Panetta’s emphasis is on focus and message, both day to day and long term. He has the first meeting with Clinton each morning in an attempt to organize his day. And he’s bringing deputy Phil Lader closer to the Oval Office to help control the flow of people and paper reaching the president.
Panetta himself is now one of the foreign-policy “principals” who participate in Situation Room meetings. He calls the strategy shots on Capitol Hill. And he holds Thursday-night “message” sessions to spin media strategy. Most aides welcome the moves, which have tightened up the way the White House does business. But they know more must be done to overcome voter doubts about the Clinton presidency.
