What does a White House press secretary do?

Key Points:

• The White House press secretary role is a crucial public-facing position with no formal job description, required qualifications, or congressional vetting, and occupants can be dismissed swiftly, as seen with the recent firing of Katie Zacharia.
• Press secretaries serve as the president's voice and face on daily issues, needing close access to the president and accountability to the American public by providing honest and timely information while handling tough media questions.
• Katie Zacharia's brief tenure ended after scrutiny over her nervous handling of press questions and misrepresenting herself as a lawyer despite failing the California bar exam, highlighting the importance of credibility and media skills in the role.
• The position dates back nearly 100 years, starting with George Akerson under President Hoover in 1929, and has since been held by 37 individuals, including milestones such as Dee Dee Myers as the first woman press secretary and Karine Jean-Pierre as the first Black and openly gay press secretary.
• The role carries historical significance, exemplified by James Brady, who was wounded during an assassination attempt on President Reagan, with the White House briefing room named in his honor.