The Gatekeepers Break Their Silence to Discovery
A Landmark Special Event
March 28, 2012
THE POWER BEHIND THE PRESIDENCY, HISTORY IN THEIR OWN WORDS
'THE GATEKEEPERS' BREAK THEIR SILENCE EXCLUSIVELY TO DISCOVERY
A World Premiere Television Special Event Coming 2013
(Silver Spring, Md.) There's the power of the presidency and then there's the power of the men behind the president. Discovery lifts the curtain for the extraordinary behind the scenes history of the White House Chiefs of Staff in THE GATEKEEPERS, a world premiere television special event coming in 2013.
From the acclaimed filmmaking team of brothers Gedeon and Jules Naudet (9/11, In God's Name) and Peabody Award-winning news producer Chris Whipple (60 Minutes, ABC News), comes an unprecedented series looking at the key moments, the quiet conversations, back room bargains and heated debates that made history and have never been heard before until now. In addition, Pulitzer Prize winning White House photographer David Hume Kennerly serves as producer of THE GATEKEEPERS, lending his extraordinary body of work to tell this rich, untold history.
"When Discovery does history it's about great storytelling. That's why I am so excited about THE GATEKEEPERS. We are working with the best filmmakers in the business, offering the ultimate insider's guide to the modern presidency," said Eileen O'Neill, Group President of Discovery and TLC Networks.
Called the world's second toughest job - and also the world's worst, the White House chiefs of staff translate the presidents' policies into reality - or disaster. They are the inside eyewitnesses to history, and the confidants with whom the president, and the first lady, share their secrets. THE GATEKEEPERS spans nine administrations with interviews from former Presidents Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush as well as former chiefs of staff including Rahm Emanuel, Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, James A. Baker III, John Sununu and Mack McLarty.
THE GATEKEEPERS is revealing and surprising: How did Reagan's chiefs James Baker and Ken Duberstein handle the demands of Nancy Reagan's infamous astrologer? What experience as White House Chief of Staff does Dick Cheney blame for bringing on his first heart attack? Why was Rahm Emanuel so apprehensive about taking the job? What moment of crisis under Lyndon Johnson, unknown to the public, brought the U.S. and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war? Would Jimmy Carter have avoided the disastrous mission to rescue the American hostages in Iran - if only he'd asked his Chief of Staff Jack Watson? Which 25-year-old Chief of Staff was put in charge of reviewing J. Edgar Hoover's infamous FBI files before forwarding them to the president? THE GATEKEEPERS is produced for Discovery Channel by Goldfish Pictures Inc. and CCWHIP Productions. Executive Producers for Goldfish Pictures are Gedeon and Jules Naudet. Executive
Producer for CCWHIP Productions is Chris Whipple. David Hume Kennerly is Producer. For Discovery Channel, Brooke Runnette is Executive Producer.
About Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 100.4 million U.S. homes, can be seen in 210 countries, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information, please visit www.discovery.com