President Barack Obama Name Robert Bauer Succeeded by Kathryn Ruemmler Profession Lawyer Party Democratic Party | Political party Democratic Party Spouse Anita Dunn Preceded by Greg Craig Role Attorney | |
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Alma mater Harvard University (A.B.)
University of Virginia (J.D.) Books Soft Money Hard LawA Guide To The New Campaign Finance Law, United States Federal Election Law Education University of Virginia School of Law (1976), Harvard College, Harvard University, University of Virginia | ||
the law of politics under siege and in transition with robert bauer 76
Robert F. Bauer (born February 22, 1952) is an American attorney who previously served as White House Counsel under President Barack Obama.
Contents
- the law of politics under siege and in transition with robert bauer 76
- Robert bauer white house counsel and obama eligibility attorney 5 8 09
- Early life and education
- White House Counsel
- Personal life
- References
Robert bauer white house counsel and obama eligibility attorney 5 8 09
Early life and education
Bauer was raised in an Jewish family and graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1970, from Harvard College in 1973, and received his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1976.
White House Counsel
He is a partner at Perkins Coie. In November 2009, he was named to be the next White House Counsel, upon the resignation of Gregory Craig. Bauer was President Obama's personal attorney and the general counsel of the Obama for America presidential campaign prior to his appointment as White House Counsel. He has also previously served as the general counsel to the Democratic National Committee, and had advised President Obama since Mr. Obama came to Washington, D.C. in 2005 as U. S. Senator.
As general counsel for the 2008 campaign, Bauer asked the Justice Department to investigate the officers and donors of American Issues Project after it ran a negative ad about Obama.
On Thursday, June 2, 2011, the White House Press Office stated that Bauer would be returning to private practice at Perkins Coie, and that Principal Deputy Counsel to the President Kathryn Ruemmler (his deputy, in that office since January 2010 and before that since January 2009 as Principal Associate Deputy U.S. Attorney General) would succeed him. The position, because it is part of the Executive Office staff that personally advises the President and is not an agency or Cabinet department or military head, does not require Senate confirmation despite the prominence of the office.
Bauer returned to private practice to again represent the president’s election team and the Democratic National Committee. “Bob was a critical member of the White House team,” Mr. Obama said. “He has exceptional judgment, wisdom and intellect, and he will continue to be one of my close advisers.”
Personal life
Bauer is married to Anita Dunn, the former director of communications at the White House. He has four children, a daughter in-law, and a grandson. In 2008, Bauer and Dunn were described as Washington's new "power couple" by Newsweek magazine.