The Five-Year Presidency

Visiting Research Fellow Chris Liddell has published a new book, Year Zero: The Five-Year Presidency (University of Virginia Press, 2024).

Designing and operating an effective White House are critical to the success of any presidency – and to democracy in the United States. A former White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Chris offers a strategic approach to building a strong and successful presidency.

An astute and experienced operative, he demonstrates persuasively that action must be taken early, comprehensively, and visibly, starting in what he calls Year Zero, the year before governing.

His book lays out concrete nonpartisan steps and recommendations that would significantly improve how the White House functions and thus rebuild trust in one of the most fundamental institutions internationally.

More information and buy the book

Chris Liddell is a Visiting Research Fellow at Green Templeton College, University of Oxford. Chris has had careers in the private, public, and philanthropic sectors. He has been Deputy Chief of Staff at the White House, CFO of Microsoft and General Motors, and Chairman of New Zealand’s largest environmental foundation. Chris has participated in the planning and execution of three Presidential transitions.

Chris previewed some of the thinking in his new book when he spoke at college on The Importance of Presidential Transitions in June 2022.

What others are saying about Year Zero

Josh Bolten, former White House chief of staff (George W Bush)

‘All Americans owe Chris Liddell a debt of gratitude for his unsung heroics during the 2020 transition. Mandatory reading for the leadership of every presidential campaign, and for everyone who cares about the efficacy of American government.’

Mack McLarty, former White House chief of staff (Bill Clinton)

‘If you care about reinvigorating trust in our democracy, read this book!’

Ian Bremmer, founder and president of Eurasia Group

‘This must-read contribution offers candidates on both sides of the aisle a blueprint for running an effective White House.’

Niall Ferguson, Milbank Family Senior Fellow, the Hoover Institution, Stanford

‘A book that every would-be president must read and every likely voter should read.’

Charles M Cameron, Princeton University

‘I have little doubt that this book will become the Bible of presidential transitions, required reading and re-reading in every serious presidential campaign and in every White House for the foreseeable future.’

James P Pfiffner, George Mason University

‘The wise, nonpartisan, counsel [sic] in this book comes from a professional who has worked on all sides of presidential transitions and who orchestrated, from the inside, the most challenging transition in the history of the presidency.’

George C Edwards III, Texas A&M University

‘Future presidents will be wise to follow his advice.’

Kathryn Dunn Tenpas, author, Presidents as Candidates: Inside the White House for the Presidential Campaign

‘Must read for every candidate, campaign staff member and citizen who cares about the future of American democracy.’

Chris Whipple, New York Times bestselling author of The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency

‘Chris Liddell helped preserve American democracy by ensuring that the wheels of the presidential transition kept turning.’