Oral history interview with Jonathan K. Carson, 2021
Abstract
Jon Carson reflects on his contribution to the political career of Barack Obama, which he supported in various roles on the Obama 2008 presidential campaign, and to the domestic policy of the Obama administration, in which he served as chief of staff of the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) from 2009 to 2011 and deputy assistant to the president and director of the Office of Public Engagement (OPE) from 2011 to 2013. Carson outlines the development and organization of the Obama 2008 campaign apparatus, and describes the Camp Obama programs for the training of field organizers, the importance of new media and digital technologies to the campaign's strategy, and the campaign's strategic prioritization of states in the Democratic primary contest. Carson served as the campaign liaison to the personnel committee for the Bush-Obama presidential transition team, and recounts his efforts to place campaign staff in government positions. He also discusses the structure and function of CEQ, its role in coordinating the activities of numerous federal agencies on environmental issues, the balance between healthcare and environmental policy in the administration's first-term legislative priorities, the failure of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (Waxman-Markey), and the designation of lands and waters for conservation under the Antiquities Act. Carson provides a rich description of OPE's status as a convener of non-governmental advocacy organizations, and reflects on the administration's engagement with LGBTQ-rights groups, Occupy Wall Street, and the regional offices of federal agencies. Also discussed are the administration's response to the Deepwater Horizon disaster, OPE's Champions of Change program, and the relationship between CEQ and the Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy
Presidential campaigns--United States; Presidents--United States; Gay rights--United States; BP Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill, 2010; Presidents--Transition periods--United States; Carson, Jonathan; Obama, Barack; Council on Environmental Quality (U.S.); Occupy Wall Street (Movement); United States; Antiquities Act of 1906
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2021
Physical Description
130 pages
Note (Biographical)
Jonathan Carson served in various roles in President Obama's administration, including as director of the Office of Public Engagement and as the chief of staff at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Prior to joining the administration, h e was the national field director for President Obama's 2008 campaign and worked on the Obama transition team. Carson has worked on many political campaigns over his career, including Tammy Duckworth's 2006 general election campaign in Illinois' 6th congressional district and Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign
Note
Interviewed by Michael Falco on January 27 and February 17, 2021. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History.
Note (Provenance)
Jonathan K. Carson, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2022