Former White House staffers share election day stories and insights, discussing the stress and anticipation. They talk about writing and editing election night speeches, including Obama's superstitious nature. The chapter also delves into Obama's edits and a story about Ann Nixon Cooper. The podcast explores the relationship between the campaign and the press, highlighting the role of the press secretary and information exchange.
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Quick takeaways
The podcast discusses the anxiety and anticipation experienced by campaign staffers on election day, including the role of exit polls and the habit of obsessively checking for updates.
The hosts provide insights into the art of speechwriting for political speeches, including the collaborative process and the impact of developing election results on final edits.
Deep dives
Inside 2024: A Sneak Peek of the Subscriber Podcast
Inside 2024 is a new subscriber podcast that features former White House staffers sharing their campaign trail stories and insights for the upcoming 2024 election cycle. In this episode, the hosts, John and Tommy, offer a glimpse into the intense and sometimes nerve-wracking experience of election day. They discuss the anxiety and anticipation that comes with waiting for results, the role of exit polls, and the gossip and speculation that circulates throughout the campaign headquarters. They also share their personal experiences in writing speeches for victory, concession, and undecided outcomes, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the process. Overall, Inside 2024 promises to deliver engaging stories and analysis to help subscribers make sense of the political landscape.
Nitty-Gritty of Election Day: Stress, Waiting, and Exit Polls
On election day, the podcast hosts, John and Tommy, reflect on the unique dynamics experienced by communications teams like theirs. They describe the anxiety and anticipation that permeate the campaign headquarters as they anxiously read exit polls and follow the news for any updates. Despite realizing the limited value of exit polls and the ongoing voting process, they admit to succumbing to the tempting habit of obsessively checking for new information. The hosts highlight the stark contrast in experiences between the communications team and the field team, who engage in Get Out The Vote efforts. Their conversation reveals the mix of stress, gossip, and uncertainty that dominates election day for campaign staffers.
Crafting Speeches for Victory, Concession, and Undecided Outcomes
John and Tommy delve into the art of speechwriting and share their experiences in writing speeches for victory, concession, and undecided outcomes. They discuss the collaborative process of crafting speeches with other speechwriters and the intricate dynamics that come into play. Tommy reveals his discussion with centenarian Anix and Cooper, whose story of overcoming historical barriers inspired a poignant line in Obama's victory speech. They reminisce about the rush to make final edits to Obama's speeches based on the developing election results. Their candid conversation provides insights into the behind-the-scenes work that goes into delivering compelling and impactful political speeches.
Happy holidays from the Pod Save America team! Here’s a special sneak peek of our new subscriber exclusive series Inside 2024. In this preview Jon Favreau and Tommy Vietor take you behind the scenes of election nights like Barack Obama’s 2008 winning campaign. It’s a show we’re really proud of and we hope you enjoy. Producer Caroline Reston moderates. If you want to hear the rest of the episode, or future ones, be sure to sign up for Friends of the Pod at crooked.com/friends.
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