J. Scott Jennings
Encyclopedia
Jeffery Scott Jennings a United States political appointee in the administration of George W. Bush
. The president appointed Jennings to the position of Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Political Affairs on October 17, 2005. The White House announced the move in February 2006.
and graduated from high school there in 1996. Jennings was a Coca-Cola National Scholar and featured in the Foundation's magazine in 2006. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Louisville
in 2000 where he was a McConnell Scholar. While a student at the University of Louisville, he was a news anchor and reporter for WHAS Radio. While at WHAS, Jennings won a local award from the Associated Press for a several-part series on the plight of the homeless living in downtown Louisville.
(R-Ky.) in his 2002 re-election campaign, Gov. Ernie Fletcher
in his 2003 campaign, and managed President Bush’s campaign in New Mexico
in 2004
, before joining the White House. New Mexico was one of only two states to flip from blue to red in between 2000
and 2004; the other was Iowa
. He served as Associate Director in the Office of Political Affairs at the White House before being named Special Assistant to the President in October 2005.
After leaving the White House, Scott Jennings moved back to Kentucky and is Director of Strategic Development and Senior Strategist for Peritus Public Relations in Louisville, KY, a firm with additional offices in Frankfort and Nashville, Tennessee. Jennings is frequently quoted by media outlets as a political analyst. Peritus is a full service PR firm that offers public affairs, public relations, and graphic design services to its clients.
(GSA). At a Congressional hearing in March 2007, witnesses testified that on January 26, 2007, Jennings was present at a meeting where GSA Administrator Lurita Doan
"joined in a videoconference earlier this year with top GSA political appointees, who discussed ways to help Republican candidates." On April 23, 2007 the U.S. Office of Special Counsel announced it was investigating the January videoconference, to look at whether the political dealings of the White House have violated the Hatch Act
.
While the OSC has found that Doan violated the Hatch Act, Elaine Kaplan, Special Counsel during the Clinton Administration, said that “nothing in the OSC’s investigative report suggests that anything improper had occurred before Doan initiated the discussion.” Jennings' presentation was similar in nature to several others disclosed by the White House. In fact, political briefings were routinely given to appointees in previous administrations as well, according to publications and news articles. Special Counsel Scott Bloch told the Washington Post, "Political forecasts, just generally . . . I do not regard as illegal political activity." The White House has said that these briefings were purely informational and did not violate any rules. Here’s how White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino described the briefings to reporters: "It's not unlawful and it wasn't unusual for informational briefings to be given," Perino said. "There is no prohibition under the Hatch Act of allowing political appointees to talk to other political appointees about the political landscape in which they are trying to advance the president's agenda." She added: "These briefings were not inappropriate, they were not unlawful, they were not unethical.”
in early 2007, and was among the White House Staff for whom House and Senate Judiciary Subcommittees authorized subpoenas in March. He testified on August 2, 2007 before the Judiciary Committee, invoking executive privilege and refusing to answer most questions.
However, subsequently published e-mails reflect that Jennings was directly involved in the firing of New Mexico US Attorney David Iglesias, writing in one e-mail to a White House staffer, "Iglesias has done nothing," and to another, "We are getting killed out there," adding that the White House "move forward with getting rid of the NM USATTY."
"concerning the appointment of Tim Griffin
, a former Rove
aide, as U.S. attorney in Little Rock, according to e-mails released [in March, 2007]. For that exchange, Jennings, although working at the White House, used an e-mail account registered to the Republican National Committee
(RNC), where Griffin had worked as a political opposition researcher." The e-mail account was on gwb43.com, a previously unknown domain, hosted on an RNC mail server. Several White House officials were issued private email accounts so they could be extra cautious.
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. The president appointed Jennings to the position of Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Political Affairs on October 17, 2005. The White House announced the move in February 2006.
Personal
Jennings is a native of Dawson Springs, KentuckyDawson Springs, Kentucky
Dawson Springs is a city in Caldwell and Hopkins counties in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The population was 2,980 at the 2000 census. It is the birthplace of current governor of Kentucky, Steve L. Beshear. From the late 1800s to the 1930s, Dawson Springs was well known as a spa and resort town...
and graduated from high school there in 1996. Jennings was a Coca-Cola National Scholar and featured in the Foundation's magazine in 2006. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
in 2000 where he was a McConnell Scholar. While a student at the University of Louisville, he was a news anchor and reporter for WHAS Radio. While at WHAS, Jennings won a local award from the Associated Press for a several-part series on the plight of the homeless living in downtown Louisville.
Career
Jennings served as political director for President Bush's 2000 Kentucky campaign, Sen. Mitch McConnellMitch McConnell
Addison Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Kentucky and the Republican Minority Leader.- Early life, education, and military service :...
(R-Ky.) in his 2002 re-election campaign, Gov. Ernie Fletcher
Ernie Fletcher
Ernest Lee "Ernie" Fletcher is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. In 1999, he was elected to the first of three consecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives; he resigned in 2003 after being elected the 60th governor of Kentucky and served in that office...
in his 2003 campaign, and managed President Bush’s campaign in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
in 2004
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
, before joining the White House. New Mexico was one of only two states to flip from blue to red in between 2000
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
and 2004; the other was Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. He served as Associate Director in the Office of Political Affairs at the White House before being named Special Assistant to the President in October 2005.
After leaving the White House, Scott Jennings moved back to Kentucky and is Director of Strategic Development and Senior Strategist for Peritus Public Relations in Louisville, KY, a firm with additional offices in Frankfort and Nashville, Tennessee. Jennings is frequently quoted by media outlets as a political analyst. Peritus is a full service PR firm that offers public affairs, public relations, and graphic design services to its clients.
Jennings Guides Bush Campaign in New Mexico to Victory in 2004 Presidential Election
After losing New Mexico to Al Gore in 2000 by just 366 votes, President Bush's reelection set its sights on claiming the only state that borders Texas not to go for President Bush in 2000. To that end, the campaign dispatched Jennings to manage its operations. Jennings arrived in early February 2004 to find a divided state Republican Party. Shortly after his arrival, the state party chairman, State Senator Ramsay Gorham, resigned both her chairmanship and legislative seat and moved out of the state. Jennings and Republican Party counterpart Jay McCleskey set about the work of repairing the damaged party, trying to focus activists on the campaign at hand rather than the factionalism. The two worked together to recruit fifteen-thousand volunteers who operated phone banks, went door to door, and executed a grassroots strategy that relied heavily on peer-to-peer, coalition-based activity. The Democratic establishment spent millions of dollars in the state through the Kerry for President Campaign, the state Democratic Party, and through a host of third-party organizations such as American Coming Together and Moveon.org. The Democrats relied primarily on paid workers; the Bush Campaign and Republican Party utilized mostly volunteer manpower. Bush won the New Mexico election by 5,988 votes, making it one of the closest states in the nation. Along with only Iowa, New Mexico flipped from Democrat to Republican between 2000 and 2004.Jennings Directs Political Operations for Three Statewide Kentucky Victories
Between 2000 and 2003, Jennings directed the political operations for George W. Bush's presidential campaign, Senator Mitch McConnell's reelection campaign, and Ernie Fletcher's gubernatorial campaign. All three were winners. Bush defeated Al Gore in Kentucky with 56.5%, McConnell set a record by scoring 65% in his campaign, and Fletcher became the first Republican governor in Kentucky in over 30 years by winning 55% of the vote.GSA Inquiry
Jennings was mentioned in an inquiry into the politicization of the General Services AdministrationGeneral Services Administration
The General Services Administration is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. The GSA supplies products and communications for U.S...
(GSA). At a Congressional hearing in March 2007, witnesses testified that on January 26, 2007, Jennings was present at a meeting where GSA Administrator Lurita Doan
Lurita Doan
Lurita Alexis Doan , is an African American, conservative commentator on Federal News Radio 1500AM in Washington, DC, and the host of the weekly opinion editorial, Leadership Matters. Doan was formerly the Administrator of the United States General Services Administration from May 31, 2006, to...
"joined in a videoconference earlier this year with top GSA political appointees, who discussed ways to help Republican candidates." On April 23, 2007 the U.S. Office of Special Counsel announced it was investigating the January videoconference, to look at whether the political dealings of the White House have violated the Hatch Act
Hatch Act
Hatch Act may refer to:*Hatch Act of 1887, United States federal legislation that created agricultural experiment stations*Hatch Act of 1939, tightened in 1940, United States federal legislation aimed at corrupt political practices, prevented federal civil servants from campaigning...
.
While the OSC has found that Doan violated the Hatch Act, Elaine Kaplan, Special Counsel during the Clinton Administration, said that “nothing in the OSC’s investigative report suggests that anything improper had occurred before Doan initiated the discussion.” Jennings' presentation was similar in nature to several others disclosed by the White House. In fact, political briefings were routinely given to appointees in previous administrations as well, according to publications and news articles. Special Counsel Scott Bloch told the Washington Post, "Political forecasts, just generally . . . I do not regard as illegal political activity." The White House has said that these briefings were purely informational and did not violate any rules. Here’s how White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino described the briefings to reporters: "It's not unlawful and it wasn't unusual for informational briefings to be given," Perino said. "There is no prohibition under the Hatch Act of allowing political appointees to talk to other political appointees about the political landscape in which they are trying to advance the president's agenda." She added: "These briefings were not inappropriate, they were not unlawful, they were not unethical.”
Dismissal of United States Attorneys controversy
Jennings was involved in the Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversyDismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy
The dismissal of U.S. Attorneys controversy was initiated by the unprecedented midterm dismissal of seven United States Attorneys on December 7, 2006 by the George W. Bush administration's Department of Justice. Congressional investigations focused on whether the Department of Justice and the White...
in early 2007, and was among the White House Staff for whom House and Senate Judiciary Subcommittees authorized subpoenas in March. He testified on August 2, 2007 before the Judiciary Committee, invoking executive privilege and refusing to answer most questions.
However, subsequently published e-mails reflect that Jennings was directly involved in the firing of New Mexico US Attorney David Iglesias, writing in one e-mail to a White House staffer, "Iglesias has done nothing," and to another, "We are getting killed out there," adding that the White House "move forward with getting rid of the NM USATTY."
White House and RNC email accounts
In the months leading up to the dismissal of United States attorneys controversy, Jennings communicated with Justice Department officialsUnited States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
"concerning the appointment of Tim Griffin
Timothy Griffin
John Timothy Griffin is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party. He was a United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas from December 2006 to June 2007, appointed by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.-Early life and education:Griffin was born in...
, a former Rove
Karl Rove
Karl Christian Rove was Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to former President George W. Bush until Rove's resignation on August 31, 2007. He has headed the Office of Political Affairs, the Office of Public Liaison, and the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives...
aide, as U.S. attorney in Little Rock, according to e-mails released [in March, 2007]. For that exchange, Jennings, although working at the White House, used an e-mail account registered to the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
(RNC), where Griffin had worked as a political opposition researcher." The e-mail account was on gwb43.com, a previously unknown domain, hosted on an RNC mail server. Several White House officials were issued private email accounts so they could be extra cautious.