Jon Favreau | Life as Obama's Speechwriter | Full Address and Q&A

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ABOUT JON FAVREAU: Described by President Obama as his ‘mind-reader’, Jon Favreau was hired as Obama's speechwriter shortly after his election to the US Senate in 2004, and subsequently appointed Director of Speechwriting following Obama's presidential election.
Favreau was the chief writer of Obama's inauguration speech, resulting in TIME magazine naming him one of the '100 Most Influential People in the World'. Having left the White House in 2013, he is currently pursuing a career in screenwriting and private sector consulting.
ABOUT THE OXFORD UNION SOCIETY: The Oxford Union is the world's most prestigious debating society, with an unparalleled reputation for bringing international guests and speakers to Oxford. Since 1823, the Union has been promoting debate and discussion not just in Oxford University, but across the globe.

[@Lupinvej]

For a split second i thought the director of Iron Man and the Jungle Book was Obama's speechwriter...

[@kalzyoung]

I was forwarding through waiting for him to come up Hahahaha

[@thethirdcrouch]

favreau is so uncommon what the heck you find someone with the same name

[@morrisho6450]

HAHAHA me too

[@lopangtamorauhhhvxutih7387]

6we66w6rw6w6e66ee6w46ww55w5w

[@Diamondelight92]

Apparently someone thought this also and accidentally emailed him a bunch of Mandalorian Season 2 spoilers lmaooooo

[@vipinudayanan]

If you just listen to his voice.. you can almost feel Obama's soul coming through. Magical.

[@TheVijaiParadigm]

Iron Man was great! Underrated director. Also, good for him for losing all that weight!

[@mariesia3449]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Win090949]

Lmao

[@LambsyLamb]

Loved him in Swingers!

[@palsbestshott]

Don't forget the latetst Mandalorian

[@isuriadireja91]

I still wonder if he did actually get to buy Tony's daughter all those cheeseburgers... 😉

[@Solobratscher]

"I want someone to be President with a temperament, a calm, a steady nature. Those qualities serve leaders very well."

[@quinndeluna8032]

@wings of a butterfly Sounds like you'd be a fan of hitler

[@azanulbizar12]

@@quinndeluna8032 😂 Yeah. And sadly she may also be a fan of abusive husbands. Poor soul.

[@oatnoid]

Worthless attributes when you realize Obama was a traitor with no talent for leading anything but sheep.

[@lamalia23]

umm obama was temperament calm and steady nature duh

[@oatnoid]

@@lamalia23 So do garden slugs. It doesn't make you a good leader. I prefer wisdom and courage, of which Obama had very little.

[@KingsOfSpins]

"Every once in awhile, there are moments that remind us why it is what we do, what we do." Obama left a big impression on him. Excellent opening.

[@Bulltardwin]

Obama is a joke

[@teddylabis6969]

Obama is the worst president ever

[@phoebe5843]

@@Bulltardwin Just keep believing that.

[@Bulltardwin]

@@phoebe5843 I will because I'm educated. Go learn about Obamas drone bombing campaign and the over 800 innocent civilians who were murdered. He should be on trial for war crimes.

[@richardrackley2430]

@@Bulltardwin according to your logic, so should every president within the past 60 years. If you target one president using flaws that could be applied to all presidents, you are biased. Do your research, you aren't "educated".

[@kathyd2595]

The birth of Simba and presenting him with the sunlight beaming down on the cub, as Obama's birth video was one of the funniest jokes he ever told. Well, the other Trump jokes Obama told the earlier WH Corresponders' Dinner. All very, very clever! Obama has to be the best and most eloquent POTUS ever. You're so right, John-- that humor, and the ability to have perfect comedic timing in addition to Obama's style, eloquence, and brilliance is something very special.☮💙

[@ponzopa]

“I don’t think anyone runs for office and thinks: ‘Oh, I’ll destroy America’” How the turn tables

[@ExploringCabinsandMines]

Oh how the tables turn.

[@NgaNguyen-uw3hi]

Unless his god told him so.

[@bananasmatter1321]

The right thinks the left is misinformed. The left thinks the right is evil. Who is the brainwashed?

[@cormandy9602]

@@bananasmatter1321 One side acts on beliefs and feelings. The other side acts on facts and evidence. Which side is brainwashed?

