Presidential Advisers’ Testimony Before Congressional Committees: An Overview
"Since the beginning of the federal government, Presidents have called upon
executive branch officials to provide them with advice regarding matters of
policy and administration. While Cabinet members were among the first to play
such a role, the creation of the Executive Office of the President (EOP) in 1939
and the various agencies located within that structure resulted in a large increase in the number and variety of presidential advisers. All senior staff members of the White House Office and the leaders of the various EOP agencies and instrumentalities could be said to serve as advisers to the President..."