Valerie Jarrett is a Washington outsiderwith a Washingtonians mind-deadening job title:senior adviser and assistant to the President forintergovernmental affairs and public engagement.Roughly translated, she is Obamas intermediary tothe outside world. But the 52-year-old Jarrett is alsothe Presidents closest friend in the White House, andit is not lost on her colleagues that when senior staffmeetings in the Oval Office break up, she often staysbehind with the boss.
"Well, Valerie is one of my oldest friends,"Obama said. "Over time, I think our relationshipevolved to the point where shes like a sibling to me... I trust her completely." As his surrogate, Jarrettis trusted "to speak for me, particularly when weredealing with delicate issues".
Obama said, "Weve seen each other through upsand downs."
A few days after the election, the president-electtold his new chief of staff Rahm Emanuel: "I want herinside the White House."
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