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14'''BEWARE OF SPOILERS'''. Due to the nature of the show, with its many WalkingSpoiler characters, twists, and turns, the only spoilers whited out are those for the current season "24: Live Another Day". Proceed with caution!
15
16[[foldercontrol]]
17
18!White House Chiefs of Staff
19
20[[folder:Mike Novick]]
21!!Mike Novick
22[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Novick_Michael_446.jpg]]
23[[caption-width-right:350:''"I'm your Chief of staff, David. I shouldn't be kept out of anything."'']]
24->'''Played By:''' Creator/JudeCiccolella
25
26->''"I'm your Chief of Staff - if there's something going on that I don't know about that involves national security, it is my business."''
27
28The Chief of Staff for David Palmer in seasons 1-2 and later for Charles Logan.
29
30%%* DeadpanSnarker
31* EtTuBrute: His betrayal of David Palmer.
32* FakeGuestStar: While his status as a recurring character in Seasons 1 and 4 is justified (he appears sporadically during the former, while in the later he only appears in the last third), in Seasons 2 and 5 he appears prominently throughout and is only absent from a few episodes in each; both times he plays extremely prominent roles in the day's events. As a matter of fact, he is one of the characters with most appearances.
33* HonestAdvisor: Except during Day 2, unfortunately.
34* HonorBeforeReason: Starts becoming this in season 4. Before that he is a hardcore pragmatist.
35* KarmaHoudini: Despite his role in inadvertently causing the possible death of Lynne Kresge, he's never charged or imprisoned for it, and goes on to work as an adviser for another presidential administration. Although he loses his friendship with Palmer and his job.
36* ManlyTears: [[spoiler:He has some when he finds out David Palmer was assassinated.]]
37* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: His attitude by the end of Day 2. He ultimately winds up coming through by the end, but it's not enough for Palmer to forgive him.
38* PutOnABus: At the end of Day 2, he's fired by David Palmer.
39** TheBusCameBack: On Day 4 he returned as Logan's adviser. Sadly, he is put on a bus back after season 5.
40* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: Informing David Palmer about Walt Cummings' plan to have Jack assassinated when he would be turned in to the Chinese... and of course working with Jack to expose Logan.
41* SingleTear: At the end of Day 2, when President Palmer has fired him and he realizes that his actions have ruined their friendship.
42* SpannerInTheWorks: His actions help save Jack's life in season 4.
43* TookALevelInIdealism: After his actions (betraying Palmer and the possible death of Lynnr Kresge) season 2, he becomes more idealistic and heroic.
44* UndyingLoyalty: To David Palmer. He willingly goes against his own president to make justice gfor David's death.
45* WeUsedToBeFriends: With David Palmer (though they are at least later able to patch things up, especially when cooperating to help Jack escape)
46* WellIntentionedExtremist: During Day 2.
47[[/folder]]
48
49[[folder:Wayne Palmer]]
50See [[Characters/TwentyFourPresidents Presidents.]]
51[[/folder]]
52
53[[folder:Walt Cummings]]
54!!Walt Cummings
55[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Cummings_Walter_9852.JPG]]
56[[caption-width-right:350:''"No, Mr President, I am a patriot!"'']]
57->'''Played By:''' Creator/JohnAllenNelson
58
59The White House Chief-Of-Staff under Charles Logan during Day 4 and 5.
60
61* AlasPoorVillain: Make no mistake: Cummings is a gigantic {{Jerkass}}, incredibly smug, and a traitor to his country, but the way he goes out is so pathetic that one can pity him.
62* BigBadWannabe: While he did have some involvement in the Sentox conspiracy, he mistakenly believes he's one of the masterminds behind it. His true role was to keep anyone from discovering that Logan was also involved.
63* CharacterDeath: Cummings seemingly hangs himself after his plans were exposed, but Henderson implies that his death was ordered.
64* TheDragon: To Logan.
