Melissa Winter discusses her service as senior advisor and deputy chief of staff to First Lady Michelle Obama throughout both terms of the Obama presidency. Winter describes joining Michelle Obama's staff during the 2008 Democratic primary, defining Mrs. Obama's role on the campaign trail, building an East Wing staff during the transition, and supporting the First Family during their move from Chic ago to Washington. Winter outlines the evolving relationship between the East and West Wings of the White House, and provides details about the development and implementation of the first lady's major initiatives, including Let's Move!, Reach Higher, Joining Forces, and Let Girls Learn. Winter also discusses the East Wing's use of nontraditional media, racist media coverage of Michelle Obama, foreign travel, attention to the first lady's fashion, the balance between family and public life in the White House, and Michelle Obama's relationship to politics and connections with ordinary people
Presidents--United States; Presidential campaigns--United States; Winter, Melissa; Obama, Barack; Obama, Michelle, 1964-; Let's Move! (Campaign : U.S.); Let Girls Learn (Program); United States. Office of the First Lady Staff
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2020
Physical Description
172 pages
Note (Biographical)
Melissa Winter was Michelle Obama's first campaign hire in 2007, and stayed with her for the next two years of the campaign. After President Barack Obama was inaugurated, Winter became Michelle Obama's deputy chief of staff, and remained in that posit ion throughout both terms of the Obama presidency. Since leaving the White House, Winter continues to serve as Mrs. Obama's personal chief of staff
Note
Interviewed by Mary Marshall Clark on June 23, July 16, and December 7, 2020. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Melissa Winter, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2022