In November 2011, the White House announced publicly that Daley would share some of his managerial responsibilities with Pete Rouse, Obama’s old confidant, who continued to enjoy the president’s trust. Panetta, by then Obama’s secretary of defense, saw the writing on the wall. “I called Daley, and I said, ‘Bill, the president just cut your legs out from under you.’ He said, ‘Well, I’m hoping that’s not the case.’ I said, ‘Bill, let me tell you something. When the president goes public saying that the chief of staff is just going to be in charge of these elements, you are going to find your
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