[@ExploringCabinsandMines]

@@bananasmatter1321 bottom line , as it stands either side today is free to do as they like, The Dems want to restrict our constitutional rights and add new ones and make us pay for them. California, Minnesota, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit Are DISASTERS!!!

[@sandrashearer8901]

Mr Favreau. Right on. Wonderful! You were part of an Audacity of Hope. There are moments.

[@junieharracksingh]

I don’t know how long ago this conversation was, but I am so amazed by you John Favreau. You need to go back into politics, you had a fantastic teacher in President Obama. You would be a great President and America needs young people people like you to get involved. You are fantastic.

[@justiceforall3739]

Amen!

[@lindawittenmearns5365]

Check out Pod Save America--his podcasts

[@naylas3908]

Indeed, check out Pod Save America and Crooked Media.

[@JohnWLewis]

Saturday, 13 February 2016

[@kennyj43]

Been meaning to watch this for some time and finally got around to it. It is an interesting talk with good questions for the most part. Favreau, as one would expect from a wordsmith, is quite articulate and a joy to listen to. And it is especially interesting watching this a year and a bit since Trump entered the White House and really being able to see the stark differences between the visions for America and its governance and the approach to carrying out the duties of the presidency between Obama and Trump. And those differences could not be clearer. Whereas Obama espoused an open, clear, far-sighted, uplifting vision of and for the country that calls it to aspire and to be its better self and strove to achieve that, with Trump it is small, weak, partisan, divisive and petty. America and the world are the poorer for Trump's ascent to power.

[@opheliaallen8741]

Ml

[@dross2172]

Trump is ugly on the inside as well as outside. You can surgically correct the outside but changing on the inside (especially if your over 70) takes hard work and that shouldn't be done when your President of the US. The only thing Trump breeds is hate. Pure and simple hate. Nothing he has ever said or done is encouraging or hopeful. Oh God, what has happened to the US???

[@Emma-ob5oj]

Norman Monroe great comment. I hope you’ll my comment now, you should listen to this from this perspective

[@celebritytarotreadings7065]

You can see he's a smart enough guy but I kept getting tripped up by his "you know''s" "right" "like" and "look" hehehe. He definitely humanizes the role of a person who has contributed to historically great speechwriting.

[@celebritytarotreadings7065]

@Danny B You are such a total bs artist. No one needed "Obama" to give the United States: Trump - out of ALLL the 3 million republicans who ran for President against Trump. Trump was chosen b/c of his racist rhetoric and that has been displayed time and again by the American public who are his base - and no well-woven bs answer like yours is going to convince people of your constant lies.

[@vladaldi3749]

What an articulate and smart fellow! Enjoyed listening to your stories that providied some perspective to the speeches of equally eloquent Pres Obama.

[@ThomNorris]

A person to admire, representing the generation about to step up and take their turn and, why we should have hope in the future. Perspective, as we watch those dominating current politics use fear, bigotry, division and anger to garner power. Without such perspective, the future might otherwise appear bleak.

[@lunhil1264]

He’s got a great podcast, Pod Save America.

[@theresalwayshope5349]

lunhil12 it’s awesome

[@TaraColquitt]

Thanks!

[@KravenTheHaunter]

If you like Pod Save America, you'd LOVE Pod Damn America.

[@pattitinsley4899]

Cool. I'll check that out. Thanks!

[@emjayay]

And Crooked Media here on KZbin.

[@marceechristensen2533]

A very impressive young man. First you are easy on the eyes. Second, you are amiable in your allegiance. Third, you are a fresh voice on how politics can sway the people one way or another. Lastly, you stand for truth and honesty in a behind scenes kinda way!!!!!!!

[@nansweetnan]

Ugh. Why do you have to comment on appearance. Women are offended when men do this--and it shouldn't happen to men.

[@bishermartini4533]

@@nansweetnan im a heterosexual guy but like he is easy on the eyes let's be honest

[@marceechristensen2533]

Nanette Alton Because at age 63 I have earned the right to enjoy “Eye Candy”. End of Story!!!

[@luckyyu2004]

he is only 36 as 2017. So when he worked for Obama in 2009, he was only 28.

[@emjayay]

He and the other Crooked Media guys were ridiculously young when they all worked for Obama.

