Podcasts about grace president obama

This interview was actually most recently broadcast a week ago, on November 22nd. Cody Keenan served for a time as head speech writer for former president Barack Obama. In this interview, he discusses his remarkable book "Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America."

Anton reflects on the 15th anniversary of President Barack Obama's historic election, revisiting the hope and promise encapsulated in his electrifying victory speech. Joining him is Cody Keenan, who served as the Director of Speechwriting for President Barack Obama.Cody Keenan is an NYT Bestselling Author of "Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America."

This week Andrew talks with former Chief White House Speechwriter Cody Keenan. Cody went from a campaign intern in Chicago to President Barack Obama's chief speechwriter at the White House. Post-presidency, the two continued to collaborate and today Cody is a sought after expert on politics, communication, & current affairs. Cody is also the author of the instant New York Times bestseller "Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America." In this conversation, Cody shares what it's like to get feedback on your work from Barack Obama — and how to “manage up” when your boss is the President of the United States. You'll also hear powerful lessons on how to grow your career, navigate times of crisis, communicate ideas that stand the test of time, & more. This episode is a rare, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to work alongside a U.S. President and shape the ideas & moments forever cemented in our history books. Show Highlights:(0:00) - Intro(2:47) - Cody's childhood(3:49) - Reading as a kid(7:15) - Interning for Senator Ted Kennedy(9:31) - Powerful early career feedback(13:49) - “I'll always be a career staffer”(14:48) - Getting into speechwriting(16:27) - Joining Obama campaign(16:48) - Preparing to be Obama's speechwriter(17:52) - Meeting President Obama for the first time(20:16) - Planning for Presidential speeches(21:52) - Getting edits from President Obama (23:10) - “For him it was like sheet music”(26:18) - Managing up to the President(29:05) - Life lessons from President Obama(30:53) - Communication lessons from jazz music(32:46) - Cody's bestselling book(38:50) - Chicago Cubs White House visit** Follow Andrew On Social Media **Twitter: @andrewhmosesInstagram: @AndrewMoses123Sign up for e-mails to keep up with Andrew's podcast at everybodypullsthetarp.com/newsletter

I read Barack Obama's memoir A Promised Land when it first came out in November of 2020. That time was filled with rampant polarization, multiple quaratines, alternative realities, an insurrection, and politics that was so messy it was near impossible to find any hope and see America as this Promised Land that Obama wrote about.  Thinking about the American Project is quite difficult in today's contested landscape. Zooming out to find moments that define the beauties of American Democracy, amidst the onslaught of political punditry, and a seemingly catatonic congress, is a constant struggle. But sometimes the key is to look for moments of GRACE, within the chaos; little signs that reaffirm that America is indeed A Promised Land.  Cody Keenan's new book does just that. Cody was a Speechwriter in the Obama White House, and joined the campaign in 2007. He was later promoted to Director of Speechwriting, and held the position through the end of Obama's second term. Cody is now working as a Partner at Fenway Strategies, a speechwriting and communications firm, and also teaches at Northwestern University.  His book GRACE: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America, which is out in paperback today, details 10 days in 2015 that give us a vivid picture of America: the wonderful highs, the horrific lows, and all the beautiful strangeness in between. The ten days begin with a racist massacre on June 17th at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, which led to 9 dead, including the church's pastor.  The central question in the book is whether or not Barack Obama should speak at the Pastor's Funeral.  However the ten days also included decisions from the Supreme Court, which decided the fates of Marriage Equality and the Affordable Care Act. Everything changed in the White House when a few days after the shooting, the families of the victims, decided to forgive the killer in open court, which was broadcast on live TV. These ten days tested the strength of the American Project, and Keenan's book explores the ways in which they found grace amidst the chaos and the ways in which we can continue to find grace in politics.  Our conversation started with Keenan's beginnings in politics, working in the mailroom for Senator Ted Kennedy. But we jump between the past and the present, the events of the book and issues still plaguing us today such as gun control and climate change, in an attempt to find moments of Grace in our politics today and reaffirm America as The Promised Land that it can be.  Cody's Website Recommendations Surrender by Bono The Bear The Diplomat

