Women of the White House

The new book “Confidence Men: Wall Street, Washington, and the Education of a President,” by Ron Suskind, says women have occupied many of the West Wing’s senior positions but felt outgunned and outmaneuvered by male colleagues.

5 Seconds

00:00

Jen Psaki, deputy communications director

Jen Psaki is interviewed in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on Feb. 16, 2011.

Charles Dharapak / AP

Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to the president

Valerie Jarrett walks across the South Lawn of the White House on April 14, 2011.

Charles Dharapak / AP

Melody Barnes, director of the Domestic Policy Council

Melody Barnes speaks during the daily news briefing at the White House on Aug. 8, 2011.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

Samantha Power, senior director at the National Security Council and foreign policy adviser to the president

Samantha Power, senior director for multilateral affairs and human rights at the National Security Council, emerges from the West Wing of the White House on Oct. 12, 2010.

Charles Dharapak / AP

Tina Tchen, chief of staff to Michelle Obama

Former White House director for public engagement Christina "Tina" Tchen is pictured at a Middle Class Task Force event on solutions for families balancing the demands of work and caring for family in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building across from the White House on July 20, 2010.

Charles Dharapak / AP

Alyssa Mastromonac, deputy chief of staff

Alyssa Mastromonaco walks on the South Lawn at the White House on Sept. 14, 2011, after a trip to Raleigh, N.C., where President Obama spoke about the jobs bill.

Charles Dharapak / AP

Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the Office of Health Reform

Nancy-Ann DeParle is interviewed at the White House on March 22, 2010. DeParle runs the White House health care policy team, a position that aides said put her in closer contact with the president than nearly anyone else in the administration during President Obama's fight to overhaul the health-care system in 2009 and 2010.

Charles Dharapak / AP

Stephanie Cutter, assistant to the president for special projects

Stephanie Cutter advises the president on key initiatives. She was Michelle Obama's chief of staff during the 2008 campaign and the chief spokeswoman for the Obama-Biden transition team.

Alex Wong / GETTY IMAGES

Kathy Ruemmler, White House counsel

Kathy Ruemmler replaced Robert Bauer as the White House's top lawyer in June 2011. A former U.S. attorney, Ruemmler was one of the lead prosecutors for the 2006 Enron trial.

/ AP

Heather Zichal, deputy assistant to the president for energy and climate change

Heather Zichal takes part in the daily news briefing at the White House on March, 30, 2011.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

Featured Photo Galleries

Pranav Sivakumar, 12, of Tower Lakes, Ill., spells his word during the National Spelling Bee in Oxon Hill, Md.

National Spelling Bee, Buckingham Palace garden party, the ‘Soup Nazi’ and more in the day in photos

National Spelling Bee, Buckingham Palace garden party, the “Soup Nazi” and more.

U.S. actress and director Angelina Jolie speaks ahead of a screening of her new film 'In the Land of Blood and Honey' at the Foreign Commonwealth Office in central London, May 29, 2012. Angelina Jolie spoke on the Foreign Secretary's initiative on preventing sexual violence in conflict, ahead of the screening. REUTERS/Pool/Dan Kitwood

Eye on entertainment

Angelina Jolie, will.i.am, Larry Thomas, Nick Jonas, Adam Lambert, Bob Dylan and other celebrities.

Novelist Toni Morrison laughs with U.S. President Barack Obama before being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. The Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest civilian honor. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Toni Morrison; Barack Obama

Obama Honors Medal of Freedom Recipients

President Obama honored a diverse group of political and cultural icons.

PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 29: Serena Williams of USA stretches to plays a forehand in her women's singles first round match between Serena Williams of USA and Virginie Razzano of France during day three of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2012 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

French Open results: Serena Williams loses, Maria Sharapova cruises

The American tennis star lost in the first round of a Grand Slam event.

Camels rest at a watering hole outside the town of Aleg May 25, 2012. REUTERS/Joe Penney (MAURITANIA - Tags: ANIMALS SOCIETY)

Camels, tigers, turtles, a giant stag beetle and more in animal views

Camels, tigers, turtles, a giant stag beetle and more.

ANNAPOLIS, MD- MAY 29: Graduates cheer as the Blue Angels fly over during the 100th anniversary of the United States Naval Academy Graduation and Commissioning Ceremonies in Annapolis, Maryland, on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. U.S Sec. of Defense Leon Edward Panetta gave the graduation address. (Photo by Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

U.S. Naval Academy graduation

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta gave the commencement address at the ceremony.

Doc Watson, bluegrass and folk legend, dies at 89

The blind singer and guitarist was a Grammy winner, known for his flat-picking style of guitar playing.

Henry, a calf, sustained a head wound and required stitches after being slashed over the weekend.

Farm animals attacked in Fairfax

A calf, two goats and a chicken were slashed over the weekend at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon.

Back to Previous Gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.