Cody Keenan: Meet the New Obama Speech Writer

Impact

The Atlantic has run a profile on Cody Keenan, President Barack Obama's new speechwriter, who will take over after Jon Favreau leaves the White House on March 1 — to pursue a career as a screenwriter.

Keenan's big test will be on Tuesday when the president delivers the 2013 State of the Union Address that both the president and Keenan have been working on — a feat harder than what it seems, as Obama has referred to outgoing speech writer Favreau as "my mind reader."

The "collaborative process" of SOTU 2013, as described by White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, means that Keenan "[will take] the lead on the speechwriting team for this and will be getting a higher profile in the weeks to come."  

Keenan worked with Obama to craft his 2011 Tucson remarks after former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords (R-Ariz.) was shot.