A truly great speech can change the world. We all know Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s “I Have A Dream.” As we reflect on King's legacy, MPR News is revisiting a conversation about a memorable speech from 2015. In June 2015, President Barack Obama sang Amazing Grace during a eulogy for a Black reverend killed in a horrific hate crime. Last fall, MPR News host Angela Davis spoke with President Obama's chief speechwriter Cody Keenan about that moment.    Guest:   Cody Keenan was the Senior Advisor and Director of Speechwriting for former President Barack Obama. He is the author of the new book “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America” Here are five key moments from the conversation. The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity. Click the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. Why write about those memories now? Cody Keenan: There are two answers to that. The first is I was still working for President Obama until last year, so I didn't feel right to write a book that was largely about him while I was on his payroll. The second is I think the book it's timeless and to be honest, it's it was the Trump years that actually solidified the book in my mind. When we were living through those 10 days in the White House, it became clear in retrospect, that we were living through the opposite of grace. I first thought up the idea for the book in 2017 and I just let it marinate for a while until it crystallized, and I was ready to sit down and write it. Obama was into it. He's still working on the second volume of his memoirs, which will cover these 10 days. So he said, “just don't take all my good stuff.” To give him a draft of any speech is frightening enough, to give him a draft of my book was completely terrifying. But I also knew he's competitive, so I knew he'd want to read something about himself and he read it pretty quickly and responded with some very nice words and just one edit to the entire book that made it better. Could you share the story about writing a State of the Union address for Barack Obama? Cody Keenan: running the State of the Union address is something every young speechwriter dreams of doing until you actually do it. We would always sit down every year and say we're going to do it differently but you just don't quite get there. So I sent him my draft eight days early. Everything was in there. I was really proud of it. He said: “it's great in that, we're in the best shape we've ever been in a week out, but we still have a week, so we can make it better. The entire speech is at a 10, but I need some quiet moments, some emotional moments. “You ever listened to Miles Davis?”, he said. “The thing about Miles Davis is the notes he doesn't play. It's the silence. So tonight, I want you to go home, don't do any work, pour yourself a drink and listen to some Miles Davis. And then come back here tomorrow and find me some silences.” The centerpiece of that State of the Union address was a young woman from Minneapolis named Rebeka, who had written a letter to the president in 2014. It was about her life, her family's life and what they've been through since the great recession. We wrote the speech around Rebecca's letter, and the President spent a good 10 minutes in the speech, telling her story and tying it to specific policies that would help, and it was just beautiful. Tell us the story about writing the eulogy for the Reverend Clementa Pinckney Cody Keenan: That was one of the more difficult ones we had. There was a lot of drama that week about whether or not Obama would give the eulogy at all. He didn't want to, and I didn't want to write it. It was actually because we had done 14 eulogies after mass shootings. It was the families and what they did by forgiving the killer that made him give the eulogy. Watching those families was extraordinarily both painful and hopeful, and I really struggled through writing it. We had a pretty heated debate in the Oval Office about whether or not to do it. And when he finally agreed to do it, he told me: “Talk about guns, talk about race, talk about the Confederate flag, and wrap it all up in grace.” I had written the phrase “Amazing Grace” in the eulogy and then he added the lyrics and built the entire second half of the speech, which is more of a sermon than a eulogy around the lyrics to Amazing Grace. So, right after he spoke in the Rose Garden on Friday morning, we boarded the helicopter five minutes later to go to Andrews Air Force Base. He was still working on the eulogy, and he handed it back to me. When we landed, he stood up and said: “you know if it feels right, I might sing it.” And that hadn't even occurred to me. What do you think Barack Obama wanted to communicate by singing? Cody Keenan: It's this leap of faith that he took to expose himself in that way. I wouldn't know that this was an AME church service. It just happened to be in an arena at a eulogy. And he knew that they would be there to join him and sing and you could hear how the whole band jumped. It was just a remarkable moment. How often does the entire country see a Black church service with a Black president adopting a preacher's cadence tying together American exceptionalism and progressive theory? As soon as I saw him take the stage and saw everybody there, I just knew he was gonna sing. There was no question. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S58k3ZXRJJc Credit: MNSBC Tell us about your perspective on American politics There's the story of America as a story of progress and backlash to that progress. And one of the reasons I wrote this book was that those 10 days were just this extraordinary burst of progress. The progress belonged to people who had marched and organized for decades for universal health care, marriage equality, for all these things. Progress is fragile, it takes a long, time and it's very easy to undo. It's much easier to destroy than it is to build. We're living through one of those times of backlash. The country is still changing rapidly, I think for the better, but a lot of people don't share that sentiment. The thesis of this book I took from President Obama's speech in Selma in 2015, on the 50th anniversary of the marches from Selma to Montgomery, and it says: “Selma was not a clash of armies, but a clash of wills”, and I just apply that to our politics. Are we a country that stands up for our founding ideals and tries to make them real in our time? I think it'd be better to finally live up to our obligations to be a truly multiracial, multi-everything democracy. Your questions Listeners called into the show and asked some questions. Here is a couple of them. What was your experience, particularly about race? — Amy from Roseville Cody Keenan: To write on race I wanted to make sure that whatever draft I gave him, did right by him, I didn't want to make a fool of myself. You know, even as a white progressive, you can think you're on the right side of every issue, but you haven't necessarily lived the same life as your audience. There are limits to empathy. I'll never know what it's like to be a Black man in America. And for all the things that Barack Obama and I have in common: we're from different parts of Chicago that are just a few miles away, but worlds apart. Fortunately, even though I was the chief speechwriter, he was our chief speechwriter. I would sit down with him on the front end and prod him with questions, trying to understand what he wants to say and why. But the reason these were more difficult is that you knew that audiences wanted to hear certain things from him, and sometimes they would be diametrically opposed to what other audiences wanted to hear. Part of the challenge of writing about race is just we can do our best and we may not get quite there, that was all him. As you wrote for the President, did you hear in your mind the president speaking notes words? — Pat from Duluth Cody Keenan: My first two years as a speechwriter for him as a junior speechwriter. I didn't meet him until we were in the Oval Office. You only get inside someone's head and understand their voice after working with them one on one closely, and it took me some to understand him and hear him in my head. And yes, when I would write, I could hear him in my head, I could hear his cadence. I teach speech writing now at Northwestern University, and I tell my students to read it out loud because that's the whole point of it. A speech is meant to be delivered, you will hear in your head, and the President was good at this. He would practice on the day of a big speech and he'd say: “that sentence needs one more syllable or one less syllable.” It gets to the point where, once you're past the big picture edits, you're working it into sheet music.