[@MF-lj6se]

I A

[@meemeezong1827]

What a wonderful life experience, to have worked for such a great man, President. He was blessed.

[@wendymckeejackson7685]

I am soooo glad I listened to this speech! Amazing & enlightening!

[@luisvasconcelos1053]

He surely had a great teacher for 8 years

[@peppa_pig_]

watched this the whole way through incredibly enlightening and thought-provoking also made me appreciate 44 even more

[@norviewolken8177]

Who's watching this in 2020 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@tutorlutchi8347]

A couple days after Biden became President-elect, I'm hungry for good, healthy, positive exchanges after 4 years of toxic domain of Trump.

[@alexandrebidaud2964]

We are certainly not watching you !!!

[@suzanne7937]

I am watching this very interesting talk

[@robertawalsh2995]

He obviously doesn't have any psychic powers.

[@cindyshilanskis8503]

So weird to be watching this now, after nearly four years of Trump. Please, let's get him out of here! But I am certainly enjoying seeing and listening to Jon Favreau on Pod Save America.

[@ADITYAGAIKWADIPMBABatch]

@@misterwafflezzz haha XD

[@leahs.6780]

This was really wonderful. It was a spontaneous listen, but definitely a great one that added to my day.

[@jamesburns7863]

What a beautiful speaker!

[@knockshinnoch1950]

Fascinating insight- charismatic speaker

[@Hipchick38]

Deep respect for this man!

[@marceechristensen2533]

2020. VP Biden President elect and Kamala Harris VP elect. Yes President Obama’s truths will live on. Hallelujah

[@commanderofkesariyaknights]

Bloody war criminal who destroyed libya and other countries

[@theotryhard8651]

'Obama's truth' - Obama's speech writer XD. Obama bails out banks. Obama destroys middle east.

[@abdulibrahim5141]

Super amazing. His gestures and way of pausing and walking, reminds of Obama....

[@lisaprice3881]

Abdul Ibrahim wow I was thinking the exact same thing!

[@smyffmawzz]

Yeah . Too right ! Obama was a Puppet .A puppet who was slowly bringing America down and doing Nothing for the Black community .

[@ericawindear9074]

smyffmawzz 😂😂😂boy bye

[@lydiaedwards8100]

@@smyffmawzz Or, he is a younger man than Barrack Obama and he respects and admires him. He has taken on some of Obama's mannerisms.

[@lydiaedwards8100]

@@smyffmawzz 2019 was 45's presidency. 45 destroyed the country and has done nothing for ANY American.

[@ocumanpeggy1190]

This video is both inspiring and challenging.. This makes me wanna be a better person

[@ExploringCabinsandMines]

Hahaahahahahahah a speechwriter has inspired you ? inspire yourself loser.

[@Jamie_kemp]

@@ExploringCabinsandMines nice one...

[@Ye_wie]

@@ExploringCabinsandMines YOU are the loser. Cynicism is the tool of the lazy. FYI everyone is inspired by something or someone. Whether for good or bad is another matter

[@ExploringCabinsandMines]

@@Ye_wie The white guy that made the black guy sound like a genius.... think about it dummy.

[@wa1pahu]

I just watched John's other presentation at Univ. of Dublin...and again -- Amazing!

[@captainobvious90]

Wow, Jon Favreau looks so different since the last time he directed Iron Man

[@dorothynelson8620]

I respect ppl who think before they speak. That's just me.

[@leavesofdecember]

there I was thinking I'll probably bomb the comment section with an obvious and absolutely irrelevant fact, but I seem not to be alone !! He is absolutely gorgeous !! and wrote those incredible speeches ??! so beautiful and crazy smart people DO exist!! there is hope..

[@telectronix1368]

The great American melting pot creates some beautiful people (and hearts).

[@krisxxxxw]

This guy is amazing! 👍

[@tonyfan3]

Thanks for the beautiful speeches

[@ingemeinzer1047]

Hey Jon, thanks for helping me get through the afternoon of the 2020 election without having a nervous breakdown.

[@selamotshwane9338]

Brilliant

[@TheWingjammer]

That was delightful to listen!

[@shashanks.k855]

brilliant thoughts and best of logical and practical speech and discussion.

[@summersimonton3440]

Thank you Jon. You are such a clear, grounded, and authentic speaker, you made this very interesting.

