Monday, November 10, 2008 11:30 AM

Former Reagan CoS Cautions Emanuel

By DERON LEE

Ken Duberstein, who served as President Reagan's final chief of staff, offered some words of warning to incoming White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel on Friday's edition of "National Journal On Air."

"I don't think Rahm needs any advice from me," Duberstein told host Tammy Haddad, "but I think the most important thing to remember about chief of staff is to remember that the president is chief and you're staff."

"What Rahm certainly will come to realize," Duberstein added, "is that every time Rahm Emanuel opens his mouth, the voice people will hear is the voice of President Obama, not the voice of Rahm Emanuel."

Duberstein also discussed similarities between this transition period and Reagan's, the difficulties of staffing and appointments in a new administration, and the importance of bipartisanship. The full audio and transcript of the interview are available here.

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