In his new book Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America, speech writer Cody Keenan gives readers an intimate portrayal of life inside the White House during some of the most critical moments in American history. In this episode, he talks to Sorcha Pollak about those ten years spent working alongside one of the most important and recognised people on earth, the long days and nights spent crafting the former US president's statements and the pressure, self-doubt and ultimate sense of accomplishment of holding “the best and the worst job in the West Wing”. This episode was originally published in November 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you have reading resolutions for the new year? Whether you want to focus your efforts on reading outside your comfort zone or simply want to read more, check out these suggestions from librarians Katie, Meagan and Sarah. They also talk about book discovery resources and what they're looking forward to reading next. Titles mentioned in this episode include: Empire of Pain and Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe; Rust Belt Femme by Raechel Anne Jolie; Olga Dies Dreaming by by Xochitl Gonzalez; The World Record Book of Racist Stories and You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin; The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas; My First Popsicle, edited by Zosia Mamet; The Song of the Cell and The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee; The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty; Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America by Cody Keenan; A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny; and Now Is Not the Time to Panic, The Family Fang and Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson. Also mentioned: Archive of Our Own Check out books and movies at countycat.mcfls.org, wplc.overdrive.com and hoopladigital.com. For more about WAPL, visit westallislibrary.org. Music: Tim Moor via Pixabay

Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America by Cody Keenan From Barack Obama's chief speechwriter Cody Keenan, a spellbinding account of the ten most dramatic days of the presidency, when a hate-fueled massacre and looming Supreme Court decisions put the character of our country on the line, and a president's words […] The post Chris Voss Podcast – Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America by Cody Keenan appeared first on Chris Voss Official Website.

Hard NOC Life will eventually go on hiatus. However, Britney and Keith couldn't avoid talking about THR's bombshell report that James Gunn and Peter Safran might be blowing up the current DC Universe after all. Later, Keith is joined by President Obama's former chief speechwriter, Cody Keenan, about his new White House memoir, Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America. Cody talks about his time in the White House and his love for Superman -- including the commonalities his favorite superhero shares with his former boss. He also shares his thoughts on the current state of the DC Universe and what his ideal Superman movie would be. Watch Keith's interview with Cody Keenan in its entirety on our YouTube channel. https://youtu.be/uQWEQBSJV2s This episode is also sponsored by Goli. Use the code HARDNOC to get 10% off and Free Shipping on your order at https://go.goli.com/hardnoc All this and more on Hard NOC Life! Watch it on your screen, hit "play," and check this. Subscribe to all of the podcasts in the Hard NOC Media family on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and now on Stitcher Radio! Support us on GoFundMe and Patreon! Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! As always, our official theme music is brought to you by the super team of Adam WarRock and Chops.

Cody Keegan played a huge, but perhaps invisible, role in the Obama administration. As the president's chief speechwriter, it was his job to ensure that the so-called Leader of the Free World could articulate just the right sentiment during moments of crisis. Sean was joined by Cody Keegan, author of ‘Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America'...

Cody Keegan played a huge, but perhaps invisible, role in the Obama administration. As the president's chief speechwriter, it was his job to ensure that the so-called Leader of the Free World could articulate just the right sentiment during moments of crisis. Sean was joined by Cody Keegan, author of ‘Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America'...

In this edition of What's at Stake, Penta Senior Director Rebeca Buck and Managing Director Michael LaRosa sit down with Cody Keenan, former Director of Speechwriting for President Obama and author of "Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America." Cody speaks about his experiences in the Obama White House during some of the administration's most pivotal days. Ten days in particular saw several historic moments unfold, including the shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, and landmark Supreme Court decisions on marriage equality and the Affordable Care Act. Cody draws connections from President Obama's style to those of President Biden and others. Cody also shares advice for aspiring speechwriters and political operatives. How do you keep it together when the leader of the free world is your boss? And what was it like to write some of President Obama's most memorable speeches? Tune in to find out.Check out Cody Keenan's new book here.Read more about Cody here.

When a young Illinois state senator named Barack Obama addressed the 2004 Democratic Convention, he vaulted onto the national stage through the power and grace of his words. In that speech, he challenged Americans to have “the audacity of hope.” President Obama went on to become one of the greatest political orators of our time.Obama has had a silent partner in crafting his oratory. In 2006, a novice speechwriter named Cody Keenan joined his team. Keenan wrote alongside Obama for 14 years, rising to become the chief White House speech writer. He continued collaborating with Obama, spending four years helping the former president write his memoir, “A Promised Land.” Keenan now runs a speechwriting and communications firm and teaches a popular undergraduate course on speechwriting at Northwestern University, his alma mater.Obama's silent partner is now telling his story. Cody Keenan has a new book, “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America.” The book focuses on a fraught period in 2015 during which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on marriage equality and the Affordable Care Act, and a white supremacist murdered nine people in a church in Charleston, South Carolina. Obama delivered the eulogy at the church following the massacre, famously singing Amazing Grace.The power of Obama's oratory, Keenan said, is his ability to reach “into the American people and just talking to folks where they are. That's something too many politicians don't do.”Keenan described writing for Obama as “f-ing terrifying.” “I was never nervous being around the most powerful man in the world,” he said. “I was nervous being around a damn good writer, especially when it's your job to write for him when he is on record saying I'm a better speechwriter than my speechwriters.”Obama's presidency ended with another famous presidential speech, President Donald Trump's inaugural “American Carnage” address, which laid out a dark vision of crime and white grievance. “What a way to set the tone for the next four years, not only just with a president who kind of picked at our wounds until they reopened, but then a pandemic that was mismanaged to the point where it killed more than a million Americans,” Keenan said.“President's words matter,” Keenan continued. “If you ever need evidence of that, President Trump's probably your best evidence because his words unleashed something primal … and created a permission structure for political violence — to the point where sitting elected officials are advocating for it. It opened up the floodgates to something like Jan. 6. You had people marching with torches in Charlottesville with their hoods off. All this stuff is only possible because of the president's words.”

