Friendship Born at Harvard Goes on to White House

[babylonsister]

Friendship Born at Harvard Goes on to White House

Stephen Crowley/The New York Times

Jocelyn Frye, who has been a friend of Michelle Obama since law school, has become Mrs. Obama’s policy and projects director.

By RACHEL L. SWARNS
Published: March 9, 2009


WASHINGTON — At Harvard Law School, they supported student demands for more professors of color, savored countless episodes of “The Cosby Show” and “L.A. Law,” and dreamed about how two idealistic black women might make their mark. Their legal careers took them to separate cities, but they never lost touch.

Jocelyn Frye became a passionate proponent of affirmative action and workplace equity and an advocate for women and families in Washington. Michelle Obama became a community organizer and a hospital executive committed to eliminating health care barriers for the poor in Chicago.

Two decades later, the old friends are back together, this time in the White House. Ms. Frye is now the first lady’s policy and projects director, helping Mrs. Obama develop a policy platform and a presence in this city.

Mrs. Obama, of course, dominates the spotlight. But Ms. Frye has emerged as an influential, behind-the-scenes adviser, helping to hone Mrs. Obama’s emerging policy agenda even as she also counsels the president on some domestic policy matters. (Ms. Frye, who also works for President Obama’s domestic policy team, was granted a waiver to work for the administration despite rules that ban the employment of lobbyists.)

An advocate steeped in contentious workplace issues might not seem like a natural choice for a first lady who is trying to steer clear of controversy. Ms. Frye’s supporters and adversaries, though, describe her as pointed, but soft-spoken; passionate, but rarely partisan, with a knack for defusing the rancor around hot-button issues.

She is married to a Republican political consultant, Brian Summers, who campaigned for former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas in the Republican presidential primary race. (“We don’t talk much about politics,” said Ms. Frye, who is 45 and a Democrat. “Nothing good could come of it.”)

And she and Mrs. Obama share a passion for policies that affect women and families, and an easy camaraderie born of many late-night, heart-to-heart talks at Harvard. In law school, “they could almost finish each other sentences,” said Charles J. Ogletree Jr., a Harvard law professor and mentor to Ms. Frye and Mrs. Obama.

“You’ll see Michelle Obama’s face on the issues,” Professor Ogletree said, “but you better believe that the commitment behind it also comes from Jocelyn Frye by her side.”

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/10/us/politics/10frye.html?ref=us

[Cha]

1. This is an amazing story

of how good fate works, sometimes!

"She is married to a Republican political consultant, Brian Summers, who campaigned for former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas in the Republican presidential primary race. (“We don’t talk much about politics,” said Ms. Frye, who is 45 and a Democrat. “Nothing good could come of it.”)"

That's gotta be weird for Jocelyn Frye since politics is her livelihood.

[babylonsister]

2. Yes, I love these human interest stories. And Michelle must be a

very loyal friend, which is so nice.

I can't imagine NOT talking to my husband about politics, though he's often not interested. He says he's voted, so he's done his part. :)