Jocelyn Frye discusses her work in the East Wing of the Obama White House, in which she served as deputy assistant to the president and director of policy and projects for the first lady from 2009 to 2013. She recounts her upbringing, education, and career in public interest law, and describes the process by which she came to serve as policy director to Michelle Obama. Frye outlines the structure a nd organization of the East Wing, and speaks widely about Michelle Obama's approach to the role of first lady. She recounts the definition of the first lady's priority policy areas, which included health and wellness, childhood nutrition and childhood obesity, work-family balance, and military spouses and military families, and shares stories of the first lady's visits to schools and organizations, connections with young people, and mentoring initiatives with girls in the Washington, D.C. area. Frye also describes the coordination between East Wing staff and the White House Domestic Policy Council, collaborations with federal agencies in relation to the Let's Move! and Joining Forces initiatives, and the East Wing's engagement with businesses and organizations outside of government. Also discussed are the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, the Obamas' style of leadership, and Michelle Obama's focus on policy actions that could deliver lasting, long-term change
Presidents--United States; Obesity in children--United States; Families of military personnel--United States; Frye, Jocelyn; Obama, Barack; Obama, Michelle, 1964-; Domestic Policy Council (U.S.); Let's Move! (Campaign : U.S.); United States; Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2021
Physical Description
88 pages
Note (Biographical)
Jocelyn Frye is a lawyer, public servant, and advocate for women's rights. Frye served as deputy assistant to the president and director of policy and projects for the first lady from 2009 to 2013. At the time of the interview, Frye was president of t he National Partnership for Women & Families
Note
Interviewed by Mary Marshall Clark on January 12 and October 19, 2021. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Jocelyn C. Frye, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2023