Imagine being the speech writer for the most powerful person in the world. That was Cody Keenan's job. He was the chief speech writer for former President Barack Obama during some of the most pivotal times in modern American history. Keenan looks back on those days in his new book, “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America.” It takes readers behind the scenes of the Obama administration during ten days in June 2015, after a horrific shooting at a Black church in Charleston, South Carolina. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Keenan about his new book. Guest:   Cody Keenan was the Senior Advisor and Director of Speechwriting for former President Barack Obama. He is the author of the new book “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America”

In his new book Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America, speech writer Cody Keenan gives readers an intimate portrayal of life inside the White House during some of the most critical moments in American history. In this episode, he talks to Sorcha Pollak about those ten years spent working alongside one of the most important and recognised people on earth, the long days and nights spent crafting the former US president's statements and the pressure, self-doubt and ultimate sense of accomplishment of holding “the best and the worst job in the West Wing”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Few people probably remember that in 2015, the Supreme Court's decisions on same sex marriage and the Affordable Care Act, as well as the racist shooting rampage that killed nine African Americans at a Charleston church all happened within 10 days. Cody Keenan remembers. He was former President Barack Obama's chief speechwriter, which meant he had to craft the right words for Obama to deliver. In his new book, “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America,” Keenan details his struggle to write speeches about those events and outlines how he collaborated with the country's first Black president.  Remember, Election Day is tomorrow. Find your polling place or nearest drop box. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest, Cody Keenan, had a front row seat to history, serving as President Barack Obama's Chief White House speechwriter and post-presidential collaborator.  Cody has written about the experience in the New York Times bestseller, "Grace:  President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America".   It's a fascinating account of what he considers to be the ten most dramatic days of the Obama presidency.  His website is codykeenan.com     Thanks to our sponsors of this episode!: Our sponsor, Blissy, sells 100% Mulberry silk pillowcases, sleep masks and other products to help you get a great night's sleep!  Silk is what's best for your hair and skin. It reduces frizz, tangles and prevents breakage. You'll love the way your skin looks and the way your hair feels after sleeping on a Blissy pillowcase.  Blissy's pillowcases regulate temperature keeping you cool at night.  They're hypoallergenic, machine-washable and durable.  They're available in many different prints and colors and make great gifts because there's an option for everyone, even kids. With the holidays just around the corner, why not give the gift of better sleep? Blissy products come in gift-ready packaging!  Sleep better with Blissy and use code NOBODY to get an additional 30% off at blissy.com/NOBODY     Our sponsor, Ritual's Essential Protein, is a delicious, plant-based protein powder with three distinct formulas designed to meet the body's changing protein needs during different life stages.  There's Daily Shake 18+, Daily Shake 50+ and Daily Shake Pregnancy and Postpartum. Each of these three thoughtful formulas contains 20 grams of pea protein per serving. Ritual's Essential Protein powder is a good foundation for your health that's easy to incorporate into your daily rituals—just add water, shake and sip! Ritual offers a super flexible subscription service with free shipping for subscribers, free, easy cancellation and a money-back guarantee within the trial period. Ready to shake up your protein Ritual? Our Nobody Told Me! listeners get 10% off during your first 3 months at ritual.com/NTM.

What is it like to be the mouthpiece for the President of the United States? You or I may have found ourselves stressed about writing an essay or sending a letter, but imagine having to craft sentences that the entire nation — and much of the world — will hear. Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America is the latest release by Cody Keenan, Barack Obama's chief speechwriter. The book features an account of what were arguably the ten most dramatic days of the presidency: the Charleston church massacre, the fate of marriage equality, the outcome of the controversial Affordable Care Act, to name a few. In response to these events, Keenan composed a series of speeches in rapid succession to contend with these and other challenges — all while facing additional pressures to consistently please the POTUS with his writing. Grace explores not only the political, but the personal as it paints an intimate picture of White House insiders like Valerie Jarrett, Ben Rhodes, Jen Psaki, as well as the speechwriting team who worked together during this historic stretch during the Obama administration. The writing takes readers behind the scenes, revealing personal details and retracing the rhetorical tightrope walked by the first Black president, culminating with the unforgettable and unprecedented: President Obama's stunning act as he took a deep breath and led the country in a chorus of Amazing Grace. This event will be a testament to the power of words: how they help shape the character of our country, and how they are capable of bringing a nation together — or tearing it apart. Born and raised in Chicago, Cody Keenan rose from a campaign intern in his hometown to become chief speechwriter at the White House and Barack Obama's post-presidential collaborator. A sought-after expert on politics, messaging, and current affairs, he is now a partner at leading speechwriting firm Fenway Strategies and teaches a popular course on political speechwriting to undergraduates at his alma mater Northwestern University. Cody lives in New York City with his wife Kristen and their baby daughter Grace. Marcus Harrison Green is the publisher of the South Seattle Emerald and a columnist with The Seattle Times. Growing up in South Seattle, he experienced first-hand the impact of one-dimensional stories on marginalized communities, which taught him the value of authentic narratives. After an unfulfilling stint in the investment world during his twenties, Marcus returned to his community with a newfound purpose of telling stories with nuance and complexity with the hope of advancing social change. This led him to become a writer and found the South Seattle Emerald. Marcus was the Northwest African American Museum's inaugural James Baldwin Circle Fellow in 2022, honored by the King County Library System Foundation as a Literary Lion, and awarded the Seattle Human Rights Commissions' Individual Human Rights Leader Award for 2020. Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America (Hardcover) Third Place Books

