Current Position: Press Secretary for First Lady Michelle Obama (since January 2009)
Credit: Billy Farrell/
PatrickMcMullan.com
Why She Matters
In nearly two years as spokeswoman for the 2008 presidential campaign, Lelyveld was the public voice for Michelle Obama as she evolved from media novice to media darling.
As Michelle Obama’s press secretary, Lelyveld will be the first lady’s primary connection to the press and the American public. She’ll work with communications director Camille Johnston to shape the public image of the woman expected to be a new kind of first lady.
Expectations are sky high as Obama becomes the first African-American woman to become first lady. An Ivy League-educated lawyer, hospital vice president and mother of two, her fans hope Obama will redefine that role for a generation that grew up seeing women in positions of power. As the New York Times wrote, “Many voters view first families as symbols of the nation, and Mrs. Obama is selling a package that for large numbers of Americans poses a real change.”
During the 2008 campaign, Lelyveld helped Obama recover from some memorable gaffes, and their resulting attacks from her husband’s rivals. Since Barack Obama’s election, Lelyveld has been parrying questions about the Obamas restaurant preferences and parenting choices, but she’ll soon have to be the public voice promoting the first lady’s agenda. Many are curious to see what that agenda will encompass. “This is a First Lady like none before,” The Times of London wrote.
At a Glance
Current Position: Press secretary for First Lady Michelle Obama (since January 2009)
Career History: Communications director for Michelle Obama, Obama-Biden campaign (May 2007-November 2008); deputy communications director, Kerry-Edwards campaign (2004)
Birthday: N/A
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Alma Mater: Georgetown University, B.A. (psychology and English), 2001
Religion: N/A
Party: party affiliation...
Committees: committees...
DC Office: N/A
Email N/A
Website N/A
Path to Power
Lelyveld was born and raised in Chicago, where she graduated from St. Ignatius high school. She moved the Washington, D.C., to attend Georgetown University, graduating in 2001 with a B.A. in psychology and English.
Lelyveld’s first experience with a first lady was in college. During her time at Georgetown she spent two years as a White House intern, working for then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.
After graduating, she became an associate at The Harbour Group, a boutique Capitol-Hill based public relations firm that was established in 2001.
She joined Sen. John F. Kerry’s (D-Mass.) 2004 presidential campaign, working as deputy communications director under Stephanie Cutter, who was Michelle Obama’s campaign chief of staff.
After Kerry’s loss, Lelyveld went to Edelman Public Relations in Washington, D.C, and then the Glover Park Group, a communications strategy and government affairs firm.
In March 2007, she signed on to the Obama campaign as Michelle Obama’s communications director. An early addition to the Obama campaign, Lelyveld helped steer Obama through some rough early encounters with the press. "I think she's constantly surprised at what people chose to make news," Lelyveld, told BlackAmericaWeb.com.
In all, Lelyveld spent 20 months on the Obama campaign and was an integral part of the team. The day after Obama’s election, Lelyveld talked to The Washington Post about the mood at Obama headquarters. "People were putting their memories together," she said. "There were just a lot of hugs everywhere."
The Issues
Michelle Obama
According to the Obama transition team, Lelyveld will be helping to craft an image of Michelle Obama as “a committed mother, established professional, concerned citizen and modern woman.”
Michelle Obama’s high-profile role in her husband’s campaign has the media wondering how this modern woman will be involved in her husband’s presidency. Will she take on a single platform that is separate from but supportive of her husband’s policies, as Laura Bush did with her literacy campaigns? Or will she be directly involved in policy-making, as Hillary Rodham Clinton did when tasked with reforming health care? Most Obama-watchers guess the truth will fall somewhere in between, and Lelyveld will be a part of crafting that image and selling it to the public.
Obama has avoided tipping her hand regarding what her portfolio will be as first lady. Obama’s first priority will be as a wife and mother, Lelyveld told NBC News, then “really assessing what the country needs” and “rising to the occasion.” Lelyveld told NBC that Obama would not “interfere with her husband’s policies.”
Campaign Controversies
Early in the 2008 campaign, Michelle Obama caused a minor media tempest when she said at a February 2008 rally, "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country and not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change."
Obama took heat from conservative media, but Lelyveld was there to clarify: “In the context of her remarks, her point is clear — of course Michelle is proud of her country,” Lelyveld told the Washington Times. “What she meant is that she’s really proud at this moment because for the first time in a long time, thousands of Americans who’ve never participated in politics before are coming out in record numbers to build a grassroots movement for change.”
In the wake of the criticism over her statements, the first lady’s campaign reorganized, launching a charm offensive that the New York Times said “may be the most closely managed spousal rollout in presidential campaign history.” Michelle Obama appeared on chatty television shows from The View to The Tonight Show to discuss her role as wife, mother and potential first lady.
Lelyveld refused to label the media blitz as an “image makeover,” Britain’s Independent reported. Lelyveld told the Independent the staff was simply "putting a strategy together to help people get to know her".
Transition
During the Obamas transition to the White House, Lelyveld was the one answering questions about the Obamas move from Chicago to Washington, D.C. When the Obamas chose the private school Sidwell Friends for their daughters, Malia and Sasha, Lelyveld fielded questions about the first family’s faith in America’s public schools.
"In the end, the Obamas selected the school that was the best fit for what their daughters need right now," Lelyveld said. She told NBC News that Michelle Obama attended Chicago public schools and “understands the importance of strong public schools.”
Lelyveld said the Obama administration will “work hard” to improve the public school system.
The Network
As press secretary for Michelle Obama, Lelyveld will report to communications director Camille Johnston.
Lelyveld is engaged to Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for Barack Obama.
Lelyveld’s father, Steven Lelyveld, is a pediatrician in the University of Chicago Medical Center system, where Michelle Obama and Obama friend Eric Whitaker have been vice presidents.
Campaign Contributions
In November 2007, Lelyveld gave $375 to Barack Obama.
