Jon Lovett
Jon Lovett | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1982 Woodbury, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Speechwriter, screenwriter, producer, comedian |
| Alma mater | Williams College |
| Years active | 2004–present |
Jon Lovett (born 1982) is an American screenwriter, speechwriter, and television producer. After working as a speechwriter for President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, Lovett produced The Newsroom and co-created 1600 Penn.
Early life and education
Lovett was born to a Jewish family in Woodbury, Long Island[1] that operated a box factory started by his grandfather.[2] Lovett graduated from Williams College in 2004 with a degree in math.[3] His senior thesis, Rotating Linkages in a Normed Plane,[4] led to a publication in American Mathematical Monthly.[5] Lovett also delivered the 2004 Williams College commencement address.[6] After graduating, Lovett spent a year working as a stand-up comic in New York.[3]
Political speechwriter
In 2004, Lovett volunteered for John Kerry's presidential campaign, and was offered a writing internship.[7] He then briefly worked in Jon Corzine's senate office.[4] In 2005, Lovett was hired to assist Sarah Hurwitz as a speechwriter for then-Senator Hillary Clinton,[4] and he continued to write speeches for her through her 2008 presidential campaign.[7] When Clinton lost the 2008 Democratic primary contest, Lovett won an anonymous contest to write speeches for Barack Obama in the White House.[7] Lovett wrote speeches in the Obama administration for three years, working particularly closely with Jon Favreau and David Axelrod.[2] Prominent speeches that he wrote include policy speeches on financial reform and Don't ask, don't tell,[4] as well as remarks at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.[8]
Subsequent career
Before Barack Obama ran for re-election, Lovett moved to California to become a screenwriter.[9] There Lovett collaborated with Josh Gad and Jason Winer on 1600 Penn, for which which Lovett was a co-creator, executive producer, and writer from 2012 until 2013.[10] Lovett then worked as a writer, producer, and advisor for The Newsroom.[8] Lovett is also a regular host of the political podcast Keepin' it 1600, along with former Obama staffers Jon Favreau, Dan Pfeiffer, and Tommy Vietor.[11]
References
- ^ "Dysfunctional first family". Jewish Journal. 2013-02-06. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- ^ a b "Talking Trump Transition With President Obama Speechwriter Jon Lovett". Hugh Hewitt. 2016-11-22. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- ^ a b "Creative Artists Agency Bio". Creative Artists Agency. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- ^ a b c d "Jon Lovett's written for the president, but will that get him to Hollywood?". The Washington Post. 2011-09-02. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- ^ "American Mathematical Monthly August-September 2007". Mathematical Association of America. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- ^ "Commencement 2004". Williams College. 2004-06-06. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- ^ a b c "Jon Lovett speaks on politics, election season". The Tufts Daily. 2012-10-15. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- ^ a b "Aspen Ideas Festival Bio". Aspen Ideas Festival. 2015. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- ^ "Q&A: Jon Lovett, Former Obama Speechwriter, on His NBC Comedy 1600 Penn". Time Magazine. 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- ^ "Jon Lovett Filmography". IMDb. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- ^ "'Obama bros' learn to love Hillary". Politico. 2016-10-06. Retrieved 2016-12-02.