Words matter. Coming from the highest office, they have the power to bring the nation together or tear it apart. Andy speaks with Barack Obama's chief speechwriter Cody Keenan about some of the most high-stakes speeches Obama gave during his presidency, from the aftermath of a white supremacist shooting to the fate of marriage equality, and why his message of redemption resonated so strongly with the American people. Cody also reacts to the pendulum swing that brought us Trump's hateful language and Biden's propensity for unscripted remarks. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt. Follow Cody Keenan on Twitter @codykeenan. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.    Support the show by checking out our sponsors! CVS Health helps people navigate the healthcare system and their personal healthcare by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. At CVS Health, healthier happens together. Learn more at cvshealth.com. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: https://lemonadamedia.com/sponsors/    Check out these resources from today's episode:  Order Cody's book, “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America”: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/grace-cody-keenan?variant=39970831597602 Find vaccines, masks, testing, treatments, and other resources in your community: https://www.covid.gov/ Order Andy's book, “Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response”: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770165  Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.  For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com/show/inthebubble.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  Join Michael in his discussion with Cody Keenan as they discuss his book, Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America.  The book recounts the most remarkable eulogy delivered by President Obama in Charleston, South Carolina after the hate crime murders of Reverend Pickney and eight parishioners in the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Guest Cody Keenan Cody Keenan rose from a campaign intern in Chicago and deputy pirate to become chief speechwriter at the White House and Barack Obama's post-presidential collaborator. He's been named the “Springsteen” of the Obama White House, even though he can't play an instrument, and Obama calls him “Hemingway” for reasons that have little to do with his talent or seasonal beard (ask him sometime). Even British GQ once named Cody one of the “35 Coolest Men under 38 (and a Half),” ahead of Ryan Gosling, but behind Tom Hardy. n truth, Cody is more comfortable behind the scenes, helping to shape the stories of our time. He got his start as a young aide to the legendary senator Edward M. Kennedy before earning a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. A sought-after expert on politics, messaging, and current affairs, he is now a partner at leading speechwriting firm Fenway Strategies and teaches a popular course on political speechwriting to undergraduates at his alma mater Northwestern University.  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. To his wife Kristen's enduring embarrassment, their White House courtship was documented on CNN. Today, they live in New York City with their daughter, Grace. Host Michael Zeldin Michael Zeldin is a well-known and highly-regarded TV and radio analyst/commentator. He has covered many high-profile matters, including the Clinton impeachment proceedings, the Gore v. Bush court challenges, Special Counsel Robert Muller's investigation of interference in the 2016 presidential election, and the Trump impeachment proceedings. In 2019, Michael was a Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School, where he taught a study group on Independent Investigations of Presidents. Previously, Michael was a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice. He also served as Deputy Independent/ Independent Counsel, investigating allegations of tampering with presidential candidate Bill Clinton's passport files, and as Deputy Chief Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives, Foreign Affairs Committee, October Surprise Task Force, investigating the handling of the American hostage situation in Iran. Michael is a prolific writer and has published Op-ed pieces for CNN.com, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Hill, The Washington Times, and The Washington Post. Follow Michael on Twitter: @michaelzeldin Subscribe to the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/that-said-with-michael-zeldin/id1548483720

Former Barack Obama speechwriter Cody Keenan joins Richard to discuss the ten crucial days that marked Obama's presidency and how he played a part in telling the story of America in his new book, Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America (https://www.harpercollins.com/products/grace-cody-keenan?variant=39970831597602).

  Join Michael in his discussion with Cody Keenan as they discuss his book, Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America.  The book recounts the most remarkable eulogy delivered by President Obama in Charleston, South Carolina after the hate crime murders of Reverend Pickney and eight parishioners in the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Guest Cody Keenan Cody Keenan rose from a campaign intern in Chicago and deputy pirate to become chief speechwriter at the White House and Barack Obama's post-presidential collaborator. He's been named the “Springsteen” of the Obama White House, even though he can't play an instrument, and Obama calls him “Hemingway” for reasons that have little to do with his talent or seasonal beard (ask him sometime). Even British GQ once named Cody one of the “35 Coolest Men under 38 (and a Half),” ahead of Ryan Gosling, but behind Tom Hardy. n truth, Cody is more comfortable behind the scenes, helping to shape the stories of our time. He got his start as a young aide to the legendary senator Edward M. Kennedy before earning a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. A sought-after expert on politics, messaging, and current affairs, he is now a partner at leading speechwriting firm Fenway Strategies and teaches a popular course on political speechwriting to undergraduates at his alma mater Northwestern University.  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. To his wife Kristen's enduring embarrassment, their White House courtship was documented on CNN. Today, they live in New York City with their daughter, Grace. Host Michael Zeldin Michael Zeldin is a well-known and highly-regarded TV and radio analyst/commentator. He has covered many high-profile matters, including the Clinton impeachment proceedings, the Gore v. Bush court challenges, Special Counsel Robert Muller's investigation of interference in the 2016 presidential election, and the Trump impeachment proceedings. In 2019, Michael was a Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School, where he taught a study group on Independent Investigations of Presidents. Previously, Michael was a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice. He also served as Deputy Independent/ Independent Counsel, investigating allegations of tampering with presidential candidate Bill Clinton's passport files, and as Deputy Chief Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives, Foreign Affairs Committee, October Surprise Task Force, investigating the handling of the American hostage situation in Iran. Michael is a prolific writer and has published Op-ed pieces for CNN.com, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Hill, The Washington Times, and The Washington Post. Follow Michael on Twitter: @michaelzeldin Subscribe to the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/that-said-with-michael-zeldin/id1548483720

