Valerie Jarrett is magic, according to White House officials.
In advance of the September 2012 publication of a New York Times profile about the senior adviser's White House role, administration officials circulated talking points to defend Jarrett.
The talking points, which are published in a new book by Mark Leibovich, include via BuzzFeed:
"The magic of Valerie is her intellect and her heart. She is an incredibly kind, caring and thoughtful person with a unique ability to pinpoint the voiceless and shine a light on them and the issues they and the President care about with the ultimate goal of making a difference in people’s lives.
"Valerie is the perfect combination of smart, savvy and innovative. [...]
"Valerie is someone here who other people inside the building know they can trust. (need examples.)"
In the Times profile, an unnamed White House official dubbed Jarrett "the single most influential person in the White House." The piece also described the adviser's full-time Secret Service detail, her staff of "nearly three dozen," an unsavory nickname among aides ("The Night Stalker," for her habit of following the president after trips), and the time she ordered a drink from a four-star general thinking that he was a waiter at a White House function.
The profile does not mention Jarrett's "perfect combination of smart, savvy and innovative."