Obama speechwriter Cody Keenan offers his take on ‘idealism and impatience’ during Liberal Arts Forum lecture

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By Sonya Walker ‘20

Elon’s Whitley Auditorium was packed Monday night as Cody Keenan, a speechwriter for President Barack Obama for 11 years, addressed the Elon community on “Idealism and Impatience.”

Keenan chronicled the spectrum of his success and failure during his tenure working for the president. He reminisced about his time during his first job in a “windowless mail room” and spoke about how his eagerness and drive for more ultimately lead to his role crafting speeches for the former president.

Some of his main points of the night addressed the divisive nature of contemporary politics and the importance of staying tuned into politics even when the issues being addressed don’t directly threaten your personal interests.

“The point is we can’t just care about this country when our narrowed interests are at stake,” Keenan said.

Keenan weaved previous words and speeches from the president into his lecture. He paid special attention to previous speeches that called communities to action. Keenan finished his lecture by reminding Elon that although “it is so much easier to be cynical,” our democracy “needs you.”

After the lecture, Keenan took questions from the Elon audience. Questions ranged from whether Keenan had failed or had a least favorite speech to a question about if Keenan had ever had pushback from Obama.

Keenan responded that it is difficult to fail entirely at a speech because of the sheer number of people who look at it before it’s delivered. That said, Keenan noted speeches that were particularly good, included Obama’s “Bloody Sunday” speech at Selma.

Keenan laughs as he remembers what Obama told him about a comment he received from his daughter, Sasha, about his speech at Selma. Keenan said the president said his daughter rarely commented on his speeches, but she offered up a few words after hearing this speech. Apparently Keenan's speech had made an impression.

“Sasha said, ‘Good speech daddy,’” Keenan recounted Obama saying. 

As for his experience with pushback from Obama, Keenan remembers fighting for the use of “we” in the Selma speech. He recalled that it was one of the only times he came out on top in a disagreement with the former president. 

Keenan closed the evening by speaking to the nature of writing speeches during a time marked by politics that are so divisive. The opinions and political leanings of speechwriters do not always have a place within the speeches they write for those who will deliver them, he said. That is why Keenan notes that “writing for someone whose values you share is more fun.”

“You should choose someone you believe in to write for,” Keenan said.