President Barack Obama delivered over 450 speeches during his tenure, but one of his most famous was entirely unscripted. Back in 2015, as the country mourned the victims of Charleston church shooting, the president spontaneously began to sing. And for longtime staff speechwriter Cody Keenan, Obama's famous “Amazing Grace” speech epitomized the power of oration to guide Americans in times of immense national crisis.    This week, Keenan joins Ray to discuss his new book, “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America.” In it, he pulls back the curtain on the presidential writers' room, and how the administration strove to bring a country together.    Guest:   Cody Keenan, partner at Fenway Strategies and former White House Director of Speechwriting   Host:  Ray Suarez   If you appreciate this episode and want to support the work we do, please consider making a donation to World Affairs. We cannot do this work without your help. Thank you.

Stephen welcomes former White House speechwriter Cody Keenan for a chat about his time writing for President Obama, and learns the “dirty little secret” of how he earned his nickname. Cody's new book, “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America,” is available now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In high school, Cody Keenan wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon. But a challenging college chemistry course led him to pursue a degree in political science instead. He got his start working in the mailroom for Sen. Ted Kennedy, eventually becoming chief speech writer for President Barack Obama. Cody joined David to talk about the challenges of speech writing, battling imposter syndrome, the joys and frustrations of working in politics, and a whirlwind 10 days chronicled in his new book, “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America.”To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

In this special bonus episode of Northwestern Intersections, join us for an account from Barack Obama's chief speechwriter, Cody Keenan '02, of the 10 most dramatic days of the presidency, when a hate-fueled massacre and looming Supreme Court decisions put the character of the US on the line and a president's words could bring the nation together or tear it apart. Authored by Keenan, GRACE is an intimate writing on the rhetorical tightrope America's first Black president had to walk, culminating with an unforgettable high point: Obama stunning everybody by taking a deep breath and leading the country in a chorus of “Amazing Grace.”

ABOUT CODY KEENAN AND GRACEGRACE: PRESIDENT OBAMA AND TEN DAYS IN THE BATTLE FOR AMERICA (Mariner Books, October 4, 2022) is the riveting story of the most exhilarating and emotional stretch of the Obama presidency, told by the man Obama calls his "Hemingway," his longtime collaborator and chief speechwriter, Cody Keenan.GRACE is a spellbinding account of the ten most dramatic days of the Obama presidency, when a hate-fueled massacre and looming Supreme Court decisions (the right to health care for working families and the right for same-sex couples to marry) put the character of our country on the line. Cody Keenan takes the readers deep inside the White House to offer the most intimate glimpse into process, procrastination, and crafting speeches at the highest level with Barack Obama, including:· What happens inside the West Wing after a mass shooting, from someone who's written more eulogies after such tragedies than anyone else on the planet· Heated Oval Office debates over how and whether to speak that week at all· A late-night writing session in the First Family's private residence· Obama's innermost thoughts on race and his use that week of the one word you can't say· And the moment on Marine One when Obama decided to take a leap of faith in a soaring sermon and surprise everybody by leading the country in a chorus of "Amazing Grace."In the rarest of White House memoirs, Keenan masterfully narrates the propulsive story of those ten days and offers an intimate look at where we've been and where we can go on our American journey toward progress and hope.ABOUT CODY KEENANCody Keenan rose from a campaign intern in Chicago to become chief speechwriter at the White House and Barack Obama's post-presidential collaborator. A sought-after expert on politics, messaging, and current affairs, he is a partner at leading speechwriting firm Fenway Strategies and teaches a popular course on political speechwriting at his alma mater Northwestern University. He lives in New York City with his wife Kristen and their daughter Gracie.Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Grace-President-Obama-Battle-America/dp/0358651891

Cody Keenan, President Obama's chief speechwriter, talks about Barack Obama as a leader, how we can engage our kids in the political process so they'll feel empowered, and how to write a great speech. Cody's new book is Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America.

Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America by Cody Keenan From Barack Obama's chief speechwriter Cody Keenan, a spellbinding account of the ten most dramatic days of the presidency, when a hate-fueled massacre and looming Supreme Court decisions put the character of our country on the line, and a president's words could bring the nation together or tear it apart. A white supremacist shooting and an astonishing act of forgiveness. A national reckoning with race and the Confederate flag. The fate of marriage equality and the Affordable Care Act. GRACE is the propulsive story of ten days in June 2015, when Obama and his chief speechwriter Cody Keenan composed a series of high-stakes speeches to meet a succession of stunning developments. Through behind-the-scenes moments—from Obama's suggestion that Keenan pour a drink, listen to some Miles Davis, and “find the silences,” to the president's late-night writing sessions in the First Family's residence—Keenan takes us inside the craft of speechwriting at the highest level for the most demanding of bosses, the relentlessly poetic and perfectionist Barack Obama. GRACE also delivers a fascinating portrait of White House insiders like Ben Rhodes, Valerie Jarrett, Jen Psaki, and the speechwriting team responsible for pulling it all off during a furious, historic stretch of the Obama presidency—including a gifted fact-checker who took Keenan's rhetoric to task before taking his hand in marriage. GRACE is the most intimate writing that exists on the rhetorical tightrope our first Black president had to walk, culminating with an unforgettable high point: Obama stunning everybody by taking a deep breath and leading the country in a chorus of “Amazing Grace.”

This week on the podcast, Angela welcomes Cody Keenan, author of Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America. This book is a special one for Angela and Sugar23, as we are publishing this book in partnership with Mariner at HarperCollins. Cody spent years as President Obama's speechwriter, a position he held during some of the greatest moments and darkest days of Obama's presidency. Angie and Cody talk about meeting Obama for the first time, writing speeches for the first Black president, falling in love with a fact checker (his now wife), and how to free yourself when you're stuck as a writer (tip: read Baldwin or listen to Taylor Swift). Grace is available at the link above or wherever you get your books. Next week on the podcast: Laura Warrell, author of Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The president of the United States stood at the podium, faced members of a Black church who had just lost nine parishioners in a racist attack, and offered comfort, not only with words, but with silence. After twelve seconds, Barack Obama sang the hymn that had been a comfort in moments of crisis for generations. Amazing Grace.In his new book, "Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America," former White House Chief Speechwriter Cody Keenan recounts how he and the president collaborated on writing what would become the 44th president's most memorable speech. He describes how he worked with Obama to "find the silences," and how he spent several long days crafting the eulogy for Clementa Pinckney, Cynthia Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lance, Depayne Middleton-Doctor, Tywanza Sanders, Daniel Simmons, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton and Myra Thompson.Cody is also filled with nuggets about what it was like to work closely with the president, and has numerous insights into how his mind worked. My favorite question: what were the two souvenirs he took from the White House after working there for eight years? (Hint: they weren't physical objects!) And wait until you hear how the speech lives on in the life of his family... Keenan's website can be found at https://codykeenan.comHe is on social media at https://twitter.com/codykeenanMore information about his book, "Grace," can be found at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/grace-cody-keenan?variant=39970831597602Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy** "Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at https://twitter.com/axelbankhistory https://instagram.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

Adam's guest today is the Former Director of Speechwriting for President Barack Obama, Cody Keenan! Adam and Cody discuss Cody's new book, "Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America", key points during and after the most consequential ten days of a presidency, what it takes to be a speechwriter for a president, and what Miles Davis taught him about finding the quiet moments. Pick up Cody's book by clicking here, and follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Special thanks to The Dugout - customized and vintage apparel. Use promo code FOUNDATION at checkout and receive 15% off of your entire order! Don't forget to follow them on Instagram. Special thanks to 10th Ward Barbershop - Proudly serving the historic 10th Ward in Lawrenceville and surrounding areas, 10th Ward Barbershop is a full service barbershop offering quality haircuts, beard trims, and hot shaves. Schedule your appointment with "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt and Corey Graves' favorite barbershop today! Find the show online here, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter. Follow Adam on Twitter here, and on Instagram here. Advertising requests can be sent to adam@foundationradio.net. Hosted and produced by Adam Barnard Executive Producers: Adam Barnard and Sam Krepps Engineer: Carl Pannell Special Thanks: Greg Mead, Joe Keane, Geoff Quinn, Dr. Ruth Almy Intro Music: "Ugly" by Dumb Ugly Outro Music: "Rug Burn" by Dumb Ugly Musical Accompaniment: Enrichment --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/foundationradio/support

This week on the podcast, Angela welcomes Cody Keenan, author of Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America. This book is a special one for Angela and Sugar23, as we are publishing this book in partnership with Mariner at HarperCollins. Cody spent years as President Obama's speechwriter, a position he held during some of the greatest moments and darkest days of Obama's presidency. Angie and Cody talk about meeting Obama for the first time, writing speeches for the first Black president, falling in love with a fact checker (his now wife), and how to free yourself when you're stuck as a writer (tip: read Baldwin or listen to Taylor Swift). Grace is available at the link above or wherever you get your books. Next week on the podcast: Laura Warrell, author of Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cody Keenan rose from a campaign intern in his hometown to become the chief speechwriter at the White House and Barack Obama's post-presidential collaborator- and he is here to share his experiences with Jess and Jess. In particular and of most interest in this conversation are the ten days in June of 2015, following the mass murder of nine Black worshipers in a Charleston, South Carolina by a white supremicist.  In the days that followed, America – and its first Black president – went through a profound reckoning with race and the legacy of the Confederate flag, while the families of the victims perform an extraordinary act of grace. Meanwhile, two consequential Supreme Court decisions loomed that would decide more than the fate of a presidency, but the fate of millions: the right to health care for working families and the right for same-sex couples to marry. In this episode, Cody shares his front seat reflections on what has always meant to craft and collaborate on work with President Obama, and how it has shaped how he sees himself, his work, and his country. A different conversation, but authentic and curious, Jess and Jess are able to reminisce some incredible "Glory Days" with the person who helped pen them. Meet Cody:Born and raised in Chicago, Cody Keenan rose from a campaign intern in hishometown to become chief speechwriter at the White House and Barack Obama'spost-presidential collaborator. A sought-after expert on politics, messaging, andcurrent affairs, he is now a partner at leading speechwriting firm FenwayStrategies and teaches a popular course on political speechwriting toundergraduates at his alma mater Northwestern University. Cody lives in NewYork City with his wife Kristen and their baby daughter Grace.Support the show

