American speechwriter
Cody Keenan is an American political advisor and speechwriter who served as the director ofspeechwriting forPresident Barack Obama . Keenan studiedpolitical science atNorthwestern University .[ 1] [ 2] U.S. senate office ofTed Kennedy ,[ 3] public policy at theHarvard Kennedy School .[ 4] Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2008.[ 3] Jon Favreau left the White House in 2013, Keenan took over as director of speechwriting.[ 4]
Early life and education [ edit ] Keenan's parents were both advertising executives[ 5] Lake View, Chicago , before moving toEvanston, Illinois ,Wilmette, Illinois ,[ 5] Fairfield County, Connecticut , where Keenan attended high school.[ 6] Northwestern University ,[ 7] political science ,[ 5] [ 8] [ 9]
Keenan works with speechwritersBen Rhodes , andJon Favreau , with President Obama in the Oval Office in February 2013 Keenan's political career began with an internship in the mailroom ofTed Kennedy 's senate office in 2003, before going on to become the senator's legislative aide.[ 10] Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee ,[ 7] master's degree inpublic policy at theJohn F. Kennedy School of Government , studying speechwriting and delivery underSteve Jarding .[ 11] Barack Obama's presidential campaign , working underJon Favreau ,[ 12] [ 13] Iowa during the Christmas break to assist in preparation for theIowa caucuses .[ 14] Hillary Clinton conceded in June 2008, Keenan returned as a full-time staffer on Obama's presidential campaign.[ 7] [ 13] [ 15]
White House staffer [ edit ] After the election, Keenan continued in the role as deputy director of speechwriting, working on a speech about theEdward M. Kennedy Serve America Act ,[ 14] [ 13] address after the shooting of Gabrielle Giffords in 2011,[ 8] visual gag for the 2009White House Correspondents' Dinner , dressed as a pirate.[ 16] State of the Union Address in January 2013.[ 17]
Barack Obama with Cody Keenan in the Oval Office, July 23, 2013 In March 2013, Keenan was promoted to White House director of speechwriting,[ 7] The New York Times Michael S. Schmidt noted that unlike Favreau, "who was known for his ability to write lofty, big-picture speeches ... Mr. Keenan focuses far more on individual, hard-work stories as parables for what is difficult but still possible in America."[ 6] the speech delivered by Obama to mark the 50th anniversary ofBloody Sunday .[ 18] [ 19]
In June 2015, Keenan gave acommencement address to theRobert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service .[ 20] Northwestern University .[ 21]
Keenan is the author of a New York Times Best Seller, Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America (2022), which tells the story of “ten days of the presidency, in June 2015, when a racist massacre and two impending Supreme Court decisions put the character of our country on the line, and a President's words could bring the nation together or tear it apart.”[ 22] [ 23]
Keenan is a partner at the speechwriting firm Fenway Strategies,[ 24] [ 25]
Keenan married Kristen Bartoloni in 2016.[ 26] [ 27] [ 28] The End: Inside the Last Days of the Obama White House .[ 29] [ 30]
^ "Obama speechwriter Cody Keenan to discuss elections, White House Nov. 12" .news.northwestern.edu . Retrieved2019-02-01 .^ Felsenthal, Carol."Cody Keenan, Obama's Chief Speechwriter: Chicago-Born and (Mostly) Bred" .Chicago magazine . Retrieved2019-02-01 . ^a b Franke-Ruta, Garance (2013-02-12)."Who Is Cody Keenan, Obama's SOTU Speechwriter?" .The Atlantic . Retrieved2019-02-01 . ^a b Clift, Eleanor (2013-02-12)."Meet Cody Keenan, Lead Speechwriter on Obama's 2013 State of the Union" . Retrieved2019-02-01 . ^a b c Stein, Lisa."Cody Keenan has words for the President" .Crosscurrents Magazine .Northwestern University . RetrievedSeptember 2, 2015 . ^a b Schmidt, Michael S. (January 19, 2015)."State of the Union Speechwriter for Obama Draws on Various Inspirations" .The New York Times . Retrieved2 September 2015 .^a b c d Weiner, Rachel (February 12, 2013)."Speechwriter Cody Keenan takes lead on State of the Union" .The Washington Post . RetrievedSeptember 2, 2013 . ^a b Skiba, Katherine (January 13, 2011)."Chicago native helped Obama find his voice in Tucson speech" .Chicago Tribune . RetrievedSeptember 2, 2015 . ^ "Significant Sig Cody Keenan – Sigma Chi" . Retrieved2023-05-07 .