Douglas Brinkley

For a look at the role that the Chief of Staff plays in the modern presidency, and some of the historic tenures, we speak to Douglas Brinkley, Professor of History at Rice University. Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich also weighs in.

Even though the Gulf oil spill hasn’t directly hit New Orleans, it’s hard not to think of the disaster in the context of the Hurricane that hit the same region five years ago. Douglas Brinkley says its residents are in a state of ‘permanent stress.’

The Obama family is headed to the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park. The Takeaway talks with Jerry Johnson, former mayor of West Yellowstone, Montana, and historian Douglas Brinkley.