Steve Ricchetti

Steve Ricchetti
Chief of Staff to the Vice President
In office
December 1, 2013 – January 20, 2017
Vice President Joe Biden
Preceded by Bruce Reed
Succeeded by Josh Pitcock
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations
In office
October 20, 1998 – January 20, 2001
President Bill Clinton
Preceded by John Podesta
Succeeded by Joe Hagin
Personal details
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Amy Ricchetti
Children 4
Education Miami University (BA)
George Mason University (JD)

Steven J. Ricchetti is an American government administrator who served as Chief of Staff to Vice President Joe Biden and Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations under President Bill Clinton.

Early life and education

Steven J. Ricchetti[1] grew up in Westlake, Ohio and graduated from Westlake High School.[2]

He received his undergraduate degree from Miami University in Ohio (where he served as student body president[3]) in 1979, and his J.D. from the George Mason University School of Law.[4][5]

Career

Ricchetti led the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association's political department from 1987 to 1989 and was executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee from 1990 to 1992.[1][5] In the latter role, Ricchetti oversaw the upset victory of Democratic candidate Harris Wofford in the 1991 special election for Senate in Pennsylvania.[5][6]

From January 1993 to February 1996, he was a White House staffer in the Clinton administration, holding the title of Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs. In this role, Ricchetti was the president's principal liaison to the Senate.[1][5] Ricchetti conducted work for the administration on the economic recovery act of 1993, the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and other legislation.[5]

From 1996 to 1998, Ricchetti was in the private sector, engaged in lobbying for clients[1] at the governmental relations firm Public Strategies Washington (PSW).[7] In September 1998, he returned to the White House, where he was tasked with handling relations with congressional Democrats amidst the impeachment proceedings against President Clinton.[1] In January 1999, Ricchetti became deputy White House chief of staff (succeeding John Podesta) and gained a larger portfolio.[1] Along with Commerce Secretary William M. Daley, Ricchetti "led the Administration's successful campaign to secure permanent normal trade relations with China."[5]

In January 2001, Ricchetti founded Ricchetti, Inc., a government relations (lobbying) and political consulting firm.[5] Over the following years, Ricchetti's firm represented a number of clients, including AT&T, Eli Lilly & Co., the American Hospital Association, and United Technologies.[8]

In March 2012 he was appointed to be counselor to Vice President Joe Biden.[8] This caused controversy due to President Obama's promise to not appoint lobbyists.[9][10] "Ricchetti officially deregistered from lobbying with Congress at the end of 2008, just as Obama was assuming office and issuing a tough new ethics policy meant to curb the revolving door between his administration and K street."[8] Because he had not lobbied personally for over two years, he did not require a waiver from the administration's policy.[8]

In December 2013, Ricchetti succeeded Bruce Reed as chief of staff to the vice president, with the rank of Assistant to the President.[11] Ricchetti was the chief planner for a possible Biden run in the 2016 presidential election. (Biden ultimately decided not to run.)[12][13]

Other activities

Ricchetti is on the board of advisors of the Center for Congress at Indiana University.[5]

Personal life

Ricchetti lives in Arlington, Virginia. He is married to his wife Amy and has four children.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Robert Pear & John Broder, In a Lobby-Happy Washington, Politics Can Be Even Thicker Than Blood, New York Times (September 5, 2000).
  2. ↑ Stephen Koff, Joe Biden's Buckeyes: the vice president really likes hiring Ohioans, Cleveland Plain Dealer (April 4, 2016).
  3. ↑ Stephen Koff, Westlake native becomes chief of staff for Vice President Joe Biden, Cleveland Plain Dealer (November 13, 2016).
  4. ↑ Mike Allen, Playbook, Politico (November 13, 2013).
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Steve Ricchetti: President, Ricchetti, Inc., Center for Congress at Indiana University (accessed April 5, 2016).
  6. ↑ Robert Zausner, "Casey's Backstage Role Was A Key To Senate Win," Philadelphia Inquirer (December 10, 1991).
  7. ↑ Bill McAllister, McCurry, Caught in the Texas Net, Washington Post (November 19, 1998).
  8. 1 2 3 4 T.W. Farnam, Biden hires former lobbyist, Washington Post (March 5, 2012).
  9. ↑ Dana Milbank, Settling in to Washington's ways, Washington Post (March 7, 2012).
  10. ↑ Emmarie Huetteman, Former Lobbyist Becomes Biden Chief of Staff, New York Times (November 13, 2013).
  11. ↑ Vice President Biden Announces New Chief of Staff, White House Press Office (November 13, 2013).
  12. ↑ Colleen McCain Nelson & Carol E. Lee, Joe Biden Supporters Ramp Up a Campaign-in-Waiting, Wall Street Journal (September 13, 2015).
  13. ↑ Edward-Isaac Dovere, The man plotting Biden 2016: Steve Ricchetti is the man behind the vice president and possible late-entry presidential candidate, Politico (September 2, 2015).
Political offices
Preceded by
Bruce Reed		 Chief of Staff to the Vice President
2013-2017		 Succeeded by
Josh Pitcock
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