Jon Favreau - former chief speechwriter for President Obama | Q&A with UCD L&H Society

** Questions listed below **
US President Barack Obama's former chief speechwriter Jon Favreau was presented with the James Joyce Award from the UCD Literary & Historical Society, University College Dublin.
Once described by US President Obama as his "mind reader", Jon Favreau's words are credited as having contributed to getting Barack Obama elected President.
Favreau worked on both the 2008 and 2012 election campaigns as chief speechwriter, and later served as Head of Speechwriting in the White House.
Previous recipients of the UCD Literary & Historical Society, James Joyce Award include: Hollywood comedian, Will Ferrell; the Beatle's music producer and arranger, the man known as the Fifth Beatle, Sir George Martin; Harry Potter author, JK Rowling; Nobel prize-winning economist, Professor Paul Krugman; former Monty Python, Michael Palin; and The Who frontman and legendary rock star, Roger Daltrey.
The UCD James Joyce Award is named after the University College Dublin alumni and author of Ulysses and Finnegans Wake, James Joyce. It is presented by the UCD Literary and Historical Society to individuals who have achieved outstanding success in their given field.
00:05 - Were you able to live up to the ideal of contributing to your community that Holy Cross gave you?
03:16 - What is your creative process like
07:42 - It was reported that you had made a break for Hollywood and are trying your hand at screenwriting, is that something you are doing currently?
09:30 - Do you approve of Obama's Between Two Ferns video with Zach Galifianakis?
11:03 - why is the president having such difficulty selling the health care plan at the moment?
14:28 - Have you ever written a speech for Obama and thought "'how am i able to defend this particular policy'?
16:11 - What's the best book you've read recently and who is your favourite author?
17:43 - Do you write the humorous speeches and is it more difficult than the serious stuff to write?
19:38 - How did you deal with being young and do you have advice for young people trying to succeed?
21:36 - Do you think there are things which can be done to unify america on certain views?
24:11 - One of George Bush's aides once said that working in the Whitehouse is more like working in The Office than the West Wing, would you agree with that?
26:21 - Do you think that politicians are more tempted to campaign at the expense of governing, and because you're different political groups presenting different political facts do you not find that it's very hard to know what is 'true'?
29:46 - The president has a public image of being very cool and in control, but in private did he ever snap?
31:59 - The Philedelphia speech was mentioned, it's an incredible speech and also very edgy, could you give us a little insight into what happened, because that was on the campaign trail as well?
36:05 - What drew you specifically to speechwriting and what was the best one you ever did?
39:46 - do you have a favourite speech?
41:30 - What's your opinion on the Edward Snowden and the NSA issue?
46:49 - Do you have fond memories of the first couple of weeks of Obama as president?
48:39 - would you ever consider going into politics yourself?
50:00 - What would you like to be voting for when you're 106?
51:42 - How do judge the racial climate in the United States today and how much do you have to take that into consideration?

[@GailBecker-MSED-CM-Author]

I bought Obamacare and it saved my leg after I was in a car accident that left me unable to walk. I had the best doctors, the best medical staff, and the best therapists who gave me the best medical and physical care until I was finally walking again without any mobility aids. I thank GOD for President Obama because Obamacare was not the only thing I benefitted from during his presidency.

[@indiahenretta2962]

Love all the sincerity of President Obama’s speech! Love President Obama, just a brilliant respected human being. Thank you Jon for being a trusted friend to the President. God bless you.

[@olivialarosa9365]

Such an interesting conversation. I love hearing these stories about the inner workings of politics and the political game. it's almost comforting to know that our government works in cycles, and there is a rhyme to all the madness (even now with what seems like total chaos!)

[@geradinemchugh1332]

S

[@AWWx2]

Such a great conversation and a well-produced video. The questions were excellent and gave us all a reason to see why Obama chose John to be his top speechwriter. I agree with your choice of John to be the recipient of this award.

[@jlawrence6723]

A W 2 really? i don't think he's in sinc with audience at all (catholicism, not withstanding). these folks are irish, the troubles, IRA in their own towns & families... favreau talks to them like they're clueless american teenagers.

[@AWWx2]

jlawrence An interesting viewpoint. Are you Irish? Somehow, we can agree that American teenagers are mostly clueless about "the troubles", and John was once equally clueless, coming from America. I'm going to review that video again because of your comment, because perhaps I was viewing it as a similarly "clueless" American.

[@leonardenglish815]

The one thing about Obama that no one has really reflected on about his college years he was into sport not bad at it understood about team work & he seemed natural about that he would attract people that way in business or when he work with people it was a team idea working, every one had a responsible role to play to create success reflects on what kind of values makes a person your history broken down family

[@Marta-zw8zu]

The artist

[@guileniam]

This aint the guy who made iron man!

[@harrybjr]

Few of us can laugh heartily at Obama decimating Donald Trump at the Correspondents Dinner now

[@ekimsuahyam1726]

The most difficult thing for me to understand is how people fail to see the poor candidates. For me it's not difficult to see that Bill Clinton is a master politician,so easy to see his intelligence and ability to relate. Obama also personifies understanding,intelligence and stability. Trump simply has none of these important traits.0 creditability

[@micah4242]

This is a bizarre country-because you can become president with minority of popular vote, we’ve had a motley group. Never such an obvious, vulgar con-artist as Trump though. He is a complete lunkhead and lies when he breathes.

[@onoueporn1]

なんて　ゆうてるんですか？自分

[@fidobarks]

voice sounds like hims a smoker.... they share pipes?

[@janicechildress2952]

Stephen Miller speeches are as combative as boss. My child could do better to reassure foreign dignitaries and allies. WH way in over their heads.

[@dangoddess]

If the US government lived in accordance with their constitution and didn`t invade other countries there would be many fewer plots they would have to deflect. This guy is so naive about the real power in the US even though he worked inside the white house. Always follow the money