In 1942, the Washington Post described the heads of the many newly-created wartime departments as czars. In 1972 Republican President Richard Nixon appointed the first "Drug Czar" and two years later an "Energy Czar". The second person to hold that position, William E. Simon, stated that Nixon used the term "energy czar" when offering him the position.http://www.slate.com/id/2207055/

Despite the press's preference for the shorthand nickname (for example, "War Czar" is more headline-friendly than assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser for Iraq and Afghanistan--a position created in the George W. Bush administration) presidents since Nixon have shied away from the use of the term.http://www.slate.com/id/2207055/

Republicans (led by television personality Glenn Beck) have complained about the Obama administration's appointment of these positions, despite the fact that the George W. Bush administration had as many as 47 "czars".http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/16/dancing-with-the-czars-de_n_289465.html