The President's Warrior, Robert Gibbs

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, 37, might seem friendly, Southern, folksy and avuncular. But this political veteran is a warrior for his boss

Robyn Twomey for TIME

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

Hours after the lowest point of his boss's first two weeks in office, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs ended the first chapter of the Obama presidency and launched the second. At the end of his morning staff meeting — where his team had gathered to discuss the handling of issues from the first fortnight, including Tom Daschle's unexpected failure to join the Cabinet because of tax-compliance problems — Gibbs reminded members of his team what they had come to Washington to do.

"One other thing," Gibbs said as the room went quiet. "When...

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