View source for White House Counsel

{{Short description|Chief legal advisor to the U.S. president}}
{{For|other United States offices of special counsel|United States Office of Special Counsel (disambiguation)}}
{{redirect|Office of Counsel to the President|the Sri Lankan position|President's Counsel}}
{{Infobox US Cabinet
| post = White House Counsel
| image = David Warrington (8007711713).jpg
| incumbent = [[David Warrington]]
| incumbentsince = January 20, 2025
| first = [[Samuel Rosenman]]
| formation = 1943
| insignia = The White House logo under Trump 2.0.jpg
}}
The '''White House Counsel''' is a senior staff appointee of the [[president of the United States]] whose role is to advise the president on all legal issues concerning the president and their [[Administration of federal assistance in the United States|administration]].  The White House counsel also oversees the '''Office of White House Counsel''', a team of lawyers and support staff who provide legal guidance for the president and the [[White House Office]].  At least when the White House Counsel is advising the president on legal matters pertaining to the duties or prerogatives of the president, this office is also called Counsel to the President.<ref>Letter from Dana A. Remus, Counsel to the President, to Daniel Ferreiro, Archivist of the United States, dated October 8, 2021, issued by The White House as a Release on October 12, 2021.  See also, letter of Darell Issa, then Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to W. Neil Eggleston, then "Counsel to the President," dated July 11, 2014, which letter appears as the 2nd item in the Appendix to the record of the July 16, 2014 session of a Hearing of said House Committee.</ref>  When initially created, it was named simply Special Counsel.

[[David Warrington]] is the current White House counsel, serving since January 20, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=January 30, 2025 Mr. David Warrington Counsel |url=https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-oversight.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/2025.01.30.%20GEC%20to%20WH%20Counsel%20-%20EOP%20Clearances.pdf |website=oversightdemocrats.house.gov}}</ref>

==Responsibilities==
The Office of Counsel to the President and Vice 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 [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] (DOJ).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agencies - Counsel to the President |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/counsel-to-the-president |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Federal Register |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Department Descriptions |url=https://clintonwhitehouse4.archives.gov/internship/dept.html |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=clintonwhitehouse4.archives.gov}}</ref>

==Limitations==
Although the White House counsel offers legal advice to the president and vice president, the counsel does so in the president's and vice 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 and vice president, namely with [[John Dean]] of Watergate notoriety.  It is clear, however, that the privilege does not apply in strictly personal matters. It also does not apply to legislative proceedings by the U.S. Congress against the president due to allegations of misconduct while in office, such as formal [[Censure in the United States|censures]] or [[Federal impeachment in the United States|impeachment]] proceedings.  In those situations the president relies on a personal attorney if he desires confidential legal advice.

Like all similarly appointed positions in the White House and Executive Office of the President, the White House Counsel's office is also quite distinct from and separate to the judiciary.  It is also different in type to other senior positions which are not simply presidentially appointed but rather are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.  In the legal realm, these would be foremost the [[Attorney General of the United States|attorney general of the United States]], and their principal deputy and other assistants, who are nominated by the president to oversee the [[United States Department of Justice]], and the [[Solicitor General of the United States|solicitor general of the United States]] (the fourth-ranking official in the Justice Department) and staff, who argue cases before the U.S. Supreme Court (and in lower federal courts) for the Justice Department when it, or the Federal Government or an officer thereof (including the President), is a party to the case.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Cabinet |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/the-cabinet/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=The White House |language=en-US}}</ref>  The White House Counsel does, however, usually act as the primary contact point between the DOJ and the White House.