[@topgurl9313]

I definitely recognise President Obama in Jon's way of speaking haha. Great speech and Q&A

[@MrJoshuacx]

Jon Favreau have worked for the best president we have ever had in this century. I was wonder will Jon Favreau run for president one day?

[@fredericwild734]

Best President ever? Fast and Furious Using IRS to punish political opponents Deporting massively (kids in cages) Persecuting whistler blowers Spying on Trump campaign

[@joycekinard265]

Thank you. It was a pleasure listening to you.

[@fiofoop4906]

dude he's hot as hell!

[@San47di]

He also got engaged in 2016. Wahhhhh ;'-)

[@boknowsbaseball]

fio foop He's also an elitist who despises poor white people.

[@ivanne.greene8522]

that is NOT TRUE!

[@San47di]

What's not true?

[@ivanne.greene8522]

The fallacy that he is an elitist and cares only for the rich and famous. Jon is a good guy who tells it like it is... Sorry for those who disagree with facts.

[@user-yy8hv4vh9r]

Dude, you are super amazing and, I believe, you have all what it takes to be one of the best American presidents and I strongly insist you to give it a shot. John (from Eritrea, E. Africa).

[@kimberlycrichton2932]

Thank you for telling these stories.

[@ComecaJones]

Enjoyed this !

[@AnoopKashyap]

Impressive fella.

[@debibafk]

best video on youtube in my opinion

[@Maeda_Toshiie]

35:40 I admire his optimism about the US voting public. A significant portion of a certain voting base actually believe in that.

[@bahavamoss8372]

Obama gave one of the best speeches in history.

[@qcgirl2011]

Brilliant speech and Q&A!

[@b991228]

That race speech made me decide to be part of the Wisconsin for Obama Campaign. Did you ever meet Sam Seaborn?

[@sandraheavey9956]

Sam Seaborn/Rob Lowe speechwriter for Jed Bartlett...I ❤that series! Excellent!

[@joanlittlefield4107]

Was just thinking how much Jon reminds me of Sam 🙂

[@joshuaryanphotography4967]

He is my favorite.

[@ale198519]

What a great thing to watch

[@tm13tube]

I have to rewatch that speech.

[@hyacinthdibley2420]

18:54 "How did it feel to slip into those shoes....or that hair". Bahaha. I'm surprised no one caught that in the audience.

[@margiedaniels489]

Very well done! #THANKUOBAMA

[@aviduser1961]

President Obama exercises reason, compassion and humility. These are not the values of the republican party.

[@healthfreedomnetwork993]

Yes, mass-murdering lying and thieving, creating more illegal wars than Bush ever could, is values of the Democrat Party.

[@10alexster]

you republicans are crazyyyy and funny

[@dickhead6326]

creating the KKK is the value of the democratic party

[@dickhead6326]

Alex wake up you are brainwashed- you still have time to wake up! as a human to another human, don't let these people fool you

[@saeedvazirian]

Is that why he bombs civilians in Pakistan?

[@heidi.a.thomson]

This video made my day. How fortunate Jon Favreau was to work with Obama especially during his formative 20s. What a great mentor to have.

[@margrettchisholm4072]

I thank you for sharing, very interesting

[@Brooklynjudy779]

Watching. Nov 16,2022. Still relevant! Love this!!!😊

[@davec4276]

Admirable!

[@cjrc23]

Such a brilliant guy!

[@filipsforzolini9893]

He was really good in Chef

[@deegeorge1020]

Great listen. Keeps reminding me of Simon Sinek.

[@somethingness]

Damn, all this time I thought Jon Favreau was Jon Favreau.

[@a11danny]

Just wanna say your on-screen performance on Chef is amazing.

[@arizonatumbleweeds628]

What an interesting job this must have been. Thank you for sharing this with us. It is good for young folks to hear about different jobs out there. I wonder what the pay looks like for this. (what an amazing job to work for the President for America!)

[@wadisanaa]

Favreau , not just a great speech writer , great orator , too.

[@deegeorge1020]

Indeed. I found this to be very refreshing. Thought would have been the case of the song writer not knowing to sing.

[@jessicataylorbarnhill9609]

he has such a beautiful heart

[@vinceamin8940]

Gotta love Jon! - a Friend of the Pod.

