# Ivanka's new NON-position in the White House **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 21, 2017, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704 "2017-03-21T17:54:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704/21 "2017-03-21T18:38:23Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Bernadette Meehan, former National Security Spokesperson under Obama, is reportedly pissed. She tweeted this: > > [Ivanka Trump Will Have Her Own White House Office | HuffPost Latest News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ivanka-white-house-office_us_58d056ffe4b00705db520f50)? Can we stop trying to make mountains out of molehills when there are actual fucking mountains to worry about? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704/22 "2017-03-21T18:40:45Z")
> [@XT](#): > > The same thing that appointed advisors have advised presidents on pretty much for as long as there have been presidents. Basically, presidents always have a kitchen cabinet of friends or trusted advisors that they look to. And did these trusted friends and advisors have the security clearance _and_ government-issued phones and computers _and_ their own official office on site? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704/23 "2017-03-21T18:43:03Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Can we stop trying to make mountains out of molehills when there are actual fucking mountains to worry about? Why don’t you print up a list of approved TrumpTopics in the order of their importance? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704/24 "2017-03-21T18:43:17Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > The purpose is to have his daughter advising him while he’s President. Not that hard to understand, really. She can advise him on jewelry. And…well…not-too-fire-resistant clothing. From China. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > According to the video in the link, White House lawyers say she will function as the President’s “eyes and ears”. > Daddy’s little snitch, in other words. I would use a different term, but not in polite company. But look, who the President selects to advise him is entirely his purview, as is granting someone access and clearance unless there is a specific reason that they shouldn’t have access (mental infirmity, agent of a foreign power, et cetera). And frankly, any such criticisms that might be leveled against Ivanka could be equally applied to the SFV himself, or any of a number of his other advisors. The president’s daughter having a White House office and a STE phone is just about the least of the abnormalities and irregularities of this administration. Let’s let daddy’s little girl play Barbie in the West Wing and get back to just how many of his key advisors had unreported contacts with Russian agents during the campaign, why Rexxon Tillerguy is ignoring a major NATO meeting to pow-wow with Russians sans press pool, and what Trump expects to gain by single handedly pissing off every strategic ally the US has depended on since World War II in order of increasing priority. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704/25 "2017-03-21T18:45:58Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And did these trusted friends and advisors have the security clearance _and_ government-issued phones and computers _and_ their own official office on site? No idea…I haven’t done a deep inspection of this aspect. I do know that family members get some sort of access wrt clearance (they get to live in the White House as I recall, which requires access in an of itself), and there is a budget for the first lady for at least as much stuff as the president is covered for (they still have to buy their own paper clips and such :p), but maybe this is a further extension of that. I honestly don’t care enough to search for it since this seems such a silly and petty issue compared to some of the rather earth-shaking stuff going on right now. If YOU care enough then look it up…it will help your case if you can demonstrate that this is the first time someone who isn’t the first lady has been given such things as phones, computers and office space (I think you are out of luck on the clearance aspect, but who knows?). ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704/26 "2017-03-21T18:46:32Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > According to the video in the link, White House lawyers say she will function as the President’s “eyes and ears”. > Daddy’s little snitch, in other words. I think the term is “political officer.” ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704/27 "2017-03-21T18:47:04Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Franklin Roosevelt used his oldest son, James, as an unofficial adviser and assistant. Yea, that was the precedent that jumped to mind. Eisenhower’s son was a WH advisor (though in a paid position), and his brother was an important unofficial advisor as well . I think that sort of thing used to be less eyebrow raising back in the day. Of course, James Roosevelt and Edgar Eisenhower were both mild disasters, so I’m not sure they’re a good argument in favor of the practice. But Presidents are going to rely on the advice of their close friends and family, so I don’t really see the problem giving them office space. And making them go through the security clearance process seems like a positively good thing. I’m more disturbed by the family not detangling their business empire from their political posts, and their being put in charge of important diplomatic issues. If the Trump clans entanglements with their father’s office was limited to advisory roles and free office space, I wouldn’t have a problem with it. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704/28 "2017-03-21T18:47:47Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > She can advise him on jewelry. And…well…not-too-fire-resistant clothing. From China. I didn’t say it would be useful or good advice. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704/29 "2017-03-21T18:49:17Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Is there a debate going on? Despite the forum we’re in, I missed it. I think it’s either “Is there a precedent for this?” or “Ivanka’s appointment: the worst tragedy the nation suffered since the Brits torched the White House.” ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704/30 "2017-03-21T18:51:59Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Why don’t you print up a list of approved TrumpTopics in the order of their importance? 1. Health care 2. Travel Ban 3. Foreign policy (this alone has several pages if not a book of possible topics) 4. Possible instances of illegal activity including (but not limited too) involvement with Russia and the election 5. Sex(ual harrassment), lies and video tape … … … … 103,649. Ivanka’s new NON-position in the White House 103,650. Trump’s hair as a crime against humanity … … … 2,345,298,023. End of list ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704/31 "2017-03-21T18:54:27Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I think it’s either “Is there a precedent for this?” or “Ivanka’s appointment: the worst tragedy the nation suffered since the Brits torched the White House.” I already said it was the former, remember? Let me quote it for you: > [@](#): > > It’s the precedent and purpose I am questioning, not the legality. Is this similar to access given to previous First Ladies…and don’t we already have a First Lady? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704/32 "2017-03-21T18:56:37Z")
> [@XT](#): > > 1. Health care > 2. Travel Ban > 3. Foreign policy (this alone has several pages if not a book of possible topics) > 4. Possible instances of illegal activity including (but not limited too) involvement with Russia and the election > 5. Sex(ual harrassment), lies and video tape > … > … > … > … > > 103,649. Ivanka’s new NON-position in the White House > 103,650. Trump’s hair as a crime against humanity > … > … > … > 2,345,298,023. End of list And there hasn’t been any extensive discussion on items thru 5, right? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704/33 "2017-03-21T18:57:17Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I already said it was the former, remember? Let me quote it for you: Then previous posts should set your mind at ease on this, since several posters have mentioned at least 2 former presidents doing similar things with their sons. Unless your issue is that, purportedly Ivanka is a female (supposedly homo-sapiens)? ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704/34 "2017-03-21T18:57:23Z")
It’s like the Yoko Ono of politics, but with her own designed handbags. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704/35 "2017-03-21T18:57:44Z")
We have a first lady, but taxpayers are paying about $146,000 per day for her to shun living in the White House. I’m guessing that Ivanka got her security clearance because there just weren’t enough ethical problems in the White House. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704/36 "2017-03-21T18:58:22Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Then previous posts should set your mind at ease on this, since several posters have mentioned at least 2 former presidents doing similar things with their sons. Unless your issue is that, purportedly Ivanka is a female (supposedly homo-sapiens)? Hey, she’s hot. Just ask her dad. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704/37 "2017-03-21T18:58:23Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And there hasn’t been any extensive discussion on items thru 5, right? Yup…but that still leaves 103,644 by my count we need to deal with before we get to this vitally important question. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704/38 "2017-03-21T19:00:02Z")
Besides, it’s not like anyone’s using most of the West Wing these days. May as well sublet the place. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704/39 "2017-03-21T19:01:44Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And did these trusted friends and advisors have the security clearance _and_ government-issued phones and computers _and_ their own official office on site? Bobby Kennedy even drew a salary. At least Ivanka Trump isn’t getting a paycheck. Look at it this way; at least she went through the process of getting a clearance, and is in a place the FBI can plant moles when things get that far. Trump’s going to tell her classified stuff anyway. Might as well make it official. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704/40 "2017-03-21T19:02:43Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Yup…but that still leaves 103,644 by my count we need to deal with before we get to this vitally important question. 😉 And you are more than welcome to deal with them, and if I find them of interest I will probably participate in the discussion. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivankas-new-non-position-in-the-white-house/782704.md?page=3)