Cody Keenan started working in the White House at the age of 28 and rose up to the role of Chief Speechwriter for President Barack Obama. In terms of his chosen profession, he was at the top of the mountain at a very young age. But after eight years, the Obama Presidency ends. What does he do next? After the White House, Cody has accomplished a lot. He has collaborated with Barack Obama on his best-selling, presidential memoir, A Promised Land. He's now completed his own book, Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America, which debuts on October 4, 2022. He has joined Fenway Strategies, a strategic, communications firm that helps write speeches for others. But according to Cody, the most rewarding part of his second act is teaching the next generation of political speechwriters in a small class at his alma mater Northwestern University. “It's the best thing I do. It pays the least but it's the most fun. I get to watch these students grow and improve and get excited about politics and its possibilities." In this episode of Second Act Stories, we go behind the scenes at the White House to learn the story of the eulogy which President Obama and Cody wrote for the funeral of Reverend Clementa Pinckney and eight other congregants at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. During the service, President Obama surprised the congregation by signing Amazing Grace.

In this week's podcast, Phil hesitantly talks about his latest read, THE CASE AGAINST THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION by Louise Perry. Sara discusses Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen which was our book club pick for September. New Releases this week: Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America by Cody Keenan Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese Billie Starr's Book of Sorries by Deborah Kennedy Phil also mentioned this article from The Guardian about Celeste Ng. Snag her newest book, Our Missing Hearts, out this Tuesday! Also, stay tuned for new books by Cormac McCarthy and John Irving this fall! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sara-putman/support

Regular hosts Haitch and Jason are joined by President Obama's chief speechwriter, and the author of Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America and DC comics super fanboy, Cody Keenan. Chapters Introduction (00:00:00) Dune News (00:29:58) Superman III Roundtable Discussion (00:31:14) Your Letters (01:15:32) Notes and Links Cody's Upcoming Book Tour. Cody is embarking on his national tour for his new book Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America where he will have special guests and great discussions. Check out his website here. Check out the Dune Pod Merch Store! Great swag and every order includes a free Cameo style shoutout from Haitch or Jason. Browse our collection now. Read our episode transcripts! Check out our transcripts every week on the Dune Pod Medium page. Join the Dune Pod Discord Server! Hang out with Haitch, Jason, and other friends of the pod. Check out the invite here. Dune Pod is a TAPEDECK Podcasts Jawn! Dune Pod is a member of TAPEDECK Podcasts, alongside: 70mm (a podcast for film lovers), Bat & Spider (low rent horror and exploitation films), The Letterboxd Show (Official Podcast from Letterboxd), Cinenauts (exploring the Criterion Collection), Lost Light (Transformers comics and more), Will Run For (obsessed with running), and Film Hags (a podcast about movies hosted by four hag friends). Check these pods out!. See the movies we've watched and are going to watch on Letterboxd Dune Pod's Breaking Dune News Twitter list Rate and review the podcast to help others discover it, and let us know what you think of the show at letters@dunepod.com or leave us a voicemail at +1-415-534-5211. Dune Pod: your one stop shop to enjoy the new Dune movies by delving into the books, as well as the films directed by Denis Villeneuve and featuring the cast and crew of the new film, as well as just awesome movies that we think you'll enjoy. Follow @dunepod on Twitter and Instagram Music by Tobey Forsman of Whipsong Music Cover art by Haitch Transcripts by Sophie Shin The episode was edited by Megan Hayward of EditAudio and produced by Haitch Dune Pod is a TAPEDECK Podcasts Jawn Dune Pod is a production of Haitch Industries

Cody Keenan talks to NPR's Tamara Keith about writing for Barack Obama, the impact of Donald Trump's rhetoric and whether a president needs to be a compelling speaker to be an effective leader.He's the author of a new book, Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America.This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith.Learn more about upcoming live shows of The NPR Politics Podcast at nprpresents.org.Support the show and unlock sponsor-free listening with a subscription to The NPR Politics Podcast Plus. Learn more at plus.npr.org/politics Connect:Email the show at nprpolitics@npr.orgJoin the NPR Politics Podcast Facebook Group.Subscribe to the NPR Politics Newsletter.

Angie's got a cold, and it's making her think about hot toddys. And the time she sipped some bourbon and talked with with Cody Keenan, President Obama's speech writer and author of Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America. Grace has just arrived in paperback, so it's a perfect time to revisit this conversation. We hope you enjoy it!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Angie's got a cold, and it's making her think about hot toddys. And the time she sipped some bourbon and talked with with Cody Keenan, President Obama's speech writer and author of Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America. Grace has just arrived in paperback, so it's a perfect time to revisit this conversation. We hope you enjoy it!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy