public comments she said she s distinctly under the impression that the white house played a role, agitateing it first, then demanding later, that the agriculture department seek other dismissal. now, that comes through repeated conversations she had with a woman named sheryl cook, deputy secretary at the department of agriculture. yesterday, the agriculture secretary tom vilsack who took full responsibility for this entire matter said the white house did not apply pressure to his department but also offered this: ms. cook indicated that a white house liaison had been contacted, but i don t know that she necessarily indicated that there was any pressure. reporter: jenna, there s an interesting bureaucratic bit of explanation i need to do here. i ve had lots of conversations with the white house today. the white house liaison that secretary vilsack mentioned works at the agriculture department and is in charge of personnel matters related to political appointees.