Joe Lockhart | |
|---|---|
 Lockhart in 2009 | |
| 21stWhite House Press Secretary | |
| In office August 4, 1998 – September 29, 2000 | |
| President | Bill Clinton |
| Deputy | Jake Siewert |
| Preceded by | Mike McCurry |
| Succeeded by | Jake Siewert |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Patrick Lockhart (1959-07-13)July 13, 1959 (age 65) New York City,New York,U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Georgetown University(BA) |
Joseph Patrick Lockhart (born July 13, 1959) is an American spokesman and communications consultant who served as the 21stWhite House press secretary during theClinton administration. Previously, he had worked as press secretary for severalDemocratic politicians, includingWalter Mondale,Paul Simon, andMichael Dukakis. Following his work as press secretary in the Clinton administration, he was an advisor toJohn Kerry during his2004 presidential campaign. He subsequently founded and became managing director of the communications consulting firmThe Glover Park Group, worked forFacebook from 2011 to 2012, and was executive vice president of communications and public affairs for theNFL from 2016 to 2018.[1][2][3]
Born inThe Bronx, Lockhart is the son of Ann Teahan and Raymond Lockhart, a longtime NBC producer associated withThe Huntley–Brinkley Report and special-events coverage.[4][5] He grew up inSuffern, New York. In 1978, he moved to Washington D.C. to attend Georgetown University, where he received a BA in History. In 1980, he worked onJimmy Carter's presidential reelection campaign.[6][7]
He waspress secretary for the1984 presidential campaign ofWalter Mondale, then worked forPaul Simon in the Senate. Stints withABC andCNN followed, then the presidential campaign ofMichael Dukakis in 1988. He moved to Robinson, Lake, Lerer & Montgomery withMike McCurry, then back to ABC when they hired his (former) wife and colleague from the Mondale campaign, Laura Logan.[7][8]
Another stint with NBC covering theRomanian Revolution in 1989 preceded his first on-air job withSky News, reporting on theGulf War and then business. Private practice with Robinson, Lake followed, where he handled publicity for theAl Nahayan family during parts of theBCCI scandal.[7]
At a time when Lockhart was considering working forAOL,Mike McCurry recruited Lockhart back into politics, and he joined the1996 Clinton re-election campaign.[9] He served as the campaign spokesman and, following President Clinton's successful reelection, as Deputy Press Secretary to McCurry. After standing in for him on occasion to brief the press, Lockhart eventually succeeded McCurry and delivered his first briefing as Press Secretary in October 1998.[10]
Lockhart handled press relations duringClinton's impeachment and the2000 Camp David Summit.[11][12] Lockhart calls the pre-impeachment period in December 1998 the "most harrowing" weeks of his career.[13]
Lockhart was brought on to the John Kerry presidential campaign as a senior advisor in September 2004.[14]
On September 8, 2004, CBS News aired acontroversial report on presidential candidate George W. Bush's military record. The authenticity of theKillian documents used in that report remain under scrutiny.[15] Over the next few days, it was discovered that Joseph Lockhart, then senior advisor to presidential candidate John Kerry, had made a phone call to Texas National Guard officer,Bill Burkett on September 4, 2004.[16][17] Lockhart stated later that an unnamed female CBS producer asked him to contact Burkett.[16][17] Lockhart has denied that the call with Burkett had anything to do with the National Guard issue.[17]
Lockhart co-founded the consulting firmThe Glover Park Group, becoming its Managing Director.[2] In June 2011, he joinedFacebook as the head of the company's corporate, policy, and international communications team. Not wanting to relocate to the company's headquarters inMenlo Park, California, he left the company in October 2012.[18]
On February 15, 2016, Lockhart was introduced as the new executive vice president of communications and top public relations official for theNational Football League; he left the job after the2018 Super Bowl to spend time with his family.[19][3]
Lockhart was previously married to Laura Logan, Deputy Press Secretary forJohn Glenn's 1984 presidential run and a longtime ABC News producer.[7] In 2013, Lockhart marriedGiovanna Gray.[20] They divorced in 2022.
In 2016, it was announced thatPresident Obama and his family planned to rent Lockhart'sKalorama home after he left office. It was later revealed that the Obamas purchased the house from Lockhart in May 2017, saying that it made sense to own the property since they would remain in Washington D.C. for at least two more years.[21]
Joseph Patrick Lockhart was born July 13, 1959, in the Bronx and grew up in Suffern, N.Y.
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| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | White House Press Secretary 1998–2000 | Succeeded by |
