Hannah August discusses her career as a communications officer during the Obama administration, including at the Department of Justice, in the White House’s Regional Communications Office, and as the press secretary to First Lady Michelle Obama from 2011 to 2014. August outlines the communications strategy of the first lady’s communications office, and provides details about initiatives including L et’s Move! August also recounts the decisions behind Michelle Obama’s television appearances and site visits, and sheds light on the personal stress associated with work in the White House
Press secretaries--United States; Presidents--Staff.--United States; August, Hannah; Obama, Barack; Obama, Michelle, 1964-; Let's Move! (Campaign : U.S.); United States. Department of Justice
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2020
Physical Description
54 pages
Note (Biographical)
Hannah August served in the Obama administration as the regional communications director from 2010 to 2011, and then press secretary to First Lady Michelle Obama from 2011 to 2014. Before joining the White House, August worked as the press assistant f or Senator Bob Menendez, as well spokesperson for the Department of Justice, in which she handled the press communications in certain cases such as BP oil spill and the department's lawsuit against the state of Arizona related to immigration law
Note
Interviewed by Mary Marshall Clark on July 10, 2020. This interview is part of Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Hannah August, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2022