"His words, the president's voice" - Interesting piece on Favreau in today's Tribune.

[jefferson_dem]

His words, the president's voice
Obama has called his head speechwriter a mind-reader. And at age 27, his prose is being acclaimed worldwide
By Mike Dorning



WASHINGTON — The new president's first address to Congress loomed and Barack Obama had convened a few trusted advisers in the Oval Office.

Seated in a chair beside the fireplace, Obama turned his attention to a 27-year-old with close-cropped hair among the aides perched on the office couch. His instructions were familiar.

"You and I always tell a story pretty well. I still want to make sure we do that here," Obama said, according to one participant.

Behind a president defined more by his oratory than any political figure in a generation is chief speechwriter Jon Favreau, whose work with Obama began soon after the Illinois senator arrived in Washington four years ago and who knows the president's ideas and rhythms so well that Obama has called him a mind-reader.

Throughout the grueling, nearly two-year-long presidential campaign, Favreau lived a life of constant deadlines and caffeine-fueled nights, carrying Obama's 1995 autobiography, "Dreams From My Father," and committing to memory the 2004 Democratic convention speech that introduced Obama to the country. He now works one floor below the president, in a basement office in the West Wing.

Favreau, or "Favs" to his friends and co-workers, is the second-youngest person ever to work as chief White House speechwriter. Only James Fallows was younger—by a mere two months—when he started as Jimmy Carter's top speechwriter.

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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-favreau-speechwritermar08,0,5016893.story?xid=rss-page

[Catch22Dem]

1. Is he Obama's Sam Seaborn?

:D I'm kidding. What's his actual title? Sam was Deputy Communications Director, right?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. So money, baby.

[Clio the Leo]

3. ha ha, if I had Favreau working for me, I'd claim he was a mind reader too!

"Oh yeah, that great line in my last speech? The one that had everyone on their feet? Yeah! I SO was gonna say that, John just beat me to it!" :)