Robert Gibbs Future White House Press Secretary Date of Birth: 29.03.1971 Country: USA

1. Biography of Robert Gibbs
2. Early Life and Education
3. Early Political Career
4. Rise in Politics
5. Personal Life

Biography of Robert Gibbs

Born on March 29, 1971, in Auburn, Alabama, Robert Lane Gibbs is set to become the White House press secretary. He will be appointed to this position after the inauguration of the elected President of the United States from the Democratic Party, Barack Obama. Gibbs served as the director of Obama's campaign for public relations and previously worked as an assistant to the future president. In 2003, he was the director of public relations for another Democrat, John Kerry's, presidential campaign.

Early Life and Education

Robert Gibbs was born to Robert and Nancy Gibbs, who worked at Auburn University's library. From a young age, his mother exposed him to politics, often taking him and his younger brother John to League of Women Voters meetings instead of leaving them with a nanny. Nancy showed Robert the inner workings of the court system and polling stations and encouraged political discussions. Gibbs attended public schools in Auburn and actively participated in political debates in his senior years. In 1988, he even volunteered to debate in favor of opposing beliefs by arguing that George H.W. Bush should be elected as the President of the United States. Gibbs graduated from high school in 1989 and enrolled at North Carolina State University, where he played as a goalkeeper for the university's football team, the NC State Wolfpack, from 1990 to 1992. Despite only spending 45 minutes on the field in total, according to his own admission, Gibbs graduated with honors in political science.

Early Political Career

Gibbs began his political career while still in college, serving as an intern assistant to Democratic Congressman Glen Browder. He was soon appointed as Browder's executive assistant in Washington. In 1996, Gibbs worked on Browder's unsuccessful reelection campaign. In 1997, he served as the press secretary for Congressman Bob Etheridge, and later became a representative for Ernest Hollings during his 1998 election campaign.

Rise in Politics

Gibbs went on to work as a press secretary for several senators before becoming the director of public relations for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. In 2003, he became John Kerry's press secretary for his presidential campaign but resigned a year before the election as a protest against the dismissal of Kerry's campaign manager, Jim Jordan. Despite this, Gibbs continued to support Kerry, becoming a representative for the movement "Americans for Jobs, Health Care and Progressive Values". The movement gained notoriety for its campaign videos, which targeted another Democratic candidate, Howard Dean. In 2004, Gibbs joined Barack Obama's senatorial campaign, and after Obama's victory in Illinois, he became his political advisor. Gibbs is considered to have been the most influential aide to the African-American senator. In 2007, when Obama decided to run for the presidency, Gibbs became the director of his campaign's public relations. According to Browder, it was thanks to Gibbs, who rarely left Obama's side during the campaign, that Obama was able to win the support of white voters while maintaining the support of African-Americans. The press noted that Gibbs was a staunch supporter of Obama and would cease working with journalists who expressed opposition to the candidate. On November 4, 2008, Obama won the election, and a few days later, sources in the Democratic Party announced that Gibbs would assume the position of White House press secretary after Obama's inauguration on January 20, 2009. Obama officially confirmed the selection of Gibbs for this position at the end of November.

Personal Life

Gibbs is married to Mary Catherine, a lawyer, and they have a son named Ethan. He has a passion for football. It is known that he and his wife have made donations to the Alexandria Gay and Lesbian Community Association Scholarship Fund.