Wikipedia

Jon Favreau (speechwriter)

Jonathan Edward Favreau[1] (/ˈfævroʊ/; born June 2, 1981)[2] is an American political commentator, podcaster, and the former director of speechwriting for President Barack Obama.[3][4][5] He co-founded Crooked Media in 2017 with fellow former Obama staffers Tommy Vietor and Jon Lovett. Favreau co-hosts the media company's flagship political podcast Pod Save America with Vietor, Lovett, and Dan Pfeiffer.[6]

Jon Favreau
Favreau in 2024
White House Director of Speechwriting
In office
January 20, 2009 – March 1, 2013
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byMarc Thiessen
Succeeded byCody Keenan
Personal details
BornJonathan Edward Favreau
(1981-06-02) June 2, 1981 (age 44)
Winchester, Massachusetts, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
Spouse
Emily Favreau
​
(m. 2017)​
Children2
EducationCollege of the Holy Cross (BA)

Early life and education

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Favreau was born at Winchester Hospital and raised in nearby North Reading, Massachusetts,[2][7] the son of Lillian (née DeMarkis), a schoolteacher, and Mark Favreau. His father is of French Canadian descent and his mother is of Greek descent.[8][9] His grandfather, Robert Favreau, was a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives and described by Favreau as a "New England Republican."[10][11] Favreau graduated as valedictorian from the College of the Holy Cross in 2003,[12][13] where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science.[14]

While at Holy Cross, he was treasurer and debate committee chairman for the College Democrats and interned as a press intern for John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign.[12]

Political career

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Kerry campaign

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Favreau joined Senator John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign after graduation from the College of the Holy Cross.[3] Following Kerry's defeat, Favreau became dispirited with politics, and was uncertain if he would do such work again.[13] Favreau first met Obama (then an Illinois State Senator running for the U.S. Senate), while still working for Kerry, backstage at the 2004 Democratic National Convention as Obama was rehearsing his keynote address[15]

Obama campaign

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President Barack Obama meets with Favreau, in the Oval Office, to review a speech on April 14, 2009.
Obama works with Favreau on the President's Normandy speech aboard Air Force One en route to Paris on June 5, 2009.
Obama talks with Favreau, David Plouffe, and Jon Lovett on February 6, 2011.

Obama communications aide Robert Gibbs, who had worked for Kerry's campaign, recommended Favreau to Obama as an excellent writer, and in 2005 he began working for Barack Obama in his U.S. Senate office before joining his presidential campaign as chief speechwriter in 2006.[16] His interview with Obama was on the Senator's first day. Favreau described this his approach to Obama as, "A speech can broaden the circle of people who care about this stuff. How do you say to the average person that's been hurting: 'I hear you, I'm there?' Even though you've been so disappointed and cynical about politics in the past, and with good reason, we can move in the right direction. Just give me a chance."[17]

Favreau led a speechwriting team for the campaign that included Ben Rhodes and Cody Keenan.[15]

He has likened his position to "Ted Williams's batting coach", because of Obama's celebrated abilities as a speaker and writer. Obama senior adviser David Axelrod said of Favreau, "Barack trusts him... And Barack doesn't trust too many folks with that—the notion of surrendering that much authority over his own words."[15] In Obama's own words, Favreau was his "mind reader".[18]

Favreau has said that the speeches of Robert F. Kennedy and Michael Gerson have influenced his work,[19] and has expressed admiration for Peggy Noonan's speechwriting, citing a talk given by Ronald Reagan at Pointe du Hoc as his favorite Noonan speech. Gerson also admires Favreau's work, and sought him out at an Obama New Hampshire campaign rally to speak with the younger speechwriter.[20]

Favreau was the primary writer of Obama's inauguration address of January 2009.[18]

White House Director of Speechwriting (2009–2013)

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When President Obama assumed office in 2009, Favreau was appointed Assistant to the President and Director of Speechwriting.[3] He became the second-youngest chief White House speechwriter on record, after James Fallows.[16] His salary was $172,200 a year.[21]

