Jon Lovett

Jon Lovett
Lovett in 2017
Born August 17, 1982 (age 36)
Woodbury, New York, U.S.
Occupation Speechwriter, screenwriter, producer, comedian
Alma mater Williams College
Years active 2004–present
Partner Ronan Farrow (2011–present)

Jon Ira Lovett (born August 17, 1982) is an American screenwriter, speechwriter, television producer, and podcaster. After working as a speech and joke writer for President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, Lovett co-created the NBC White House sitcom 1600 Penn, and served as a writer and producer on the third season of HBO's The Newsroom. He is a founder of Crooked Media and currently hosts the podcasts Pod Save America and Lovett or Leave It.

Early life and education

Lovett was born to a Reform Jewish family in Woodbury, Long Island[1] that operated a box factory started by his grandfather.[2] He attended Syosset High School. 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 was also the 2004 Williams College Class Speaker at his commencement.[6] After graduation, 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. He was asked to write a statement for the candidate, and his work led to an offer of a writing internship.[7] He then briefly worked in Jon Corzine's Senate office.[4]

He was hired in 2005 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 President Barack Obama in the White House.[7] Lovett wrote speeches in the Obama administration for three years, working 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]

Lovett officiated the first same-sex marriage in the White House, secretly and counter to the policy of the Obama administration.[9][10][8]

Subsequent career

Before Barack Obama ran for re-election, Lovett moved to California to become a screenwriter.[11][12] Lovett collaborated with Josh Gad and Jason Winer on 1600 Penn, of which Lovett was a co-creator, executive producer, and writer from 2012 until 2013.[13] Lovett then worked as a writer, producer, and advisor on season three of HBO's The Newsroom.[8]

Starting in March 2016, Lovett co-hosted The Ringer's political podcast Keepin' it 1600 with former fellow Obama staffers Jon Favreau, Dan Pfeiffer, and Tommy Vietor.[14]

Shortly after the November 2016 election, Lovett, Favreau and Vietor founded their own company, Crooked Media, and launched a new podcast, Pod Save America.[15] In March 2017, Lovett began hosting Lovett or Leave It, a panel show podcast from Crooked Media, recorded in front of a live audience in Los Angeles.[16] Lovett and Crooked Media have embarked on national and international tours featuring live versions of Pod Save America and Lovett or Leave It.[17]

Personal life

Lovett is openly gay.[12] His partner is journalist Ronan Farrow.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Dysfunctional first family". Jewish Journal. February 6, 2013. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Talking Trump Transition With President Obama Speechwriter Jon Lovett". Hugh Hewitt. November 22, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Creative Artists Agency Bio". Creative Artists Agency. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Jon Lovett's written for the president, but will that get him to Hollywood?". The Washington Post. September 2, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  5. ↑ "American Mathematical Monthly August-September 2007". Mathematical Association of America. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Commencement 2004". Williams College. June 6, 2004. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 "Jon Lovett speaks on politics, election season". The Tufts Daily. October 15, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 "Aspen Ideas Festival Bio". Aspen Ideas Festival. 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  9. ↑ "FIREWORKS EDITION – REVEALED: A clandestine gay wedding in the White House during Obama's first term (officiant: Jon Lovett) – CHRISTIE to return to MORNING JOE after 18 months – SCOTT WALKER joins Sn". POLITICO. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  10. ↑ "Obama's Former Speechwriter Reportedly Held Secret Same-Sex Marriage at the White House". 2015-07-07. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  11. ↑ "Q&A: Jon Lovett, Former Obama Speechwriter, on His NBC Comedy 1600 Penn". Time Magazine. January 10, 2013. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  12. 1 2 "White House Speechwriter Leaving for Hollywood".
  13. ↑ "Jon Lovett Filmography". IMDb. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  14. ↑ "'Obama bros' learn to love Hillary". Politico. October 6, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  15. ↑ Rutenberg, Jim, Opposition and a Shave: Former Obama Aides Counter Trump, Media, The New York Times, March 20, 2017
  16. ↑ "Obama's former speechwriter launches new podcast". iNews. March 22, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Pod Save America announces nationwide tour". Consequence of Sound. August 16, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Full transcript: Journalist Ronan Farrow on Recode Decode".
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