Often, politics can feel like a thankless and often futile undertaking.  But White House chief speechwriter Cody Keenan tells his readers that occasionally, through long and sustained effort, the world moves.

Keenan began his political career as an intern and legislative aide to senator Edward M. Kennedy.  He earned a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he studied speechwriting and delivery.  After a speechwriting internship on Barack Obama’s presidential campaign working under White House Director of Speechwriting Jon Favreau, Keenan returned as a full-time staffer on Obama’s presidential campaign.  In 2013, Keenan took the lead in writing the State of the Union Address just prior to Favreau’s departure from the White House.  He became the White House Director of Speechwriting in March 2013.  Among his many notable speeches, Kennan wrote Obama’s speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in 2015.  An expert on politics, messaging, and current affairs, he now serves as a partner at leading speechwriting firm Fenway Strategies and teaches political speechwriting at his alma mater Northwestern University.

Often, politics can feel like a thankless and often futile undertaking.  But White House chief speechwriter Cody Keenan tells his readers that occasionally, through long and sustained effort, the world moves.
Keenan began his political career as an intern and legislative aide to senator Edward M. Kennedy.  He earned a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he studied speechwriting and delivery.  After a speechwriting internship on Barack Obama’s presidential campaign working under White House Director of Speechwriting Jon Favreau, Keenan returned as a full-time staffer on Obama’s presidential campaign.  In 2013, Keenan took the lead in writing the State of the Union Address just prior to Favreau’s departure from the White House.  He became the White House Director of Speechwriting in March 2013.  Among his many notable speeches, Kennan wrote Obama’s speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in 2015.  An expert on politics, messaging, and current affairs, he now serves as a partner at leading speechwriting firm Fenway Strategies and teaches political speechwriting at his alma mater Northwestern University.

Story in the Public Square is a weekly, 30-minute series that brings audiences to the intersection of storytelling and public affairs. Hosted by Jim Ludes and G. Wayne Miller, Story in the Public Square offers a spirited but respectful dialogue. Often funny, always provocative, each episode of Story in the Public Square
moves beyond traditional public affairs programming to consider the impact of narrative and storytelling on public life today.

Story in the Public Square is a weekly, 30-minute series that brings audiences to the intersection of storytelling and public affairs. Hosted by Jim Ludes and G. Wayne Miller, Story in the Public Square offers a spirited but respectful dialogue. Often funny, always provocative, each episode of Story in the Public Square moves beyond traditional public affairs programming to consider the impact of narrative and storytelling on public life today.

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