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-{{ovation.company}}Elections, Speeches, & Politics
Renowned presidential speechwriter and New York Times bestselling author CODY KEENAN breaks down the buzz behind today’s election. As a sought-after expert on politics and messaging, Keenan interprets the meaning behind the words with unparalleled humor and insights.
Author Talk: ‘Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America’
Based on his New York Times bestselling debut memoir Grace, renowned speechwriter CODY KEENAN shares his dynamic account of the ten most dramatic days of Obama’s presidency. Keenan – whose collaborations with Obama on have been compared to the works of Abraham Lincoln – had a front-row seat to the key moments in Obama’s White House, and offers a stunning account of this key moment in history.
Idealism and Impatience: Reasons for Hope in Today’s Political Landscape
Drawing on his eleven years as a speechwriter for President Barack Obama, CODY KEENAN sheds light on the often disheartening nature of contemporary politics, and the importance of staying engaged in our democracy and optimistic about the possibility for change. A candid and compelling talk chock-full of personal anecdotes about his own rise through the White House ranks, Keenan discusses what happens when youthful idealism and inspiration go up against the hard reality of a cynical and divisive politics - and why those values are, in fact, more important than ever before.
Cut Through the Noise: Building an Effective and Authentic Communications Strategy
Described as the “Springsteen” of President Obama’s White House, and nicknamed “Hemingway” by Obama himself, CODY KEENAN served as White House Director of Speechwriting during moments of challenge and change, helping President Obama craft remarks on every topic for every audience. In this actionable and illuminating talk, Keenan share his lessons on narrative and powerful, authentic storytelling. Whether your intended audience is employees, customers and clients, or the world at large, Keenan breaks down how to build an effective communications strategy and hone a message that resonates.
The Crisis Timeline
Every organization will face a crisis at some point. In this presentation, you’ll learn how to manage the mess and protect your reputation - but you’ll also learn how to alter the timeline and prevent a crisis in the first place. President Obama’s chief speechwriter, CODY KEENAN, takes the audience through three types of crises his team handled in the White House, then reveals the tricks of their “Pre-Crisis” unit that averted many more.
Cody Keenan’s message inspires voters
Renowned presidential speechwriter, messaging expert, and New York Times bestselling author CODY KEENAN is outspoken in his conviction that even in a time of polarization and cynicism, a good story can rally people to a cause bigger than themselves. In a convocation address to 15,000 students at Northwestern, Keenan told graduates, “I’ve come back from the future to tell you to chill… Worry less about what you want to be, and more what you want to do. That way, even if you never fully realize your ambitions, you’ll still have done a little good work along the way that makes other peoples’ lives better, that gives some meaning to yours.” Keenan continues to weigh in on political speeches through popular national news outlets, looking back on past administrations to provide context for prominent pundit predictions. This election cycle, Keenan is a critical voice helping audiences form a deeper understanding of the messaging surrounding political news today.
Cody Keenan has been a speechwriter for President Barack Obama for nearly a decade, rising from a campaign intern in Chicago to Director of Speechwriting at the White House. Through times of challenge and change, Keenan has helped President Obama craft remarks on every topic for every audience – from tiny backyards in Iowa to the biggest stadiums in the country; from sermons on the National Mall to the State of the Union Address. Over eight years in the White House, their collaborations were compared to the works of Abraham Lincoln, described as the “‘I Have a Dream’ speech for the 21st Century,” and categorized even by prominent Republicans as “speeches that every child should read in school.”
Together, their efforts resulted in some of the most unforgettable addresses of our time. From Tucson to Newtown to Charleston, Keenan helped President Obama fill his role as Consoler-in-Chief. From commencement addresses to Selma to Obama’s Farewell Address, they redefined the essence of the American creed and charted an inspiring, optimistic course for a new generation’s active citizenship. In 2017, Obama asked Keenan to continue their partnership, and today, Keenan serves as Obama’s collaborator on his upcoming book, and as his post-presidential speechwriter.
Educated at Northwestern University and Harvard University, Keenan’s passion for public service was sharpened as a young aide to the legendary Senator Edward M. Kennedy. In 2014, Northwestern honored Keenan with its “Emerging Leader Award,” presented to a top alumnus under age 35. In 2015, Keenan’s commencement address at New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service was highlighted by the New York Times and the Washington Post as one of the year’s best. And in 2017, CNN’s critically-acclaimed documentary “The End” highlighted Keenan as one of the central characters in the final days of the Obama White House.
Cody Keenan has been described as the “Springsteen” of Obama’s White House, and his wife shares his surprise that he was named by British GQ as one of the “35 Coolest Men Under 38 (And a Half).” In January 2017, after thirty-six years of hopeful waiting, Keenan finally got the chance to write his dream speech – one in which President Obama welcomed the World Champion Chicago Cubs to the White House.
With an intimate look into the unique lessons he learned at the White House, Cody Keenan helps future leaders in any field imagine and reach their full potential.