Daniel Pfeiffer

American political advisor and commentator (born 1975)

Dan Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer in 2010
Senior Advisor to the President
In office
January 25, 2013 – March 6, 2015
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byDavid Plouffe
Succeeded byShailagh Murray
White House Communications Director
In office
November 30, 2009 – January 25, 2013
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byAnita Dunn (acting)
Succeeded byJennifer Palmieri
Personal details
Born
Howard Daniel Pfeiffer

(1975-12-24) December 24, 1975 (age 48)
Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
Sarah Feinberg
​
​
(m. 2006; div. 2011)​
Howli Ledbetter
​
(m. 2016)​
Children2
EducationGeorgetown University (BA)

Howard Daniel Pfeiffer[1] (born December 24, 1975) is an American political advisor, author, and podcast host. He was senior advisor to President Barack Obama for strategy and communications from 2013 to 2015.[2]

Pfeiffer was a long-time aide to Obama, serving in various press and communications roles on the Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign, on the presidential transition of Barack Obama, and in the White House Office.[3] He co-hosts Pod Save America, a political podcast, with Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, and Tommy Vietor.[4][5] In 2015, Pfeiffer joined CNN as a political contributor.[6] Pfeiffer has also authored three books.

Early life and education

Pfeiffer was born in Wilmington, Delaware,[7] the son of Vivian Lear (née Strange), a learning specialist, and Gary Malick Pfeiffer, a financial officer for DuPont.[8][9] He graduated from Wilmington Friends School and earned a bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University.[10]

Career

Pfeiffer began his career in politics working as a spokesman for the Community Oriented Policing Services during the Clinton administration. In 2000, he joined the communications team of the Al Gore 2000 presidential campaign.[11]

Following the 2000 United States presidential election, he went to work for the Democratic Governors Association, and later worked for Senators Tim Johnson, Tom Daschle, and Evan Bayh.[12] He served briefly as communications director for the Evan Bayh 2008 presidential campaign.[13]

Obama administration

After the 2008 United States presidential election, Pfeiffer ran the communications office for the Obama–Biden Transition team and was then appointed deputy White House communications director after the first inauguration of Barack Obama. Less than a year later, after the departure of Anita Dunn, Pfeiffer was named White House communications director. He remained in the role for the entire first term of the Obama presidency.[14] At the start of President Obama's second term, Pfeiffer was promoted to senior advisor for strategy and communications, taking over most of the portfolio previously managed in the White House Office by David Axelrod and David Plouffe. He left the White House on March 6, 2015.[15]

Writing

Pfeiffer is the author of a No. 1 New York Times Best Seller, Yes We (Still) Can: Politics in the Age of Obama, Twitter, and Trump (2018). In his first book, Pfeiffer tells the story of "how Barack Obama navigated the insane political forces that created [President] Trump, explaining why everyone got 2016 wrong, and offering a path for where Democrats go from here."[16]

In February 2020, Pfeiffer published his second book, Un-Trumping America: A Plan to Make America a Democracy Again. In it, Pfeiffer outlines how Donald Trump became president because of the current state of American politics, not in spite of it. He also offers a plan for Democrats to win the 2020 United States presidential election and how to prevent the likes of Trump from ever happening again by fixing American democracy.[17]

Pfeiffer's third book, Battling the Big Lie: How Fox, Facebook, and the MAGA Media Are Destroying America was published in June 2022. It explores the role of disinformation in American politics and the impact it had on elections in 2016 and 2020, as well as presents strategies for fighting back against disinformation.[18]

Other work

After leaving the White House, Pfeiffer was vice president for communications and Policy at GoFundMe from December 2015 to September 2017.[19] Pfeiffer is a member of the board of advisors of Let America Vote, a voting rights organization founded by former Crooked Media host Jason Kander.[20]

Personal life

On July 16, 2006, Pfeiffer married Sarah Elizabeth Feinberg, a senior adviser and spokeswoman for Rahm Emanuel.[8] In 2011, Pfeiffer and Feinberg separated, and later divorced.[21]

In 2016, Pfeiffer married Howli Ledbetter, former director of message planning in the White House Office during the Obama administration.[22][23] In May 2018, Ledbetter gave birth to a daughter, Kyla.[24][25] In March 2021, their second child, Jack, was born.[26][27]

Bibliography

  • Pfeiffer, Dan (June 19, 2018). Yes We (Still) Can: Politics in the Age of Obama, Twitter, and Trump. New York: Twelve. p. 304. ISBN 978-1538711712.
  • Pfeiffer, Dan (February 18, 2020). Un-Trumping America: A Plan to Make America a Democracy Again. New York: Twelve. p. 304. ISBN 978-1538733554.
  • Pfeiffer, Dan (June 7, 2022). Battling the Big Lie: How Fox, Facebook, and the MAGA Media Are Destroying America. New York: Twelve. p. 336. ISBN 978-1538707975.

