Final answer:
The president is assisted by key aides and advisors including the staff of the Executive Office of the President, the White House Office, and senior officials responsible for foreign policy such as the National Security Advisor and the secretaries of state, defense, and homeland security. These advisors and offices provide critical support in decision making and policy implementation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major offices that serve as key aides and advisors to the president include the Executive Office of the President (EOP), which is comprised of several critical advisory bodies such as the Council of Economic Advisers, the National Security Council, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Office of the Vice President. Within the EOP lies the White House Office (WHO), which hosts personal assistants and advisors to the president. Important officials within WHO include the White House Chief of Staff, the Press Secretary, the Director of Communications, and the National Security Advisor. These individuals and offices play pivotal roles in assisting the president in decision making and policy implementation across various spectrum of governance.
In the realm of foreign policy, key influencers who report to the president include the Chief of Staff, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the Director of National Intelligence, the latter overseeing the entire intelligence community. The chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who represents the interests of the military branches, also serves as a principal military advisor to the president. Lastly, the secretaries of state, defense, and homeland security, although part of the broader executive branch, work in close collaboration with the president, lending their expertise on foreign policy matters.