^ Felsenthal, Carol (February 19, 2013)."Cody Keenan, Obama's Chief Speechwriter: Chicago-Born and (Mostly) Bred" .Chicago . RetrievedSeptember 2, 2015 . ^ Nawaguna, Elvina (January 28, 2014)."The 'fearless' speech writer behind Obama's State of Union address" .Chicago Tribune Reuters . RetrievedSeptember 20, 2015 . ^ "The right Cody for the job" .The Washington Post . RetrievedSeptember 20, 2015 .^a b c Kohut, Matt (January 11, 2010)."Alumnus Cody Keenan MPP 2008: White House Wordsmith" .John F. Kennedy School of Government . RetrievedSeptember 2, 2015 . ^a b Superville, Darlene (May 26, 2013)."Cody Keenan Speechwriter: Chicago Native Rose From Unpaid Intern To Presidential Wordsmith" .The Huffington Post Associated Press . RetrievedSeptember 2, 2015 . ^ McCain Nelson, Colleen (February 12, 2013)."Meet Cody Keenan, Obama's New Top Speechwriter" .The Wall Street Journal . RetrievedSeptember 2, 2015 . ^ Knoller, Mark (May 12, 2009)."White House Back-Story: The President And The Pirate" .CBS News . RetrievedSeptember 20, 2015 . ^ Franke-Ruta, Garance (February 12, 2013)."Who Is Cody Keenan, Obama's SOTU Speechwriter?" .The Atlantic . RetrievedSeptember 2, 2015 . ^ Jaffe, Greg (June 3, 2015)."President Obama and American exceptionalism" .The Washington Post . RetrievedSeptember 2, 2015 . ^ "Obama speechwriter Cody Keenan to discuss elections, White House Nov. 12" .news.northwestern.edu . Retrieved2023-05-07 .^ Keenan, Cody (June 16, 2015)."Cody Keenan to Public Service Grads: Be Afraid to Fail" .Time . RetrievedSeptember 2, 2015 . ^ 2018 Weinberg College Convocation Address by Cody Keenan , retrieved2019-09-04 ^ "He wrote for a president. What Cody Keenan can teach you about crafting a great speech" .news.northwestern.edu . Retrieved2023-05-07 .^ "Nominees" .NAACP Image Awards . Archived fromthe original on 2017-12-06. Retrieved2023-05-07 .^ "Fenway Strategies" . Retrieved2023-05-07 .^ "Cody Keenan: Department of Political Science - Northwestern University" .polisci.northwestern.edu . Retrieved2023-05-07 .^ Paz, Ivanha (2017-02-07)."Cody Keenan: RHS quarterback to Obama's lead writer" .The Ridgefield Press . Retrieved2019-02-01 . ^ Wildman, Sarah (2016-07-15)."For Obama's Speechwriting Team, the Message Finally Got Through" .The New York Times .ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved2019-02-01 . ^ "About" .Silver Street Strategies . Retrieved2019-02-01 .^ "CNN's documentary 'The End' tracks end of Obama presidency" .San Angelo . Retrieved2019-02-01 .^ Fox, Sandra Diamond (2022-10-15)."Cody Keenan said Obama's edits on his speeches reminded him of feedback from his former Ridgefield High School English teacher" .The Ridgefield Press . Retrieved2023-05-07 .
Office Name Term Office Name Term White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel 2009–10 National Security Advisor James L. Jones 2009–10 Pete Rouse 2010–11 Thomas E. Donilon 2010–13 William M. Daley 2011–12 Susan Rice 2013–17 Jack Lew 2012–13 Deputy National Security Advisor Thomas E. Donilon 2009–10 Denis McDonough 2013–17 Denis McDonough 2010–13 White House Deputy Chief of Staff for PolicyMona Sutphen 2009–11 Antony Blinken 2013–14 Nancy-Ann DeParle 2011–13 Avril Haines 2015–17 Rob Nabors 2013–15 Dep. National Security Advisor, Homeland Security John O. Brennan 2009–13 White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Jim Messina 2009–11 Lisa Monaco 2013–17 Alyssa Mastromonaco 2011–14 Dep. National Security Advisor, Iraq and Afghanistan Douglas Lute † 2009–13 Anita Decker Breckenridge 2014–17 Dep. National Security Advisor, Strategic Comm. Ben Rhodes 2009–17 White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Planning Mark B. Childress 2012–14 Dep. National Security Advisor, Chief of Staff Mark Lippert 2009 Kristie Canegallo 2014–17 Denis McDonough 2009–10 Counselor to the President Pete Rouse 2011–13 Brooke D. Anderson 2011–12 John Podesta 2014–15 White House Communications Director Ellen Moran 2009 Senior Advisor to the President David Axelrod 2009–11 Anita Dunn 2009 David Plouffe 2011–13 Daniel Pfeiffer 2009–13 Daniel Pfeiffer 2013–15 Jennifer Palmieri 2013–15 Shailagh Murray 2015–17 Jen Psaki 2015–17 Senior Advisor to the President Pete Rouse 2009–10 Deputy White House Communications Director Jen Psaki 2009–11 Brian Deese 2015–17 