White House Transitions

In general, the focus of the narrative is on events related to the transition of power and governance from the administration of U.S. president Barack Obama to U.S. president Donald Trump. The Prologue focuses directly on events before the transition and on events in that transition's early days. The subsequent three parts of the book focus more on the later stages of the transition, and the uncertainties that that transition caused within three particular government departments - Energy, Agriculture, and Commerce (see below). Examinations of this particular transition take place within the context of an examination of the history of such transitions, with the Trump transition being defined, in that context, as being more chaotic and less informed than many others.

Partnership for Public Service

In the Prologue, the author places considerable emphasis on considerations of the Partnership for Public Service, an organization...