==List of White House counsels==
{|class="toccolours"
|{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes acting capacity.}}
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!class=unsortable |Image
!Name
!Start
!End
!colspan=2 |President
|-
|rowspan=2 style="padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;" |[[File:Samuel-Rosenman-1930.jpg|60px]]
|rowspan=2 style="padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;" |{{sortname|Samuel|Rosenman}}
|rowspan=2 style="padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;" |{{dts|October 2, 1943}}
|rowspan=2 style="padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;" |{{dts|February 1, 1946}}
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Franklin D.|Roosevelt}}<br>(1933–1945)
|-
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Harry S.|Truman}}<br>(1945–1953)
|-
|[[File:Clark Clifford photo portrait.jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Clark|Clifford}}
|{{dts|February 1, 1946}}
|{{dts|January 31, 1950}}
|-
|[[File:Charles S. Murphy (cropped).jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Charles|Murphy|Charles S. Murphy}}
|{{dts|January 31, 1950}}
|{{dts|January 20, 1953}}
|-
|[[File:No image.svg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Tom|Stephens|Thomas E. Stephens (politician)}}<br>{{small|On leave}}
|{{dts|January 20, 1953}}
|{{dts|April 14, 1953}}
|rowspan=5 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=5 |{{sortname|Dwight D.|Eisenhower}}<br>(1953–1961)
|-
|rowspan=2 |[[File:No image.svg|60px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Bernard|Shanley|Bernard M. Shanley}}
|style="background-color:#E6E6AA;" |{{dts|January 20, 1953}}
|style="background-color:#E6E6AA;" |{{dts|April 14, 1953}}
|-
|{{dts|April 14, 1953}}
|{{dts|February 19, 1955}}
|-
|[[File:No image.svg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Gerald|Morgan|Gerald D. Morgan}}
|{{dts|February 19, 1955}}
|{{dts|November 5, 1958}}
|-
|[[File:No image.svg|60px]]
|{{sortname|David|Kendall|David W. Kendall}}
|{{dts|November 5, 1958}}
|{{dts|January 20, 1961}}
|-
|rowspan=2 style="padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;" |[[File:Ted Sorensen - withdrawing from CIA nomination LCCN2017658310.jpg|60px]]
|rowspan=2 style="padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;" |{{sortname|Ted|Sorensen}}
|rowspan=2 style="padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;" |{{dts|January 20, 1961}}
|rowspan=2 style="padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;" |{{dts|February 29, 1964}}
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|John F.|Kennedy}}<br>(1961–1963)
|-
|rowspan=6 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=6 |{{sortname|Lyndon B.|Johnson}}<br>(1963–1969)
|-
|[[File:MyerFeldman.jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Mike|Feldman|Myer Feldman}}
|{{dts|April 1964}}
|{{dts|January 17, 1965}}
|-
|[[File:Lee White (cropped).jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Lee|White|Lee C. White}}
|{{dts|January 17, 1965}}
|{{dts|February 11, 1966}}
|-
|[[File:No image.svg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Milton|Semer}}
|{{dts|February 14, 1966}}
|{{dts|December 31, 1966}}
|-
|[[File:McPherson DLA Piper.jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Harry|McPherson}}
|{{dts|February 11, 1966}}
|{{dts|October 26, 1967}}
|-
|[[File:No image.svg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Larry|Temple|Larry E. Temple}}
|{{dts|October 26, 1967}}
|{{dts|January 20, 1969}}
|-
|[[File:John Ehrlichman in 1969.png|60px]]
|{{sortname|John|Ehrlichman}}
|{{dts|January 20, 1969}}
|{{dts|November 4, 1969}}
|rowspan=4 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=4 |{{sortname|Richard|Nixon}}<br>(1969–1974)
|-
|[[File:Nixon Contact Sheet WHPO-7711 (cropped).jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Chuck|Colson|Charles Colson}}
|{{dts|November 6, 1969}}
|{{dts|July 9, 1970}}
|-
|[[File:John Dean, Bestanddeelnr 929-1102.jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|John|Dean}}
|{{dts|July 9, 1970}}
|{{dts|April 30, 1973}}
|-
|[[File:Portrait of Len Garment, special consultant - NARA - 194684.tif|60px]]
|{{sortname|Len|Garment|Leonard Garment}}
|{{dts|April 30, 1973}}
|{{dts|August 9, 1974}}
|-
|[[File:Philip Buchen (1974-08-15 A0147 NLGRF).jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Philip|Buchen|Philip W. Buchen}}
|{{dts|August 9, 1974}}
|{{dts|January 20, 1977}}
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Gerald|Ford}}<br>(1974–1977)
|-
|[[File:Robert Lipshutz - 1977.jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Robert|Lipshutz}}
|{{dts|January 20, 1977}}
|{{dts|October 1, 1979}}
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Jimmy|Carter}}<br>(1977–1981)
|-
|[[File:No image.svg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Lloyd|Cutler}}
|{{dts|October 1, 1979}}
|{{dts|January 20, 1981}}
|-
|[[File:Portraits of Assistants to President Ronald Reagan (cropped8).jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Fred|Fielding|Fred F. Fielding}}
|{{dts|January 20, 1981}}
|{{dts|May 23, 1986}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Ronald|Reagan}}<br>(1981–1989)
|-
|[[File:Peter Wallison 1986.jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Peter|Wallison|Peter J. Wallison}}
|{{dts|May 23, 1986}}
|{{dts|March 20, 1987}}
|-
|[[File:Arthur B. Culvahouse, Jr.jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Arthur|Culvahouse|Arthur B. Culvahouse Jr.}}
|{{dts|March 20, 1987}}
|{{dts|January 20, 1989}}
|-
|[[File:C Boyden Gray.jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Boyden|Gray|C. Boyden Gray}}
|{{dts|January 20, 1989}}