65%%* FauxAffablyEvil
66* HeKnowsTooMuch: The likely reason for his death.
67* {{Jerkass}}[=/=]HateSink: He's a rude, paranoid, condescending asshole. ''And then'' it turns out he's taken part in a deal with terrorists that also involved David Palmer's death.
68* ManipulativeBastard: Subverted. He only ''thinks'' he is. But he is just a proxy for Logan.
69* NeverSuicide: Henderson strongly implies that Cummings' death was ordered by Logan.
70* NiceJobFixingItVillain: If Cummings had decided not to orchestrate the assassination attempt on Jack's life and had just let him willingly be taken in by the Chinese at the end of Day 4, then very likely when the events of Day 5 happened Jack would have still been imprisoned in China which would have left him unable to expose its conspiracy. Which would also mean Cummings would likely still be alive.
71* SmugSnake: Like the Unwitting Pawn trope states, he believed he was much more of a major player than he actually was, which allowed his eventual downfall to hit him that much more harder before he's betrayed by the very folks he thought were working for him and killed.
72* TokenEvilTeammate: Appears to be this for the Logan administration in Day 4, committed to doing the dirty work as ordered. Come Day 5, it turns out he was ''[[PresidentEvil way]]'' [[EvilerThanThou out of his element]].
73* UnwittingPawn: He thought he was a major member of the Day 5 conspiracy. He was actually the ''lowest'' member, and was just there to be a scapegoat.
74* WellIntentionedExtremist: Check his quote.
75[[/folder]]
76
77[[folder:Tom Lennox]]
78!!Tom Lennox
79[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lennox_tom_6113.jpg]]
80[[caption-width-right:350:''"Sir, I am on the side of the United States of America. And if you ever thought otherwise, you are very much mistaken."'']]
81->'''Played By:''' Creator/PeterMacNicol
82
83White House Chief of Staff under Presidents Wayne Palmer and Noah Daniels.
84
85%%* {{Blackmail}}
86* BrutalHonesty: Tom speaks his mind, whether people want to hear it or not.
87* DeadpanSnarker: He has a very vitriolic and bitter sense of humor that comes through frequently.
88* EveryoneHasStandards: Tom might be a jerk, but he has morals.
89-->''"Nothing justifies the killing of a president."''
90%%* EvilChancellor
91* FakeDefector: He pretended to go along with Reed Pollack's assassination attempt on Wayne Palmer so he could expose his treachery. Although he failed to get word out before the attempt was made, he still immediately confessed to what happened when it appeared Pollack had succeeded in buying him off.
92* GoodAngelBadAngel: The Bad to Karen Hayes' Good.
93* HonestAdvisor: To everyone. Tom doesn't sugarcoat things, and will tell the hard truth.
94* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Tom is introduced demanding to revoke the rights of U.S. citizens, and otherwise he's sarcastic, snippy and irritable. However, despite his disagreements with Wayne, Reed Pollack's attempts to have him assassinated disgusted Lennox and he did his best to expose the plan. He also convinces Noah Daniels to pardon Karen Hayes for her going against protocol to warn Jack, and the two part ways on friendlier terms despite their earlier hostility toward each other.
95* MoralityPet: Amazingly enough manages to be this for Daniels.
96* MyCountryRightOrWrong: Everything Lennox does is to protect his country. Noah Daniels learned the hard way that Lennox will stand up to anyone who tries to harm the U.S., even if it's the Vice President.
97-->''"Well sir, I'm on the side of the United States of America, and if you ever thought otherwise, you're very much mistaken."''
98* TheRival: To Karen Hayes.
99* VillainousBreakdown:
100-->''"I have no influence!"''
101* WellIntentionedExtremist: Tom wants to set up detention facilities for U.S. citizens who have committed no crime in the interests of protecting the country.
102[[/folder]]
103
104[[folder:Ethan Kanin]]
105!!Ethan Kanin
106[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Kanin_Ethan_6711.jpg]]
107[[caption-width-right:350:''"Luckily for us I'm a paranoid son of a bitch."'']]
