Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[GK]

Hello. I'm reading George W. Bush's memoir Decision Points, and have a question about some part of it. Please look at the underlined part of the following excerpt. What does it mean that some questions "reached the Oval Office"? Does it just mean the former U.S. president had to think a lot about these questions at his presidential office when he selected his cabinet members? Or does it mean that his personnel decisions raised certain concerns, making some people uncertain about his choice? Please help me with this. Thanks.

"As a small business owner, baseball executive, governor, and front-row observer of Dad�s White House, I learned the importance of properly structuring and staffing an organization. ... Over eight years as president, my personnel decisions raised some of the most complex and sensitive questions that reached the Oval Office: how to assemble a cohesive team, when to reshuffle an organization, how to manage disputes, how to distinguish among qualified candidates, and how to deliver bad new to good people."

[educe22]

In your question you say: "the former U.S. president had to think a lot about these questions at his presidential office." If you change the word "at" to "while in" or "during" (his term in office) it will make more sense. The term "that reached his Oval Office" refers to the physical place where he made those decisions.

Note: I don't think that he is referring to only cabinet members here but anyone on his staff.
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Educe22

[GK]

Thank you very much. Your answer helps a lot. :)