|{{dts|January 20, 1993}}
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|George H. W.|Bush}}<br>(1989–1993)
|-
|[[File:No image.svg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Bernard|Nussbaum}}
|{{dts|January 20, 1993}}
|{{dts|March 8, 1994}}
|rowspan=7 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=7 |{{sortname|Bill|Clinton}}<br>(1993–2001)
|-
|[[File:No image.svg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Lloyd|Cutler}}
|{{dts|March 8, 1994}}
|{{dts|October 1, 1994}}
|-
|[[File:Abner Mikva.jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Abner|Mikva}}
|{{dts|October 1, 1994}}
|{{dts|November 1, 1995}}
|-
|[[File:No image.svg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Jack|Quinn|dab=lawyer}}
|{{dts|November 1, 1995}}
|{{dts|February 1997}}
|-
|[[File:White House Counsel Charles Ruff and others at a House Judiciary Committee hearing (1).jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Chuck|Ruff|Charles Ruff}}
|{{dts|February 1997}}
|{{dts|August 6, 1999}}
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|[[File:Cheryl D. Mills.jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Cheryl|Mills}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|August 6, 1999}}
|{{dts|September 1999}}
|-
|[[File:No image.svg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Beth|Nolan}}
|{{dts|September 1999}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2001}}
|-
|[[File:Alberto R. Gonzales.jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Alberto|Gonzales}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2001}}
|{{dts|February 3, 2005}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|George W.|Bush}}<br>(2001–2009)
|-
|[[File:HarrietMiersFlagpin.jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Harriet|Miers}}
|{{dts|February 3, 2005}}
|{{dts|January 31, 2007}}
|-
|[[File:Fred Fielding.jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Fred|Fielding|Fred F. Fielding}}
|{{dts|January 31, 2007}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2009}}
|-
|[[File:Greg Craig 48-DPA-374 DSC 0015.jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Greg|Craig|Gregory B. Craig}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2009}}
|{{dts|January 3, 2010}}
|rowspan=4 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=4 |{{sortname|Barack|Obama}}<br>(2009–2017)
|-
|[[File:BobBauer2.jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Bob|Bauer|Robert Bauer}}
|{{dts|January 3, 2010}}
|{{dts|June 30, 2011}}
|-
|[[File:Kathryn Ruemmler.jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Kathy|Ruemmler|Kathryn Ruemmler}}
|{{dts|June 30, 2011}}
|{{dts|June 2, 2014}}
|-
|[[File:Neil Eggleston.jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Neil|Eggleston}}
|{{dts|June 2, 2014}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2017}}
|-
|[[File:Don McGahn official photo.png|60px]]
|{{sortname|Don|McGahn}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2017}}
|{{dts|October 17, 2018}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Donald|Trump}}<br>(2017–2021)
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|[[File:No image.svg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Emmet|Flood}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|October 18, 2018}}
|{{dts|December 10, 2018}}
|-
|[[File:Pat Cipollone.jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Pat|Cipollone}}
|{{dts|December 10, 2018}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2021}}
|-
|[[File:Dana Remus.jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Dana|Remus}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2021}}
|{{dts|July 1, 2022}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Joe|Biden}}<br>(2021–2025)
|-
|[[File:Stuart Delery.png|60px]]
|{{sortname|Stuart|Delery}}
|{{dts|July 1, 2022}}
|{{dts|September 11, 2023}}
|-
|[[File:Ed Siskel.jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|Ed|Siskel}}
|{{dts|September 11, 2023}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2025}}
|-
|[[File:David Warrington (8007711713).jpg|60px]]
|{{sortname|David|Warrington}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2025}}
|Incumbent
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Donald|Trump}}<br>(2025–present)
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/executive-office-of-the-president/ Executive Office of the President]
* [http://eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Finding_Aids/S.html Records of Thomas E. Stephens, White House Counsel, 1953, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library]
* [http://eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Finding_Aids/S.html Diaries of Bernard M. Shanley, White House Counsel, 1953-1955, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library]
* [http://eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Finding_Aids/M.html Records of Gerald Morgan, White House Counsel, 1955-1958, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924213344/https://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Finding_Aids/M.html |date=2018-09-24 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090114032556/http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Finding_Aids/K.html Records of David W. Kendall, White House Counsel, 1958-1961, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library]

{{White House Counsels}}
{{White House Office}}
{{EOP agencies}}

[[Category:United States presidential advisors]]
[[Category:White House counsels| ]]
[[Category:Executive Office of the President of the United States]]
[[Category:Presidency of the United States]]
[[Category:White House Office|Counsel]]
[[Category:1943 establishments in Washington, D.C.]]