Favreau has said his work with Obama will be his final job in the realm of politics, saying, "Anything else would be anticlimactic."[22] In regard to his post-political future, he said, "Maybe I'll write a screenplay, or maybe a fiction book based loosely on what all of this was like. You had a bunch of kids working on this campaign together, and it was such a mix of the serious and momentous and just the silly ways that we are. For people in my generation, it was an unbelievable way to grow up."[17]

After the White House

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In March 2013, Favreau left the White House, along with Tommy Vietor, to pursue a career in private sector consulting and screenwriting.[23][19] Together, they founded the communications firm Fenway Strategies. From 2013 to 2016, Favreau wrote sporadically for the Daily Beast.[24] In 2016, after the November presidential election was won by Donald Trump, Favreau, Vietor and Jon Lovett founded the progressive commentary outlet Crooked Media.[25][26] Favreau co-hosts Crooked's premier political podcast Pod Save America with Dan Pfeiffer, Vietor and Lovett. In the wake of the new Republican healthcare bill, the AHCA, he coined the term "Wealthcare".

He currently serves on the Board of Advisors of Let America Vote, a voting rights organization founded by fellow Crooked Media host Jason Kander.[27]

Accolades

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Favreau was named one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World" by Time magazine in 2009.[28] In the same year he was ranked 33rd in the GQ "50 Most Powerful in D.C." and featured in the Vanity Fair "Next Establishment" list.[29][30] Favreau was one of several Obama administration members in the 2009 "World's Most Beautiful People" issue of People magazine.[31] On May 23, 2014, Favreau was awarded an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree by his alma mater, Holy Cross, where he also gave the commencement address.[32] As executive producer for the podcast This Land, and was nominated for a 2021 Peabody Award. As host of Pod Save America, Favreau has won several Webby Awards.[33]

Personal life

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He is the older brother of Andy Favreau, a professional TV and movie actor.[34] On June 17, 2017, Favreau married Emily Black (now Favreau), daughter of federal Judge Timothy Black, at her family's vacation home in Biddeford Pool, Maine.[35] Their son, Charlie, was born in August 2020.[36][37] Jon and his wife had their second son, Teddy, in December 2023.[38]

Favreau is Catholic.[39]

