Cody Keenan ('02) is a communications expert who formerly served as the White House director of speechwriting. He is also the New York Times bestselling author of Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America.

Join us as Cody shares stories from his time at the White House and beyond, and learn how he tries to manage the chaos of life - from the highest levels of power to the everyday.

Keenan wrote with President Barack Obama for nearly 14 years, rising from a campaign intern in Chicago to director of speechwriting at the White House and Obama's post-presidential collaborator.

Dubbed the "Springsteen" of the Obama White House, Keenan was referred to by Obama himself as his "Hemingway." Keenan was also recognized by British GQ as one of the "35 Coolest Men under 38 (and a Half)." Cody got his start in public service as a young aide to legendary senator Edward M. Kennedy. Today, he's a partner at the speechwriting firm Fenway and teaches a course on speechwriting in the political science department at Northwestern. Grace, which was Cody's first book and published in October 2022, instantly became a New York Times bestseller.

Individual Students and Student Groups: Students may reserve time to meet with Cody Keenan between 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. To schedule a time, email Bruce Ankenman at ankenman@northwestern.edu, and include the words "Meet with Cody Keenan" in your subject line.