Oral history interview with Christopher R. Hughes, 2021
Abstract
Christopher Hughes gives a biographical account leading up to his time at Harvard working on Facebook, and then joining the Obama campaign to oversee mybarackobama.com. He gives insight into the goals and concerns in Obama's campaign and into the reaction of those who worked for Obama towards the stock market crash, especially the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, as well as the general mood of the Ob ama administration as they strived to improve the economy. Hughes reflects on his own encounters with Obama and offers his perception of him, as well as of the campaign's efforts in Iowa and transitioning from a campaign to win the Democratic nomination to a national campaign. He also offers some insight into his buying and administration of The New Republic, and how he started the Economic Security Project that he currently co-chairs
Christopher Hughes joined President Obama's campaign in 2007 as part of the new media department in charge of social media and internal organizing. He oversaw the creation and expansion of mybarackobama.com and helped transition that site to Organizin g for America after the campaign. Before joining the Obama campaign, Hughes co-founded Facebook while he was a student at Harvard, working there full-time after he graduated. From 2012 to 2016, he was the publisher and editor-in-chief of The New Republic. He is currently the co-chair of the Economic Security Project and author of the book Fair Shot: Rethinking Inequality and How We Earn
Note
Interviewed by Nicole R. Hemmer on November 16, 2021. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Christopher R. Hughes, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2022