Jennifer Palmieri 2011–14 Senior Advisor to the President and Valerie Jarrett 2009–17 Amy Brundage 2014–16 Assistant to the President for Liz Allen 2016–17 Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs 2009–11 Director,Public Engagement Tina Tchen 2009–11 Jay Carney 2011–13 Jon Carson 2011–13 Josh Earnest 2013–17 Paulette L. Aniskoff 2013–17 Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton 2009–11 Director,Intergovernmental Affairs Cecilia Muñoz 2009–12 Josh Earnest 2011–13 David Agnew 2012–14 Eric Schultz 2014–17 Jerry Abramson 2014–17 Director of Special Projects Stephanie Cutter 2010–11 Director,National Economic Council Lawrence Summers 2009–10 Director, Speechwriting Jon Favreau 2009–13 Gene Sperling 2011–14 Cody Keenan 2013–17 Jeff Zients 2014–17 Director, Digital Strategy Macon Phillips 2009–13 Chair,Council of Economic Advisers Christina Romer 2009–10 Chief Digital Officer Jason Goldman 2015–17 Austan Goolsbee 2010–13 Director, Legislative Affairs Phil Schiliro 2009–11 Jason Furman 2013–17 Rob Nabors 2011–13 Chair,Economic Recovery Advisory Board Paul Volcker 2009–11 Katie Beirne Fallon 2013–16 Chair,Council on Jobs and Competitiveness Jeff Immelt 2011–13 Miguel Rodriguez 2016 Director,Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes 2009–12 Amy Rosenbaum 2016–17 Cecilia Muñoz 2012–17 Director, Political Affairs Patrick Gaspard 2009–11 Director,Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Joshua DuBois 2009–13 David Simas 2011–16 Melissa Rogers 2013–17 Director, Presidential Personnel Nancy Hogan 2009–13 Director,Office of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle 2009–11 Johnathan D. McBride 2013–14 Director,Office of National AIDS Policy Jeffrey Crowley 2009–11 Valerie E. Green 2014–15 Grant N. Colfax 2011–13 Rodin A. Mehrbani 2016–17 Douglas M. Brooks 2013–17 White House Staff Secretary Lisa Brown 2009–11 Director,Office of Urban Affairs Adolfo Carrión Jr. 2009–10 Rajesh De 2011–12 Racquel S. Russell 2010–14 Douglas Kramer 2012–13 Roy Austin Jr. 2014–17 Joani Walsh 2014–17 Director,Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy Carol Browner 2009–11 Director, Management and Administration Bradley J. Kiley 2009–11 White House Counsel Greg Craig 2009–10 Katy A. Kale 2011–15 Bob Bauer 2010–11 Maju Varghese 2015–17 Kathryn Ruemmler 2011–14 Director, Scheduling and Advance Alyssa Mastromonaco 2009–11 Neil Eggleston 2014–17 Danielle Crutchfield 2011–14 White House Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu 2009–13 Chase Cushman 2014–17 Danielle C. Gray 2013–14 Director, White House Information Technology David Recordon 2015–17 Broderick D. Johnson 2014–17 Director,Office of Administration Cameron Moody 2009–11 Personal Aide to the President Reggie Love 2009–11 Beth Jones 2011–15 Brian Mosteller 2011–12 Cathy Solomon 2015–17 Marvin D. Nicholson 2012–17 Director,Office of Science and Technology Policy John Holdren 2009–17 Director,Oval Office Operations Brian Mosteller 2012–17 Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra 2009–12 Personal Secretary to the President Katie Johnson 2009–11 Todd Park 2012–14 Anita Decker Breckenridge 2011–14 Megan Smith 2014–17 Ferial Govashiri 2014–17 Director,Office of Management and Budget Peter R. Orszag 2009–10 Chief of Staff to the First Lady Jackie Norris 2009 Jack Lew 2010–12 Susan Sher 2009–11 Jeff Zients 2012–13 Tina Tchen 2011–17 Sylvia Mathews Burwell 2013–14 White House Social Secretary Desirée Rogers 2009–10 Brian Deese 2014 Julianna Smoot 2010–11 Shaun Donovan 2014–17 Jeremy Bernard 2011–15 Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra 2009–11 Deesha Dyer 2015–17 Steven VanRoekel 2011–14 Chief of Staff to the Vice President Ron Klain 2009–11 Tony Scott 2015–17 Bruce Reed 2011–13 United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk 2009–13 Steve Ricchetti 2013–17 Michael Froman 2013–17 White House Chief Usher Stephen W. Rochon † 2009–11 Director,Office of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske 2009–14 Angella Reid 2011–17 Michael Botticelli 2014–17 Director,White House Military Office George Mulligan 2009–13 Chair,Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley 2009–14 Emmett Beliveau 2013–15 Michael Boots 2014–15 Dabney Kern 2016–17 Christy Goldfuss 2015–17
Media related toCody Keenan at Wikimedia Commons