THE PRESIDENTS' GATEKEEPERS BREAK THEIR SILENCE EXCLUSIVELY TO DISCOVERY CHANNEL
The Power behind the Presidency, History in Their Own Words
(Los Angeles, CA) There's the power of the presidency and then there's the power of the men
behind the president. Discovery Channel lifts the curtain for the extraordinary behind the scenes
history of the White House Chiefs of Staff in THE PRESIDENTS' GATEKEEPERS, a 2013
world premiere television special event.
From the acclaimed filmmaking team of brothers Gedeon and Jules Naudet (9/11, In God's
Name) Peabody Award-winning news producer Chris Whipple (60 Minutes, ABC News), and
Peacock Productions comes an unprecedented series looking at the key moments, the quiet
conversations, back room bargains and heated debates that made history and have never been
heard before until now. In addition, Pulitzer Prize winning White House photographer David
Hume Kennerly serves as producer of THE PRESIDENTS' GATEKEEPERS, lending his
extraordinary body of work to tell this rich, untold history.
"When Discovery does history it's about great storytelling. That's why I am so excited about
THE PRESIDENTS' GATEKEEPERS. We are working with the best filmmakers in the
business, offering the ultimate insider's guide to the modern presidency," said Eileen O'Neill,
Group President of Discovery and TLC Networks.
Called the world's second toughest job - and also the world's worst, the White House chiefs of
staff translate the presidents' policies into reality - or disaster. They are the inside eyewitnesses to
history, and the confidants with whom the president, and the first lady, share their secrets. THE
PRESIDENTS' GATEKEEPERS spans nine administrations with interviews from former
Presidents Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush as well as former chiefs of staff including Rahm
Emanuel, Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, James A. Baker III, John Sununu and Mack McLarty.
THE PRESIDENTS' GATEKEEPERS is surprising and revealing. How did Reagan's chiefs
James Baker and Ken Duberstein handle the demands of Nancy Reagan's infamous astrologer?
What experience as White House Chief of Staff does Dick Cheney blame for bringing on his first
heart attack? Why was Rahm Emanuel so apprehensive about taking the job? What moment of
crisis under Lyndon Johnson, unknown to the public, brought the U.S. and the Soviet Union to
the brink of nuclear war? Would Jimmy Carter have avoided the disastrous mission to rescue the
American hostages in Iran - if only he'd asked his Chief of Staff Jack Watson? Which 25-yearold
Chief of Staff was put in charge of reviewing J. Edgar Hoover's infamous FBI files before
forwarding them to the president?
THE PRESIDENTS' GATEKEEPERS is produced for Discovery Channel by Goldfish
Pictures Inc., CCWHIP Productions and Peacock Productions. Executive Producers for Goldfish
Pictures are Gedeon and Jules Naudet. Executive Producer for CCWHIP Productions is Chris
Whipple. THE PRESIDENTS' GATEKEEPERS is directed by Gedeon and Jules Naudet, and
subjects are interviewed by Chris Whipple. Executive Producer for Peacock Productions is
Knute Walter. David Hume Kennerly is Producer. For Discovery Channel, Nancy Daniels serves
as Executive Producer.
About Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs
and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The
network, which is distributed to 100.1 million U.S. homes, can be seen in over 180 countries,
offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography
across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth,
behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our
world. For more information, please visitwww.discovery.com.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 nonfiction
media company reaching more than 1.8 billion cumulative subscribers in 209 countries -moreand
territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity through 149 worldwide television
networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science and Investigation Discovery,
as well as US joint venture networks OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, The Hub and 3net, the first
24-hour 3D network. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to
schools and owns and operates a diversified portfolio of digital media services, including
Revision3. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
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