Michael Waldman

Michael Waldman

Michael Waldman is executive director of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, a nonpartisan law and policy institute that focuses on fundamental issues of democracy and justice. The Center is one of the nation’s leading legal voices on election law, Constitutional law, government reform and racial justice. In 2008 it protected the voting rights of at least 500,000 citizens. The Boston Globe called the Center “indispensible.” Waldman has led the Center since 2005.

Mr. Waldman was Director of Speechwriting for President Bill Clinton from 1995-99, serving as Assistant to the President. He was responsible for writing or editing nearly 2,000 speeches, including four State of the Union and two Inaugural Addresses. He was Special Assistant to the President for Policy Coordination from 1993-95. As the top White House policy aide on campaign finance reform, he drafted the Clinton administration's public financing proposal.

He is the author of several books, including My Fellow Americans: The Most Important Speeches of America’s Presidents from George Washington to Barack Obama (2003, 2010); A Return to Common Sense (2007); POTUS Speaks (2000); and Who Robbed America? A Citizens' Guide to the S&L Scandal (1990).

Mr. Waldman appears frequently on television and radio to discuss public policy, the presidency and the law. Appearances include Good Morning America; the Colbert Report; PBS’ Newshour, CBS Evening News; the O'Reilly Factor;  Nightline; 60 Minutes; Hardball with Chris Matthews; CNN’s Crossfire; color commentary on NBC (State of the Union) and ABC (Obama inaugural); NPR’s Morning Edition; All Things Considered; Fresh Air; Diane Rehm and many other programs. He writes frequently for publications including The New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, Slate and Democracy.

Prior to his government service, Mr. Waldman was the executive director of Public Citizen's Congress Watch, then the capital's largest consumer lobbying office (1989-92). He was a Lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government (2001-03), teaching courses on political reform, public leadership and communications. He was a partner in a litigation law firm in New York City and Washington, D.C.  

Michael Waldman is a graduate of Columbia College (B.A., 1982) and New York University School of Law (J.D., 1987), where he was a member of the Law Review.

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