Washington ( CNN ) -- In the tight circle that surrounds President Obama , White House spokesman Robert Gibbs is in the inner bubble . He 's the 3 a.m. wake-up call when North Korea fires a test missile , or when the Nobel committee picks the president for the top award . `` Trust me , it is a job I would gladly give to anybody who would volunteer , '' Gibbs said . Or would he ? After all , he 's an adviser , a friend and a mouthpiece for the administration with more access than recent press secretaries . `` I can walk in and ask him a question at any given time , pick up the phone and talk to him about anything at any given time . I think [ that ] makes my job easier , '' Gibbs said in an exclusive interview with CNN . The president and the press secretary first connected in 2004 when Obama was a virtual unknown outside of Chicago , Illinois , and was campaigning for the U.S. Senate . They clicked and grew close , leading Obama to tell the Wall Street Journal in a 2008 interview , `` Robert is the guy I want in the foxhole with me during incoming fire . If I 'm wrong , he challenges me . He 's not intimidated by me . '' Gibbs chuckled while recalling the comment and quipped , `` That is when we called him 'Senator ' or by his first name . '' While challenging Obama when he was on a campaign bus is much different than pushing back in the Oval Office , Gibbs insists that Obama still seeks opposing opinions and dislikes an atmosphere where everyone tells him he 's right . Ten months into his job in the White House , Gibbs , who grew up in Auburn , Alabama , says he 's finally starting to get more comfortable , even though he admits that the 24/7 pace `` is certainly a challenge . It can wear you down . '' Especially when it comes to the daily main event . Gibbs briefs the White House press corps , usually for about 45 minutes . He rarely shows up on time , but he 's always ready to spar . The mouthpiece for the president often uses humor or sarcasm to deflect a tough question . In one exchange about the tit for tat over cable chatter and radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh , Gibbs uttered , `` I 'll plead guilty to counterproductivity . '' In another about managing the message , Gibbs said , `` Is there any evidence currently going on that I 'm controlling the press ? Poorly , I might add ! '' Is this an effective strategy to handle the media ? `` You tell me , '' Gibbs said . `` Look , there 's no doubt that using a little humor to get out of a series of bad questions is n't an altogether bad technique . '' Watch Gibbs talk about his job . Especially since he 's involved in a daily high-wire act , as he calls it . The cameras are always rolling . A bad day for the White House spokesman usually means a bad day for the administration . `` My father likes reminding me he always thought my mouth would get me into sizable trouble , which it can on any given day , '' Gibbs said . Before starting his job , Gibbs studied former press secretaries and sought out their advice . He still relies on their guidance `` fairly frequently , '' he said . For example , Gibbs revealed that just last week he reached out to former Clinton spokesman Mike McCurry to get `` feedback on a question that was sort of nagging me a little bit . '' When probed on what that question was , Gibbs replied , `` I 'm not going to get into that , but good try . '' Even with the major policy issues the White House is juggling , from Afghanistan to health care to the economy , Gibbs says he 's still having fun . `` If you did n't enjoy the job that I have , it would be the worst job in all of Washington , '' he said . What he does n't like , he said , is the fact that he 's now a celebrity . `` People that I do n't know recognize you walking down the street . It 's awkward , '' he said .
White House spokesman has more access to president than recent predecessors . Robert Gibbs says he can walk in or call Obama any time he has a question . Comment: Gibbs known for using humor to deflect tough questions from media .