References

  1. ^ "Biography: Howard Daniel Pfeiffer". LegiStorm. Retrieved January 27, 2014. (subscription required)
  2. ^ "Pfeiffer takes over for Dunn". Politico. Retrieved December 3, 2009.
  3. ^ "Obama picks his communications team - CNN.com". www.cnn.com. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  4. ^ Rutenberg, Jim (March 21, 2017). "Opposition and a Shave: Former Obama Aides Counter Trump". The New York Times. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  5. ^ "Pod Save America". Crooked Media. January 9, 2017. Archived from the original on June 27, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  6. ^ Eric Bradner (June 1, 2015). "Dan Pfeiffer joins CNN as contributor". CNN Politics. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  7. ^ Rutenberg, Jim. "Times Topics, People". The New York Times. Retrieved October 24, 2009.
  8. ^ a b "Sarah Feinberg, H. Daniel Pfeiffer". The New York Times. July 16, 2006. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
  9. ^ Who, Marquis Who's (May 1999). Who's who in Finance and Industry. Marquis Who's Who. ISBN 9780837903347. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  10. ^ James, Randy (November 13, 2009). "Dan Pfeiffer: The Next White House Communications Boss". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  11. ^ Bradner, Eric (June 1, 2015). "Dan Pfeiffer joins CNN as contributor". CNN politics. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  12. ^ Hulse, Carl (May 31, 2006). "A Build-a-Protest Approach to Immigration". The New York Times. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
  13. ^ "Former White House Advisor Pfeiffer Talks Politics". September 14, 2015. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  14. ^ "Dan Pfeiffer: The Next White House Communications Boss". Time. November 13, 2009. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  15. ^ "Delaware's Dan Pfeiffer: From White House to podcaster". The News Journal. August 16, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  16. ^ "Yes We (Still) Can". Goodreads. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  17. ^ "Un-Trumping America". Goodreads. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  18. ^ "Battling the Big Lie: How Fox, Facebook, and the MAGA Media Are Destroying America". Goodreads. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  19. ^ "Dan Pfeiffer | LinkedIn".
  20. ^ "Advisors". Let America Vote. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  21. ^ The Reliable Source (December 20, 2011). "Love, etc.: Dan Pfeiffer and Sarah Feinberg separate; Debra Messing; Chaz Bono". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  22. ^ "Former White House aide Dan Pfeiffer engaged to another Obama alum, Howli Ledbetter". The Washington Post. May 18, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  23. ^ "Howli Pfeiffer profile". Wearerally.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  24. ^ Schneider, Lindsay (June 21, 2018). ""Democrats Get so Mad": Pod Save America's Dan Pfeiffer on Maggie Haberman, Robert Mueller, and Who Can Beat Trump in 2020". Vanity Fair.
  25. ^ Cormier, Ryan (June 14, 2018). "Former Obama advisor Dan Pfeiffer, Wilmington native, talks White House adventures in book". Delaware News Journal.
  26. ^ Crooked Media (March 25, 2021). "Joe Biden Vs The Filibuster | Pod Save America". YouTube. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  27. ^ Crooked Media (April 1, 2021). "Planes, Trains and Gaetz | Pod Save America". YouTube. Retrieved April 2, 2021.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by White House Director of Communications
2009–2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Senior Advisor to the President
2013–2015
With: Brian Deese
Valerie Jarrett 		Succeeded by
  • v
  • t
  • e
  • v
  • t
  • e
Office Name Term Office Name Term
Secretary of State John Kerry 2013–2017 Secretary of Treasury Jack Lew 2013–2017
Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter 2015–2017 Attorney General Loretta Lynch 2015–2017
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell 2013–2017 Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack 2009–2017
Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker 2013–2017 Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez 2013–2017
Secretary of Health and
  Human Services		 Sylvia Mathews Burwell 2014–2017 Secretary of Education
Secretary of Transportation		 John King Jr.
Anthony Foxx		 2016–2017
2013–2017
Secretary of Housing and Urban
  Development		 Julian Castro 2014–2017 Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald 2014–2017
Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz 2013–2017 Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson 2013–2017
Vice President Joe Biden 2009–2017 White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough 2013–2017
Director of the Office of Management and
  Budget		 Shaun Donovan 2014–2017 Administrator of the Environmental
  Protection Agency		 Gina McCarthy 2013–2017
Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power 2013–2017 Chair of the Council of Economic
  Advisers		 Jason Furman 2013–2017
Trade Representative Michael Froman 2013–2017 Administrator of the Small Business Administration Maria Contreras-Sweet 2014–2017
Below solid line: Granted Cabinet rank although not automatically part of the Cabinet. See also: Confirmations of Barack Obama's Cabinet
  • v
  • t
  • e
Office Name Term Office Name Term
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel 2009–10 National Security Advisor James L. Jones 2009–10
Pete Rouse 2010–11 Thomas E. Donilon 2010–13
William M. Daley 2011–12 Susan Rice 2013–17
Jack Lew 2012–13 Deputy National Security Advisor Thomas E. Donilon 2009–10
Denis McDonough 2013–17 Denis McDonough 2010–13
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Mona Sutphen 2009–11 Antony Blinken 2013–14
Nancy-Ann DeParle 2011–13 Avril Haines 2015–17
Rob Nabors 2013–15 Dep. National Security Advisor, Homeland Security John O. Brennan 2009–13
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Jim Messina 2009–11 Lisa Monaco 2013–17
Alyssa Mastromonaco 2011–14 Dep. National Security Advisor, Iraq and Afghanistan Douglas Lute† 2009–13
Anita Decker Breckenridge 2014–17 Dep. National Security Advisor, Strategic Comm. Ben Rhodes 2009–17
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Planning Mark B. Childress 2012–14 Dep. National Security Advisor, Chief of Staff Mark Lippert 2009
Kristie Canegallo 2014–17 Denis McDonough 2009–10
Counselor to the President Pete Rouse 2011–13 Brooke D. Anderson 2011–12
John Podesta 2014–15 White House Communications Director Ellen Moran 2009
Senior Advisor to the President David Axelrod 2009–11 Anita Dunn 2009
David Plouffe 2011–13 Daniel Pfeiffer 2009–13
Daniel Pfeiffer 2013–15 Jennifer Palmieri 2013–15
Shailagh Murray 2015–17 Jen Psaki 2015–17
Senior Advisor to the President Pete Rouse 2009–10 Deputy White House Communications Director Jen Psaki 2009–11
Brian Deese 2015–17 Jennifer Palmieri 2011–14
Senior Advisor to the President and Valerie Jarrett 2009–17 Amy Brundage 2014–16
Assistant to the President for Liz Allen 2016–17
Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs 2009–11
Director, Public Engagement Tina Tchen 2009–11 Jay Carney 2011–13
Jon Carson 2011–13 Josh Earnest 2013–17
Paulette L. Aniskoff 2013–17 Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton 2009–11
Director, Intergovernmental Affairs Cecilia Muñoz 2009–12 Josh Earnest 2011–13
David Agnew 2012–14 Eric Schultz 2014–17
Jerry Abramson 2014–17 Director of Special Projects Stephanie Cutter 2010–11
Director, National Economic Council Lawrence Summers 2009–10 Director, Speechwriting Jon Favreau 2009–13
Gene Sperling 2011–14 Cody Keenan 2013–17
Jeff Zients 2014–17 Director, Digital Strategy Macon Phillips 2009–13
Chair, Council of Economic Advisers Christina Romer 2009–10 Chief Digital Officer Jason Goldman 2015–17
Austan Goolsbee 2010–13 Director, Legislative Affairs Phil Schiliro 2009–11
Jason Furman 2013–17 Rob Nabors 2011–13
Chair, Economic Recovery Advisory Board Paul Volcker 2009–11 Katie Beirne Fallon 2013–16
Chair, Council on Jobs and Competitiveness Jeff Immelt 2011–13 Miguel Rodriguez 2016
Director, Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes 2009–12 Amy Rosenbaum 2016–17
Cecilia Muñoz 2012–17 Director, Political Affairs Patrick Gaspard 2009–11
Director, Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Joshua DuBois 2009–13 David Simas 2011–16
