Washington Internships. Deirdre Martinez
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more time to work on their own projects.”
Also as in the House, many senior staff started as interns. This means you're gaining valuable experience and it also suggests that staff are likely to see you as a potential hire in the future. You may get some great writing samples that you can use for your next application; we'll talk later about the writing skills that you'll probably acquire. You'll also get to be in the Senate, surrounded by some of the most powerful people in the world. If you're any kind of policy junkie, this is exciting stuff. One student shared her impressions of being on the Senate side: “It was just an incredible experience to be in the Senate. From the outside, it's hard to understand how the process works—it seems like nothing ever gets accomplished but when you work there you understand why the process is so slow and you learn how the process was designed to take a long time for things to change. You get a great understanding of how government really works and you also get to see Senators working down the hall so it was a really memorable experience.”
INTERNING AT THE WHITE HOUSE
GOOD BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND WEBSITES
The Modern Presidency by James P. Pfiffner (2007)
The Executive Office of the President: A Historical, Biographical, and Bibliographical Guide edited by Harold C. Relyea; published in cooperation with the Center for the Study of the Presidency (1997)
Articles in Presidential Studies Quarterly
Where You'll Be
Arriving at the White House complex each morning will likely give you a bit of a thrill every day of your internship. Once you are through the gates, however, it is important that your expectations are based on reality. If you are accepted to intern at the White House, do not expect to be placed in the West Wing. The White House accepts 100 interns each summer, the majority of whom work in the Old Executive Office Building, part of the White House complex but not part of the White House itself. Almost half of the White House interns are assigned to the Correspondence office, which is practically run by interns. See the box for other possible assignments.
WHITE HOUSE OFFICES: INTERCHIP SPONSORS
(http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/off-descrp.html)
Advance: coordinates all logistical arrangements for presidential visits.
Cabinet Liaison: primary point of contact for Cabinet members and agency heads.
White House Counsel: advises the President on all legal issues.
Communications: responsible for the President's media events.
Correspondence: processes all correspondence addressed to the President.
Domestic Policy Council: coordinates the domestic policymaking process.
Fellows: oversees White House Fellows program.
Intergovernmental Affairs: liaison to state, local, and tribal governments.
Legislative Affairs: liaison to the United States Congress.
First Lady's office: coordinates and schedules events involving the First Lady.
National Economic Council: advises President on U.S. and global economic policy.
Office of the Vice President: assists Vice President in his executive and legislative duties.
Political Affairs: “ensures that the executive branch and the President are aware of the concerns of the American citizen.” (This office was started under President Reagan and has been involved in partisan activities. I'm not sure how they get away with being political on the public's dime but they do.)
Public Liaison: plans briefings, meetings, and large events.
Photo Office: photographically documents and maintains an archive.
Presidential Personnel: recruits, screens, and recommends qualified candidates for Presidential appointments to federal departments and agencies.
Scheduling: plans and implements the President's daily and long-range schedules. Speechwriting: crafts the President's formal speeches and other remarks.
Strategic Initiatives: plans and implements strategy for achieving Presidential priorities.
Travel Office: provides logistical travel support.
White House Management: manages the daily operations.
White House Personnel: manages staff employment and runs the intern program.
What You'll Do
Depending on your assignment, you may be making copies, answering phones, helping tourists, or responding to mail. As in most internships in D.C., if you are willing to complete these mundane tasks with alacrity and good humor, you may be assigned more interesting projects. There is an online application but be warned: students who apply to the White House often don't hear if they're accepted until very late. For summer, it isn't uncommon to hear back from their hiring office in April. We'll talk more about your application strategy in the next chapter.
The People You'll Meet
Because of the size of the White House complex and the variety of the offices where you might be placed, the people you meet will vary widely. For example, if you are in the press office you will likely meet the various members of the press team, and you may communicate with reporters and other members of the media. When you choose your preferred office assignments, you might think about the people who work in and with that office and if they are in a field that might be helpful to you for your next internship or job.
What You'll Get
In addition to normal office duties, interns attend weekly lectures, volunteer at special events, participate in tours, and contribute to a community service project in the Washington, D.C., area. If you have a successful experience, you'll also walk away with email addresses for at least two or three people who are willing to speak to your skills as a reference. Regardless, a White House internship is very prestigious, and just having that on your resume will help you obtain future internships and jobs in Washington.
INTERNING IN A FEDERAL AGENCY
GOOD BOOKS AND WEBSITES
System Under Stress: Homeland Security and American Politics by Donald F. Kettl (2007)
The New Public Service: Serving, Not Steering by Janet Vinzant Denhardt and Robert B. Denhardt (2007)
http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/Federal/All_Agencies/index.shtml
Where You'll Be
In addition to the White House, the executive branch of the federal government includes departments, agencies, government corporations, boards, commissions, and committees. The website in the box at the top of this page is worth a browse to get a sense of the vast numbers of offices that make up the federal government. Many of these are located near the Capitol or the White House and along the mall, but others are scattered around Washington and in the suburbs and beyond. Each of these bodies is extremely specialized and has very different organizational structures. Interning in one of these offices could be one way to get very close to the day-today functioning of the government.
INTERNING FOR THE FEDS
Federal Bureau of Investigation