A favorite with White House staff: McDonough is well-liked among the White House staff. He is known for leaving thank-you notes for staffers when they have worked hard on a project. Former White House Deputy Communications Director Jen Psaki recalls receiving one such note from him for her work on Obama's hectic first overseas trip as president in 2009 when he traveled to London for the Group of 20 before heading to France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Turkey, and Iraq.

A legendary work ethic: Psaki describes McDonough as the "hardest worker on the planet." The description is in keeping with those of other White House aides who have worked with McDonough.

Capitol Hill experience: McDonough is a former aide to Senator Tom Daschle and would bring Capitol Hill experience that could be helpful to Obama as he spars with House Republicans over fiscal issues and seeks to make headway on legislative priorities such as immigration reform and gun control. Although his main area of expertise is foreign policy, he is no novice when it comes to domestic politics, as a veteran of the White House and a former campaign aide.

Experience with the press corps: McDonough began his tenure at the National Security Council as a senior strategist on communications, a job in which he got to know many members of the White House press corps. Interacting with the media has traditionally been a part of the portfolio of chief of staff, although the amount of time occupants of the job spend on this can vary greatly. McDonough has some solid relationships with members of the press corps but also has had some tense interactions. The Obama White House is known for taking reporters to task when aides dislike an angle in a story. McDonough did not shrink from that part of the job.

A devout Catholic: McDonough is a devout Catholic and lives in Takoma Park, Maryland, with his wife and their three children. He grew up in a family of 11 children, one of whom became a priest.

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