Melissa Rogers 2013–17 Director, Presidential Personnel Nancy Hogan 2009–13
Director, Office of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle 2009–11 Johnathan D. McBride 2013–14
Director, Office of National AIDS Policy Jeffrey Crowley 2009–11 Valerie E. Green 2014–15
Grant N. Colfax 2011–13 Rodin A. Mehrbani 2016–17
Douglas M. Brooks 2013–17 White House Staff Secretary Lisa Brown 2009–11
Director, Office of Urban Affairs Adolfo Carrión Jr. 2009–10 Rajesh De 2011–12
Racquel S. Russell 2010–14 Douglas Kramer 2012–13
Roy Austin Jr. 2014–17 Joani Walsh 2014–17
Director, Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy Carol Browner 2009–11 Director, Management and Administration Bradley J. Kiley 2009–11
White House Counsel Greg Craig 2009–10 Katy A. Kale 2011–15
Bob Bauer 2010–11 Maju Varghese 2015–17
Kathryn Ruemmler 2011–14 Director, Scheduling and Advance Alyssa Mastromonaco 2009–11
Neil Eggleston 2014–17 Danielle Crutchfield 2011–14
White House Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu 2009–13 Chase Cushman 2014–17
Danielle C. Gray 2013–14 Director, White House Information Technology David Recordon 2015–17
Broderick D. Johnson 2014–17 Director, Office of Administration Cameron Moody 2009–11
Personal Aide to the President Reggie Love 2009–11 Beth Jones 2011–15
Brian Mosteller 2011–12 Cathy Solomon 2015–17
Marvin D. Nicholson 2012–17 Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy John Holdren 2009–17
Director, Oval Office Operations Brian Mosteller 2012–17 Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra 2009–12
Personal Secretary to the President Katie Johnson 2009–11 Todd Park 2012–14
Anita Decker Breckenridge 2011–14 Megan Smith 2014–17
Ferial Govashiri 2014–17 Director, Office of Management and Budget Peter R. Orszag 2009–10
Chief of Staff to the First Lady Jackie Norris 2009 Jack Lew 2010–12
Susan Sher 2009–11 Jeff Zients 2012–13
Tina Tchen 2011–17 Sylvia Mathews Burwell 2013–14
White House Social Secretary Desirée Rogers 2009–10 Brian Deese 2014
Julianna Smoot 2010–11 Shaun Donovan 2014–17
Jeremy Bernard 2011–15 Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra 2009–11
Deesha Dyer 2015–17 Steven VanRoekel 2011–14
Chief of Staff to the Vice President Ron Klain 2009–11 Tony Scott 2015–17
Bruce Reed 2011–13 United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk 2009–13
Steve Ricchetti 2013–17 Michael Froman 2013–17
White House Chief Usher Stephen W. Rochon† 2009–11 Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske 2009–14
Angella Reid 2011–17 Michael Botticelli 2014–17
Director, White House Military Office George Mulligan 2009–13 Chair, Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley 2009–14
Emmett Beliveau 2013–15 Michael Boots 2014–15
Dabney Kern 2016–17 Christy Goldfuss 2015–17
† Remained from previous administration.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Position Appointee
Chief of Staff to the Vice President Steve Ricchetti
Counsel to the Vice President Cynthia Hogan
Counselor to the Vice President Mike Donilon
Assistant to the Vice President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison Evan Ryan
Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Communications Shailagh Murray
Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice President Shailagh Murray
Deputy National Security Adviser to the Vice President Brian P. McKeon
Residence Manager and Social Secretary for the Vice President and Second Lady Carlos Elizondo
National Security Adviser to the Vice President Colin Kahl
Position Appointee
Chief of Staff to the Second Lady Catherine M. Russell
Director of Administration for the Office of the Vice President Moises Vela
Domestic Policy Adviser to the Vice President Terrell McSweeny
Chief Economist and Economic Policy Adviser to the Vice President Jared Bernstein
Press Secretary to the Vice President Elizabeth Alexander
Deputy Press Secretary to the Vice President Annie Tomasini
Director of Legislative Affairs Sudafi Henry
Director of Communications for the Second Lady Courtney O’Donnell
Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
International
  • VIAF
National
  • Norway
  • Germany
  • United States
Other
  • NARA
  • SNAC