronald Reagan	1986 – 1987
Arthur Culvahouse	Ronald Reagan	1987 – 1989
C. Boyden Gray	George H.W. Bush	1989 – 1993
Bernard W. Nussbaum	Bill Clinton	1993 – 1994
Lloyd Cutler	Bill Clinton	1994
Abner J. Mikva	Bill Clinton	1994 – 1995
Jack Quinn	Bill Clinton	1995 – 1996
Charles F.C. Ruff	Bill Clinton	1997 – 1999
Beth Nolan	Bill Clinton	1999 – 2001
Alberto Gonzales	George W. Bush	2001 – 2005
Harriet Miers	George W. Bush	2005 – 2007
Fred Fielding	George W. Bush	2007 – 2009
Greg Craig	Barack Obama	2009 – 2010
Robert Bauer	Barack Obama	2010 – 2011
Kathryn Ruemmler	Barack Obama	2011 – 2014
W. Neil Eggleston	Barack Obama	2014 – Present

External links

• Executive Office of the President
• Records of Thomas E. Stephens, White House Counsel, 1953, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library
• Diaries of Bernard M. Shanley, White House Counsel, 1953-1955, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library
• Records of Gerald Morgan, White House Counsel, 1955-1958, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library
• Records of David W. Kendall, White House Counsel, 1958-1961, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library