doi:10.7916/32bx-0n84Oral history interview with Cody Keenan, 2020Keenan, Codyoral historiesmixed materialPresidents--United StatesEnergy policy--United StatesClimatic changes--Government policy--United StatesSpeechwritersSandy Hook Elementary School Massacre, Newtown, Conn., 2012Charleston Church Shooting, Charleston, S.C., 2015Mass shootings--United StatesRace relations--United StatesPolice brutality--United StatesKeenan, CodyObama, BarackGiffords, Gabrielle D. (Gabrielle Dee), 1970- Assassination attemptsUnited StatesEconomic Stimulus Act of 2008Cody Keenan discusses his service as a speechwriter during the presidency of Barack Obama. Keenan outlines the process by which presidential speeches were developed and drafted, and provides details about the composition of several notable speeches with which he was closely involved, including State of the Union addresses, Obama's 2015 speech in Selma, Alabama, and eulogies after the shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, Tucson, Arizona, and Charleston, South Carolina. Keenan describes the administration's communications strategy around major policy initiatives, such as the economic stimulus, healthcare reform, and climate and energy policy, and reflects on the difficulties of translating technical or complex policies into memorable stories and accessible language. Also discussed are differences between speechwriting on domestic and foreign topics, changes in communications strategy after the 2012 reelection campaign, the administration's messaging around Republican opposition, and the challenge of speechwriting on issues of race and police violence