Long hours, less-than-competitive pay: White House still filling jobs

At any point during his tenure, if President Bush advertised to fill vacancies on his staff, the job description might read like this:

Work long hours. Be subject to public criticism from around the world -- and some pats on the back. Compensation considerably less than in the private sector.

And these days, he could add one more proviso:  You'll be out of work in barely four months.

Nonetheless, the Bush White House continues to fill slots on the president's staff.

Just in the past two days, Bush, through his press office, announced that he was filling seven positions.

In many cases, openings are being taken by staff members moving up to senior positions in the offices where they have already been working.

For instance, the White House announced today that Linda Gambatesa will be an assistant to the president -- the most senior staff level -- for appointments and scheduling. She has been the deputy assistant.

But others are coming into senior White House jobs for the first time.

Among those whose hiring was announced Wednesday was Heath P. Tarbert, to be associate counsel to the president. He recently served as a law clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas of the Supreme Court.

Finally, there's the job of filling the jobs. That goes to Karen Race. She was just made a special assistant to the president -- adding a new title to her current title: director of White House personnel.

Unless their posts carry over into a new administration, at noon on Jan. 20, 2009, they are back in the job market -- but with a line on their resumes that wouldn't have been there a few months earlier.

-- James Gerstenzang

Photo of the White House from the West Wing: Tara Engberg / The White House