Feeney: Clinton's Cabinetmaker 12 SYRAC U SE UNIVERS ITY MAG AZ IN E Published by SURFACE, 1994 1 Syracuse University Magazine, Vol. 10, Iss. 3 [1994], Art. 4 c L I N T 0 N 'S 13 SPR I N G 1994 https://surface.syr.edu/sumagazine/vol10/iss3/4 2 Feeney: Clinton's Cabinetmaker In an instant, Varney pulls into her er, helping determine who he sees, center of the storm while everything reserved space across from the ground what he does, and when he does it. else was blowing around and moving, floor entrance to the West Wing and Cabinet secretaries who want to one person you could get to and get an heads directly for the daily White speak to the president m ay call answer from," he says. "Christine is House staff meeting in the historic McLarty or Varney, or call Clinton that person if you're a cabinet officer. Roosevelt Room, across the hall from directly. But when the secretaries If I need to place one call to the White the Oval Office. There, portraits of don't go through Varney, the presi­ House on almost any subject, it would Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin dent's office staff usually calls her any­ be to Christine." Delano Roosevelt look down upon a way to ask her advice. Is it a call the long polished wood conference table. president must return? What's the arney's days are filled with tele­ When the Clinton administration subject matter? phone calls, trouble shooting, moved in, there was an addition to the Varney works closest with Housing and the daily morning meeting decor: a bust of former First Lady a nd Urban Development Secretary with the White House staff. Varney Eleanor Roosevelt, a favorite of cur­ H enry Cisneros, Commerce Secretary begins today's meeting by announcing rent First Lady Hillary Rodham Ron Brown, Interior Secretary Bruce the particulars of three upcoming Clinton and many of the women who Babbitt, and Health and Human White House events that involve cabi­ work in the White House, Varney Services Secretary-and Maxwell net members: a global warming included. School graduate-Donna Shalala. announcement set for the Rose The 1978 recipient of a master's Varney says the cabinet members Garden, a ceremony honoring top­ degree in public administration from "all like me. On a bad day, they might flight schools from around the country, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and not." She shrugs. "I have to be the bad and NAFTA Products Day, w h en Public Affairs, Varney is cabinet secre­ cop sometimes, and be the bearer of American companies will display their tary for President Bill Clinton. As bad news." potential wares for export under the point person for communications Cisneros, the former mayor of San North American Free Trade Agree­ between the president and his 20- Antonio, is among the cabinet secre­ me nt. Varney also pitches possible member cabinet, Varney, along with taries w ho sings Varney's praises. dates for t he president and cabinet Chief of Staff Thomas "Mack" McLar­ "As mayor, I found out that it was officials to present the Malcolm ty, acts as Clinton's primary gatekeep- very useful to have someone at the Baldridge awards honoring excellence in business. The meeting includes a review of Clinton's schedule for the day . This morning he'll hold meetings with aides on Somalia and Haiti and receive the Prime Minister of Turkey. This after­ noon, there are briefings on health­ care reforms and NAFTA. There is grumbling about a news story officials say is incorrect. A strate­ gy is hatched to counter it. Varney is also asked to urge Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen to give a speech on the economy , s ince several economic indi­ cators are up. By the time the meeting breaks up at 8:45a.m., four members of Varney's staff are 15 minutes into the office's daily telephone conference call with all agency chiefs of staff. They huddle around the speaker phone in Varney's small, windowless White House office. White House visitors are often sur­ Varney begins each day with a White House staff meeting in the Roosevelt Room. The meeting prised by the W est Wing's narrow cor­ includes announcements of upcoming events and a review of Clinton's schedule for the day. ridors and small office quarters, even 14 S Y RA CUSE UN IVE R S ITY M AGA Z INE Published by SURFACE, 1994 3 Syracuse University Magazine, Vol. 10, Iss. 3 [1994], Art. 4 for some ranking officials. But it's not size that rates here, it's proximity . Anyone who wants an office big enough to bowl in can move across the SUinDC driveway to the Old Executive Office Building. Few do. Chrutine Varney iJ j'iut one of eight SyractMe Varney's