DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

Cody Keenan, Northwestern Political Science ´02, wrote with President Barack Obama for nearly fourteen years, rising from a campaign intern in Chicago to Director of Speechwriting at the White House and Obama’s post-presidential collaborator. He’s been named the “Springsteen” of the Obama White House, Obama dubbed him “Hemingway,” and British GQ once listed him as one of the “35 Coolest Men under 38 (and a Half).” Cody got his start in public service as a young aide to the legendary senator Edward M. Kennedy. He holds a master’s degree from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and a B.A. from Northwestern University, where he now teaches a course on speechwriting.

Born in Wrigleyville, Cody finally got to write his dream speech just four days before Obama left office – one welcoming the World Champion Chicago Cubs to the White House. Today, he lives in New York City with his wife Kristen and daughter Gracie. His first book, GRACE: Barack Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America, became an instant New York Times Bestseller in 2022.