Episode 26, “THE PRODUCERS” (Part 1), Scott Sforza and Steve Rabinowitz, directors of productions for Presidents Clinton and Bush

Scott Sforza and Steve Rabinowitz are our guests this week.
Show produced by Katherine Caperton
Original Air Date: September 17, 2011 on SiriusXM Satellite Radio “POTUS” Channel 124
Listen to the show by clicking on the bar above.
Show also available for download on Apple iTunes by clicking here 

When it comes to the Presidency of the United States, communication is really job one.  Keeping faith with the electorate and selling your policies is what turns a one term administration into a two term administration.  For all intents and purposes, running the White House is just like running for the White House, one big never ending campaign.

For those not familiar with “PoliOptics,” it’s a mash-up of “politics” and “optics.”  More than the play on words though, “PoliOptics” is a discipline — a specialized practice of visual communications. The people tasked with building the visual communications of a Presidency are, for lack of a better word, producers.

In this episode of PoliOptics on SiriusXM’s POTUS Channel, we complete the circle of presidential producers — bringing together the men who served as “production chief” in the White House.

In my opinion, our first guest, Scott Sforza, has had more experience and impact on the job than anyone else besides the late Michael Deaver.  In real terms, Scott revolutionized the way the President of the United States communicates with the media.  His successes and failure are the subject of our conversation.  From the trials of 9/11 to the “Mission Accomplished” banner on the USS Abraham Lincoln, no White House production chief has accomplished more, or come under greater scrutiny, than Scott Sforza.

Then, Steve Rabinowitz – aka “the Rabbi” – joins the conversation.  Steve was President Clinton’s first production chief.  Steve’s experiences in the White House stacks up with the best of them.  In fact, Steve shares more than a few stories in this episode that no one can match.  Hear the whole story of ‘the NFL experience in the East Room’ and the choreography went into staging the iconic South Lawn handshake in 1993 between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chief Yasser Arafat, facilitated by President Bill Clinton.

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