Oral history interview with Katherine "Katie" Beirne Fallon, 2023
Abstract
Katie Fallon recounts her experiences within the Obama administration as the deputy communications director from 2013 to 2014 and as White House legislative affairs director from 2014 to 2016. Fallon focuses on her role as deputy communications director, describes her mandate to reset the narrative about Obama's economic record, and outlines activities including her creation of a communications net work, a daily tip sheet, and a talkers list of influencers in Washington. Fallon discusses her move to legislative affairs, and provides details about Obama's desire to reset his relationship with Congress and increase outreach to congressional Republicans. Reflecting on her earlier work for Senator Chuck Schumer as deputy staff director for the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, Fallon outlines her role in the development of the Democratic Policy and Communications Center within the committee. Also discussed are Fallon's background in finance and work at Lehman Brothers, the 2013 government shutdown, the launch of healthcare.gov, the removal of a public insurance option from the Affordable Care Act, and the negotiations between Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi over the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
Presidents--United States; Communication policy--United States; Government spending policy--United States; Fallon, Katherine; Obama, Barack; United States. Congress; United States. White House Office; United States; Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2023
Physical Description
66 pages
Note (Biographical)
Katie Fallon joined the Obama administration in 2013 as deputy communications director, and was later named White House director of legislative affairs, a position she held until 2016. Before joining the administration, Fallon was a longtime aide to S enator Chuck Schumer of New York, and staff director of the Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Center. In 2022, she joined Fidelity Investments as executive vice president of corporate affairs
Note
Interviewed by Nicole R. Hemmer on May 12, 2021, and by Liz H. Strong on July 14, 2023. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Katherine "Katie" Beirne Fallon, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2023