office, a short walk upstairs from the Oval Office, is deco­ U niver.Jity graduate.J who hold pre.Jidential appoint­ rated with a framed inaugural poster, her official job proclamation signed by ment.J in the Clinton AiJmim".ltration. The other.J: Clinton, and a sketch of the Maxwell School given to her when she ~ Donna Shalala, who deputy assistant secretary of addressed graduates last spring. On the bulletin board, beneath the received a doctoral degree in civil rights in the Department Democratic National Committee map social science from the of Education. of the national media markets, are col­ Maxwell School in 1970, is orful works created by Varney's chil­ dren, John, 6, and Michael, 3. Clinton's secretary of Health ~ Roslyn Mazer, who During the conference call, Varney and Human Services. earned a bachelor's degree in tells agency officials to buckle their seat belts. The kickoff for health care political science from the legislation and the congressional vote ~ Walter Broadnax, who College of Arts and Sciences on NAFTA, both administration prior­ received a doctoral degree in in 1971, is deputy assistant ities, are looming. When the call ends, Varney's four public administration from attorney general for the aides rattle off w hat's on tap at the var­ the Maxwell School in 1975, Office of Policy Develop­ ious agencies, pointing out noteworthy events and programs or potential works with Shalala as deputy ment in the Justice Depart­ problems. Treasury is at odds with secretary of Health and ment. other government agencies over the Human Services. Superfund cleanup policy. A problem is brewing over ethanol programs. ~ Charles Baquet I I I, who A hot line, set up to take telephone ~Oliver Ouinn, who earned his master's degree in calls from Americans with comments or concerns about the Clinton health earned a bachelor's degree in public administration from care plan, is producing the kind of per­ political science from the the Maxwell School in 1975, sonal anecdotes that could help sell the College of Arts and Sciences is deputy director of the program to Congress. Unfortunately, there's little funding to publicize the in 1972, is deputy solicitor for Peace Corps. number. Varney directs an aide to ask the Department of Labor and the Treasury Department for the need­ ed money. the second-ranking attorney ~ Anthony Carnevale, who For an upcoming East Room event, under Secretary of Labor earned master's and doctoral the Clintons and a cabinet secretary Robert Reich. degrees in public administra­ are set to appear. But the First Lady's office insists the program be short­ tion from the Maxwell School ened. Only the Clintons will speak. ~ Raymond Pierce, who in 1974 and 1977, respective­ No, says Varney. "Tell the First Lady's office no. The secretary must received a bachelor's degree ly, heads the National Com­ also speak." (A week later, the secre­ in English from the College of mission for Employment tary spoke at the event.) Arts and Sciences in 1980, is Policy. • Varney asks her staff for their w eek­ ly agency reports. Each Friday sh e 15 S PR I NG 1994 https://surface.syr.edu/sumagazine/vol10/iss3/4 4 Feeney: Clinton's Cabinetmaker the administration from the start. Soon after winning the election, the presi­ dent-e lect telephoned Varney on a legal affairs issue. After getting his answer, Clinton asked Varney about her job plans. 'Til do anything y ou'd like me to do," she said, "including staying at my law firm." "All r ight," Clinton responded, "what do you want to do?" "I wouldn't mind being the general counsel for the D epartment of Health a nd Human Services or t he cabinet secretary," she replied. Meanwhile, other administration officials pressed her to join the White House general counsel's office. She spoke with transition officials, making her pitc h for the cabinet secretary Varney's multifaceted job often includes meetings with visiting foreign dignitaries. Here she post, w hich pays $ 100,000 a year. A rneets with prominent African wornen in the Roosevelt Roorn of the White House. Clinton aide eventually call ed to sum­ mon her to a Little Rock news confer­ compiles a nd refines their dispatches Washington law firm of Hogan a nd ence announcing staff appointments. into a report for the president on the H artson. "What are you going to announce activities of a ll government agencies. Varney became Clinton's campaign me as?" Varney asked. Varney's staff meeting lasts until she is counsel in early 1992 and, after only "W e don't know," came the reply. due back in the Roosevelt Room at one conversation with Clinton, joined "Come on down." 9:45 a.m.