References

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  1. ↑ Caywood, Thomas (January 27, 2008). "Mass. gift to Obama; HC valedictorian Favreau is top speechwriter". The Free Library. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Parker, Ashley (December 5, 2008). "The New Team – Jonathan Favreau". The New York Times. Retrieved June 3, 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 "President-Elect Barack Obama names two new White House staff members". The Office of the President-Elect. Archived from the original on November 26, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
  4. ↑ d'Ancona, Matthew (December 6, 2012). "Jon Favreau has the world's best job". GQ. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  5. ↑ Jaffe, Greg (July 24, 2016). "Washington Post: Which Obama speech is one for the history books?". Concord Monitor. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  6. ↑ Rutenberg, Jim (March 20, 2017). "Opposition and a Shave: Former Obama Aides Counter Trump". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  7. ↑ Jon Favreau [@jonfavs] (December 28, 2017). "Born in Winchester hospital, grew up in NR" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ↑ Marchese, John (December 28, 2009). "Obama's Ghost – Jon Favreau – Obama's Speechwriter". Boston Magazine. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Jon Favreau vs. Jon Favreau: Your Guide to Distinguishing the Obama Speechwriter from the Hollywood Filmmaker".
  10. ↑ "Obama speechwriter has deep New Hampshire roots". New Hampshire Union Leader. January 24, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  11. ↑ Johnson, Eric (November 12, 2016). "Full transcript: 'Keepin' It 1600' co-host Jon Favreau on Recode Media". Vox. Retrieved May 18, 2019. My grandfather was a Republican state rep in New Hampshire way back in the day.
  12. 1 2 Kittredge, Dan (March 28, 2003). "Favreau named valedictorian". The Holy Cross Crusader. Archived from the original on January 30, 2009. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
  13. 1 2 Wolffe, Richard (January 6, 2008). "In His Candidate's Voice". Newsweek. Archived from the original on June 7, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
  14. ↑ Walsh, Kenneth T. (February 23, 2009). "Jon Favreau: Obama's Mind Reader Prepares for Congressional Address". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
  15. 1 2 3 Parker, Ashley (January 20, 2008). "What Would Obama Say?". The New York Times. Retrieved January 25, 2009.
  16. 1 2 Fallows, James (December 18, 2008). "I am shocked to see a factual error in today's Washington Post!". The Atlantic. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
  17. 1 2 Saslow, Eli (December 18, 2008). "Helping to Write History". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 2, 2009.
  18. 1 2 Pilkington, Ed (January 20, 2009). "Obama inauguration: Words of history ... crafted by 27-year-old in Starbucks". The Guardian. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
  19. 1 2 Walker, Tim (February 6, 2013). "Jon Favreau: From White House to silver screen". The Independent. Archived from the original on June 14, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  20. ↑ Warren, Mark (December 3, 2008). "What Obama's 27-Year-Old Speechwriter Learned From George W. Bush". Esquire. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
  21. ↑ "2010 Annual Report to Congress on White House Staff". The Obama White House. Retrieved September 23, 2010 – via National Archives.
  22. ↑ Philp, Catherine (January 19, 2009). "Profile: Barack Obama's speechwriter Jon Favreau". The Times. London. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
  23. ↑ Jan, Tracy (March 3, 2013). "Leaving West Wing to pursue Hollywood dream". Boston Globe. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Jon Favreau profile". The Daily Beast. April 22, 2016.
  25. ↑ Jarvey, Natalie (January 15, 2021). "After the Resistance, What's Next for the Crooked Media Podcasting Empire?". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  26. ↑ Kilkenny, Katie (August 9, 2024). "After Walkout, Crooked Media Union Reaches Tentative Deal With 'Pod Save America' Company". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Advisors". Let America Vote. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  28. ↑ "The 2009 TIME 100 – Scientists & Thinkers: Jon Favreau". Time. April 30, 2009. Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  29. ↑ Draper, Robert; Naddaf, Raha; Goldstein, Sarah; Hylton, Wil S.; Kirby, Mark; Veis, Greg; Newmyer, Tory (October 12, 2009). "The 50 Most Powerful in D.C." GQ. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  30. ↑ Pressman, Matt; Bitici, Val; Gaffney, Adrienne (October 8, 2009). "The Next Establishment 2009". Vanity Fair. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  31. ↑ "100 Most Beautiful: Barack's Beauties". People. May 11, 2009. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  32. ↑ "2014 Commencement Address - Jon Favreau". College of the Holy Cross. Archived from the original on May 27, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  33. ↑ "NEW Webby Gallery + Index". NEW Webby Gallery + Index. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  34. ↑ Davis, Noah (December 1, 2017). "Actor Andy Favreau on His Way-Famous Brother and New Show with Mindy Kaling". Best Life. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  35. ↑ Price Olsen, Anna (July 4, 2017). "Jon Favreau's Summer Wedding in Maine". Brides. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  36. ↑ Emily Favreau [@ebfavs]; (March 14, 2020). "Social distancing for FOUR in our house! Baby boy Favs coming August 2020! 💙". Retrieved November 7, 2022 – via Instagram.
  37. ↑ Jon Favreau [@jonfavs] (July 24, 2020). "Few Notes" (Tweet). Retrieved November 7, 2022 – via Twitter.
  38. ↑ Pod Save America (August 17, 2023). Jen Psaki Reacts to Donald Trump's New Indictment and Ron DeSantis' Debate Strategy. YouTube.
  39. ↑ @jonfavs (March 30, 2024). "Tweet text here" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
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