108->'''Played By:''' Creator/BobGunton
109
110Defense Secretary under Wayne Palmer and Noah Daniels, before becoming Chief of Staff and later Secretary of State under Allison Taylor.
111
112* AscendedExtra: Goes from being a relatively minor player during Day 6 to one of the central characters in Days 7 and 8.
113* CoolOldGuy: The most savvy and reasonable man in the administration.
114* GuileHero.
115* HonestAdvisor: To Allison Taylor.
116* HypercompetentSidekick: Just look at his resume. Kanin's served as Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, White House chief of staff, and is implied to have run Taylor's presidential campaign.
117%%* HonorBeforeReason
118* MoralityPet: For Allison Taylor, particularly when she goes down a bad path.
119* NiceJobBreakingItHero: It was his idea in the first place to call Charles Logan in during Day 8. Of course, he also admitted then and there it wasn't the best idea.
120* ProperlyParanoid: In both Days 7 and 8. He worried about welcoming Olivia Taylor back into the President's administration given her ruthlessness on the campaign trail. Sure enough, her impatience with her mother's decision to pardon Jonas Hodges leads Olivia to ordering a hit on the man. In the final few episodes, he brings up the possibility of turning using Charles Logan as an ally, but quickly comes to regret the idea when Logan arrives, as he becomes worried that the former president could corrupt Taylor's administration. Once again, Taylor starts to betray her principles due to Logan's influence, and Kanin, disappointed, resigns to avoid watching his friend descend further into Logan's grip.
121* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Quits as Taylor's Secretary of State after it becomes clear that she's fallen completely under Logan's spell.
122* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Less so in Day 6, where he's just another of Palmer's and later Daniels' advisers, but in Days 7 and 8 he takes on pretty much the same role that James Heller did in Days 4 and 5.
123%%* WhatTheHellHero
124[[/folder]]
125
126[[folder:Olivia Taylor]]
127!!Olivia Taylor
128[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Taylor_Olivia_5408.jpg]]
129->'''Played By:''' Creator/SpragueGrayden
130
131The daughter of Allison and Henry Taylor and First Daughter of the President.
132
133* BitchInSheepsClothing: She pretends to have changed, but is still the same.
134* BodyguardBetrayal: An unusual case, especially when compared what happened to her father. While Henry Taylor was trying to uncover the truth behind his son's death and was betrayed by his guard to cover up the conspiracy, Olivia was herself trying to cover up her role in Hodges' death, and was betrayed by [[IncorruptiblePurePureness Aaron Pierce]] when the latter helped Ethan Kanin in exposing the truth.
135* HeelFaceDoorSlam: Tries to call off the hit on Jonas Hodges, but is too late.
136* ManipulativeBitch: Plays both enemies and friends alike as the story goes by. Until she gets outplayed.
137* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Tries to call off the hit against Hodge after having a little time to think about it, although it's too late.
138* OutGambitted: Manages to outwit a reporter who tries to blackmail her by recording their affair and threatening to go public with it. It happens to her as well. She destroys the tape Ethan Kanin was carrying, thinking that it held the evidence of her complicity in Jonas Hodges' murder. However, it turns out that Kanin gave the real tape to Aaron Pierce instead (something Olivia would never expect, given how loyal Pierce had been to her up to that time), and she is subsequently forced to face prison time when her mother discovers what happened.
139* PutOnABus: To prison, with an unclear sentence, between Day's 7 and 8.
140* RevengeBeforeReason: She arranges the death of Jonas Hodges despite the huge negative impact it would have on her mother's presidency, her own life and the pursuit of his co-conspirators.
141* SmugSnake: A key difference between her and Sherry is, Sherry was a truly ruthless women willing to do whatever it takes for power. Olivia, while ambitious and relatively clever, does not have Sherry's experience nor ruthlessness, and comes more as a self paid woman child that anything. When faced with solid danger, she breaks down.
142* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Much like how her mother represented being the new BigGood ala David Palmer, Olivia seems remarkably similar to Sherry. Except she isn't Sherry, and comes across as a poor replacement.
143* TearsOfRemorse: Breaks down crying at two points in the season. First, when she thinks she will die in Juma's attack (as she regrets living a life estranged from her mother) and second when forced to confess her role in Hodges' murder to her parents.
144* WhatYouAreInTheDark: For all her bitchiness and manipulative ways, she cannot go through with killing Jonas Hodges, and does try to call it off.
145[[/folder]]
146
147[[folder:Rob Weiss]]
148!!Rob Weiss
149->'''Played By:''' Creator/ChrisDiamantopoulos
150[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/300px_rob_weiss.jpg]]
151The second White House Chief of Staff for the Taylor Administration after Ethan Kanin became the Secretary of State.
152
153* EvenEvilHasStandards: Although he was willing to go along with Bruckner's plan, even he had to admit letting Ethan potentially die from a heart attack just to keep him from alerting President Taylor was a bit extreme.
154* IDidWhatIHadToDo: His basic excuse for conspiring with Bruckner.
155* {{Jerkass}}: He wanted [[BrokenBird Renee Walker]] to take the fall for the failure of the Vladmir Laitanan mission, and had the gall to get angry about it when Bob Hastings refused to do so.
156%%* WellIntentionedExtremist: Like Bruckner, he wants the best for his country...but he's willing to do terrible things to ensure it.
157[[/folder]]
158
159[[folder:Mark Boudreau]]
160!!Mark Boudreau
161[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/boudreau_mark_7148.jpg]]
162->'''Played By:''' Creator/TateDonovan
163
164The Chief of Staff and son-in-law of President James Heller.
165
166* TheAtoner: Mark becomes this after the [[spoiler:disaster with Stolnavich]] and his subsequent MyGodWhatHaveIDone.
167* {{Blackmail}}: From the Russians when Stolnavich discovers he [[spoiler:forged the president's signature.]]
168* BreakTheHaughty: [[spoiler:He is near catatonic in his last scene, with Audrey dead and Mark himself awaiting his transfer to prison.]]
169* CowardlyLion: Admittedly his cowardice is a key ingredient in his downfall, but he does demonstrate some balls of steel [[spoiler:by infiltrating the Russian embassy, and then when things go south, ''immediately'' disarming Stolnavich and killing him in the brawl that follows.]]
170* DespairEventHorizon: [[spoiler: Following Audrey's death.]]
171* DisasterDominoes: One little decision -- [[spoiler:forging Heller's signature]] -- and the increasing need to cover it up spirals into catastrophic consequences, namely [[spoiler:a ''narrowly averted war with China'']].
172* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: For a while [[spoiler:until his jealousy pushed him over the edge]] Mark seemed to show increasing reluctance with his decision to [[spoiler:falsify the executive order]]. And when the time comes, he helps carry out his father-in-law's final orders rather than sabotage them. After discovering that [[spoiler:Stolnavich was working with Cheng Zhi and is brought up on treason charges as a result]], he makes yet another turn and agrees to help Jack [[spoiler:take down Stolnavich]] in an attempt to set things right.
173* InspectorJavert: He pretty much assumes the worst of Jack from the beginning and wants him taken out of the picture in any way.
174* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Mark can be jealous and irritable, not to mention he makes some truly awful decisions. However, he does try and do the right thing. He loves Audrey and helped her recover from a terrible ordeal, he has a genuine love for his father-in-law and tries his very best to help him. He even manages to put his jealousy aside to work with Jack when it really counts. [[spoiler:When he does betray Jack to the Russians, he's consumed with guilt and puts his life on the line to make amends.]]
175* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Upon realizing that giving away Jack's position to the Russians caused the loss of the override device. It gets worse upon discovering that [[spoiler:Stolnavich is working with Cheng Zhi.]]
176* NiceJobBreakingItHero: He gives up Jack's location to the Russians to avoid getting in further trouble with them - right as Jack and Kate are in the middle of trying to recover the override device.
177* SecretKeeper: He and Audrey are the only ones who know Heller is beginning to suffer from Alzheimer's Disease.
178* {{Slimeball}}: As the season goes on, it becomes clearer that Mark's attempt to get rid of Jack is moreso out of jealousy than anything else, and the lengths he goes to so he can keep everyone else from discovering he forged executive orders all so he can save his own hide culminate in him selling Jack out to Russia while Jack ''is in the middle of trying to prevent a war from being instigated''.
179* TragicMistake: One of the most crystal-clear examples of this trope the show has ever offered. Mark's initial motivation is to protect Audrey both physically and emotionally; the unethical action he takes in order to achieve this directly leads to [[spoiler:her re-traumatization at the hands of her former torturer Cheng Zhi, and then her eventual death]].
180[[/folder]]
181
182!Other White House Employees
183
184[[folder:Lynne Kresge]]
185!!Lynne Kresge
186[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Kresge_Lynn_1227.jpg]]
187->'''Played By:''' Creator/MichelleForbes
188
189A crisis-management advisor for David Palmer.
190
191%%* AbortedArc
192* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Never mentioned after season 2, although the show runners implied that she had survived and could potentially return.
193* DamselOutOfDistress: PlayedForDrama. She escapes from the room she's locked in by setting a fire and then knocking out her guard, but is badly injured during the chase that follows.
194* HyperCompetentSidekick: For David Palmer. Lynne is deeply loyal and extremely competent.
195* UndyingLoyalty: To David Palmer. She refuses to go along with Mike's plan to oust him.
196* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Gives one to Sherry.
197* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight
198* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Last seen in critical condition being wheeled into an ambulance, she never reappears after Season 2. Given how Mike Novick, who inadvertently put her in that situation, continues to serve in a high position of the Keeler and Logan administration's, this would likely mean Lynne either died, survived and refrained from speaking out against him or that Novick was pardoned or received a minor sentence. Adding to the confusion, the show runners named Lynne on a list of character who could "potentially return" (implying that she'd survived) but she never did.
199[[/folder]]
200
201[[folder:Ron Clark]]
202!!Ron Clark
203->'''Played By:''' Creator/RossMcCall
204[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ross_mccall.jpg]]
205A high-ranking member of James Heller's administration and a colleague of Mark Boudreau, who accompanied the First Family and General Coburn on their trip to London, England.
206* BearerOfBadNews: [[spoiler: He's the one to tell Heller what happened to Audrey]].
207* NumberTwo: Serves this role to Mark throughout the season, albeit with occasional hesitation.
208* WhatExactlyIsHisJob: The duties he's seen carrying out on-screen and his relationship with Mark imply that he's the deputy chief of staff but his actual title is never mentioned.
209[[/folder]]
210
211[[folder:Reed Pollack]]
212!!Reed Pollock
213[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pollack_reed_1776.jpg]]
214[[caption-width-right:350:''"It's just starting to hit me. We're going to kill the President of the United States."'']]
215->'''Played By:''' Creator/ChadLowe
216
217The Deputy Chief of Staff at the White House during the events of Day 6. He served under Tom Lennox, who was President Wayne Palmer's Chief of Staff.
218
219Pollock was willing to bend the rules in order to get things accomplished. Under the instruction of Lennox, Pollock was responsible for Karen Hayes' resignation during the early hours of Day 6. However, Tom soon realized the lengths Reed went to in order to achieve his goals, were considered treason. Reed was arrested by Secret Service, along with Bruce Carson, after he was implicated in the assassination attempt on Palmer.
220
221* TheConspiracy: Reed is part of a conspiracy to remove Wayne Palmer from office.
222* ContrastingSequelAntagonist: His concerns and plotting against Wayne Palmer aren't that different from those of the people who kicked David Palmer out of office in season 2, but Pollock is far less competent, and willing to murder his present rather than force him out by legal means.
223* EvenEvilHasStandards: He really doesn't want to kill Tom Lennox, and stops his co-conspirator Bruce Carson from doing the same.
224* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: Kept believing Tom Lennox will help with the plot.
225* SmugSnake: The second he thinks he's finally gotten Tom Lennox under his thumb, Lennox almost instantly proves him wrong by immediately confessing what he did to the nearest Secret Service agent.
226* WellIntentionedExtremist: His intentions are genuine, but his methods are treasonous.
227[[/folder]]
228
229[[folder: Jenny Dodge]]
230!! Jenny Dodge
231-> '''Played By:''' Creator/TamlynTomita
232[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jennydodge.jpg]]
233Palmer's Press Secretary in Day 2.
234* BearerOfBadNews: She's the one to first call David and alert him to the looming crisis on his morning off.
235* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Come Day 3, a man named Jerry Whitehorn has her old job.
236* {{Courier}}: Relays notes between Palmer and Kresge when she has important information to discuss with him and he's in a press conference.
237* GuileHero: She has to show a little of this, answering questions about a press corp while being ordered to deflect attention from the nuclear threat to Los Angeles.
238* OhCrap: Displays this when Palmer is poisoned by Mandy in the finale.
239[[/folder]]
240
241[[folder: Joe Stevens]]
242!! Joe Stevens
243-> '''Played By:''' Creator/MarkDerwin
244[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/joesecs7ep1.jpg]]
245Taylor's first Secretary of State.
246* HonestAdvisor: Taylor appreciates his cabling advice, but not how publicly and pessimistically he expresses it.
247* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: After the deaths of 200 civilians in Juba's terrorist attacks he tells Taylor that he holds her responsible, no longer agrees with her policies and is resigning as Secretary of State.
248[[/folder]]
249
250[[folder: Angela Nelson]]
251!! Angela Nelson
252-> '''Played By:''' Creator/LesleyFera
253[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vos_8vxt_400x400.jpg]]
254Taylor's Press Secretary, and the only character to hold the job and appear in multiple seasons.
255* ExactWords: With some prompting by Kanin, she announces to the reporters that Taylor is preparing military intervention for Sangala, but refrains from saying ''when''.
256[[/folder]]
257
258[[folder: Evelyn Martin]]
259!! Evelyn Martin
260-> '''Played By:''' Creator/SandrineHolt
261[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/evelyn_4.jpg]]
262An aide to Martha Logan during her husbands presidency.
263* BearerOfBadNews: She's the one to tell Jack that Logan is behind everything.
264* CloudcuckoolandersMinder: Evelyn is in charge of keeping the clinically unstable First Lady from losing control of herself.
265* TheConfidant: Martha confides in and appreciates her and the feeling seems fairly mutual.
266* GlamorousSingleMother: She’s attractive and has an eight-year old daughter, whose father doesn't seem to be in the picture.
267* IWillOnlySlowYouDown: Refuses to have Wayne stay with her after being shot in the leg due to feeling Jack will need backup to get the recording.
268* TheMole: Ultimately turns out to have been David Palmer's White House source of information on Logan's plotting.
269* SecretKeeper: Serves as a somewhat conflicted one for various knowledge throughout the day. Many other characters, such as Wayne and Cummings, are aware of this and badger her over what she knows.
270* TheWatson: Serves as an audience surrogate in some ways as Martha reveals what she knows to her.
271* WhatExactlyIsHisJob: Her official title is never mentioned, although based on her responsibilities, Chief of Staff to the First Lady would be a good guess.
272* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: It is left unrevealed whether or not Henderson kills her after forcing her to tell where Jack and Wayne are heading.

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