[@tonyfan3]

Lovely work in writing for the President

[@faafafineartist]

brilliant

[@bartonquilkey1677]

As great as the speech was, i much prefer Jon just speaking off the cuff. He's so much more authoritative that way.

Nice to hear such an articulate young person.

[@delghi2012]

Good presentation

[@bejoyfulcontent]

Jonathan is really HOTT

[@samiranazertehrani313]

Agree 😉

[@emjayay]

@@samiranazertehrani313 Hottest and gayest of the Crooked Media guys, and he's straight, married, and just had a kid.

[@Julia-lk8jn]

I can see why Barack Obama would pick him as a speech writer; it's a very similar sense of humor and courage to have faith in human beings despite being daily showered with what feels like evidence to the contrary. Very inspiring, thanks for posting!

[@tomasmundo3367]

Great Jon!

[@suerichardson5173]

Very brilliant man

[@ceciliahink3355]

I cried when he talked about the African American woman waited to vote and was going to be mentioned in the Presidential speech. I definitely agree in being who you are,, ESPECIALLY AS A PRESIDENT BECAUSE WE REALLY KNOW WHAT WERE GET TING. SURPRISE BUT TRUMP WAS DEFINITELY NOT WHO WE expected in my opinion.

[@dudusecka]

authentic talk

[@peytonrutledge4114]

so interesting to hear now. in particular, the comment about incoming presidents not wanting to destroy the country. how far we have come. Jon Favreau, thanks for the idealism part. and I'll never hear "Look" the same way when I'm listening to PSA - you ALL use it so often lol

[@Newtperc]

Watching this on Election Day 2020

[@annemacleod1421]

This is so nice. 🇳🇿🇳🇿 Integrity, humour and idealism. Cynicism is a choice. Oh Jon, and now that dreadful man is President... who does not think carefully about his words .... Back then you had no idea how much of your life (and podcasts) would be devoted to critical analysis of him and his administration. Weird watching this in June 2020.

[@theressiashaver4302]

THERE ARE TWO JON FAVREAU. THIS ONE IS A SPEECHWRITER AND WAS BORN JUNE 2, 1981, FIRST NAME JONATHAN. THE OTHER JON IS HIS FIRST NAME AND BORN ON OCT. 19, 1966., AND IN THE FILM INDUSTRY. THEY BOTH ARE MARRY TOO. I THINK THIS JON SHOULD USE HIS FIRST NAME JONATHAN. SO IT WILL NOT BE ANY CONFUSION. BOTH ARE VERY TALENT, AMAZING AND INTERESTING. P. S. ANYONE CAN GOOGLE THIS INFORMATION.

[@Squirmer1000]

Theressia doing the lord’s work out here for those of you who have no deduction skills 😂

[@shafhamid83]

When I saw the title I thought Happy was being interviewed

[@heidi.a.thomson]

I would love to hear his take on today. This is 6 years ago. Time for another interview.

[@Rahulpatee]

Some audience member coughing in the beginning made me anxious haha :/

[@saundraleonard4487]

JON I JUST WANT TO YOU ARE SO ELOQUENTLY , TO HAVE TEAR IN MY EYES

[@slowclimbertothetop4572]

This guy looks presidential!! He should go for it

[@MaryJaneHancock]

Powerful reminder. Don't boo. Vote.

[@jasmineeeee433]

JON FAVREAU 2020

[@slowclimbertothetop4572]

I agree

[@himxli]

Do you think this guy has seen Chef?

[@terryankevmiller470]

This guy is hot and intelligent

[@justiceforall3739]

I wish Jon would run for office

[@NewYorker6699]

Exceptional view into the inner workings of the Obama White House from a central figure to the processes. Well done.

[@louise-yo7kz]

Very impressive guy

[@nancykraus5127]

WHen President Obama sang Amazing Grace it inspired Transatlantic Folksinger Zoe Mulford to write a song called "When My President Sang Amazing Grace". It has been made into a children's book, been sung by Joan Baez in her farewell tour, and loved by many who have heard it. Obama inspired so many with what he did that day.

[@vanessacamilleri441]

Unfortunately, trump's supporters won't get this 🤦

[@gumusluk05]

I don't think Trumps going to get an invitation to the Oxford Union.