Boehner Team

Jackson signed on as chief of staff to newly-elected Ohio Rep. John Boehner (R) in 1991.

In a short time, both men made a name for themselves. Jackson was chosen to direct the "Contract with America" team in 1994. The contract was a series of proposed "good government" reforms that Republicans promised to implement if they took the House majority. Republicans won both the House and Senate for the first time in 40 years that year, and Rep. Newt Gingrich ascended to speaker.

Jackson's success won him a post as executive director of the House Republican Conference form 1995 to 1998. He worked for Boehner concurrently.

George W. Bush Team

Jackson took an active role in George W. Bush's 2000 presidential campaign, organizing the Republican National Convention in 2000.

He also headed the administration's Barnstorm for Reform program, which called on Republican governors to rally around Bush, who was then governor of Texas.

Jackson's good work won him a spot in the White House, as deputy to Bush's senior political adviser and deputy chief of staff Karl Rove. Jackson was Rove's right-hand man throughout the U.S. attorneys firing scandals.

When Rove left in 2006, Jackson took over Rove's Office of Strategic Initiatives. His portfolio included political affairs, intergovernmental relations, public liaison and strategic initiatives. GOP strategist Ed Gillespie assumed the rest of Rove's portfolio.

Back to Boehner

In January 2010, Boehner chief of staff Paula Nowakowski died suddenly from a heart attack.

A greiving Boehner turned to his old friend Jackson, who took up the role of chief of staff in the minority leader's office.

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