Macon Phillips

Macon Phillips
Coordinator for International Information Programs
In office
September 23, 2013 – January 20, 2017
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byDawn McCall
White House Director of New Media
In office
January 20, 2009 – September 23, 2013
PresidentBarack Obama
Personal details
Born (1978-06-29) June 29, 1978 (age 45)
Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationDuke University (BA)

Macon Phillips (born June 29, 1978)[1] is an American political strategist who served as the Coordinator of the United States Department of State Bureau of International Information Programs from 2013 to 2017. He reported to Rick Stengel, the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs.[2] Phillips is the former White House Director of New Media, in which capacity he had oversight responsibility for WhiteHouse.gov.[3]

Phillips' work on WhiteHouse.gov closely coordinated with internet operations at the Democratic National Committee,[1] which has responsibility for administration of the BarackObama.com domain and website.[4] At precisely 12:00 p.m.ET during the inauguration of Barack Obama, Phillips oversaw the conversion of Whitehouse.gov, the official website of the President of the United States. At 12:01 p.m., he posted the site's first blog entry, titled: Change has come to WhiteHouse.gov.[5][6]

Early life and education

Phillips is a 1996 graduate of the Randolph School in Huntsville, Alabama,[7] and a sociology graduate of Duke University.[8]

Political career

Phillips is a former director of strategy and communications for Washington, D.C.-based Blue State Digital, a private web design firm that eventually became closely tied to the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign for whom he worked for as an internet strategist.[1] Phillips had previously worked for Democratic Florida State Senator Rod Smith as a senior strategist during the 2006 Florida gubernatorial election.[9] He had also worked for Ted Kennedy.[8]

Phillips was the Director of New Media for the Presidential transition of Barack Obama and had oversight responsibility for Change.gov.[7] In fact, he turned the website on the morning after the 2008 Barack Obama election victory speech.[8] Prior to that he was involved in BarackObama.com and directed the technological initiative to announce the selection of Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee to be Vice President of the United States.[10] Philips' new media efforts during the 2008 United States presidential election helped raise vast sums of money for the Obama presidential campaign, while his text messaging, online videos and social networking skills led the campaign in many organizational and informational ways.[7][11] Blue State Digital created and managed Obama's campaign site, which brought in a million Facebook friends and about $500 million.[12] In 2012 Phillips featured in TechCrunch's list of "20 Most Innovative People in Democracy."[13]

In early August 2009, Phillips was publicly criticized for asking members of the public—via a blogpost at whitehouse.gov—to forward "fishy" emails regarding healthcare reform, raising privacy concerns in the process.[14][15] On August 17, 2009, the White House closed down [email protected], the e-mail address created to receive those reports.[16][17][18]

In September 2013, United States Secretary of State John Kerry hired Philips as the head of the Bureau of International Information Programs in order to spearhead the overhaul of America's "digital diplomacy" efforts.[19] On November 20, 2013, he met with the Russian participants of the U.S.-Russia Young Journalist Exchange.[20]

Personal

Phillips is the brother of Metropolitan Opera lyric soprano Susanna Phillips. He is married to Emily Price Phillips.[21] They had a son, Max, in November 2012. His parents are Dr. Macon and Barbara Phillips.[22]

See also

  • Jesse Lee (politician)

References

  1. ^ a b c Rutenberg, Jim and Adam Nagourney (January 25, 2009). "Melding Obama's Web to a YouTube Presidency". The New York Times. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
  2. ^ Rucker, Philip (September 19, 2013). "Obama's officials to revamp digital diplomacy at State Department". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  3. ^ Vargas, Jose Antonio and Sarah Cohen (January 21, 2009). "Democracy Online: WhiteHouse.gov Turns the Page". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
  4. ^ Curry, Tom (February 7, 2009). "Democrats take control of Obama's 'Web.org': DNC aims to nourish Internet-based organization that helped elect him". NBC News. Microsoft. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  5. ^ Schonfeld, Erick (January 20, 2009). "Whitehouse.gov Has A New Face, And a Blog". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
  6. ^ Phillips, Macon (January 20, 2009). "Change has come to WhiteHouse.gov". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved January 28, 2009 – via National Archives.
  7. ^ a b c Campbell,Steve (November 15, 2008). "Randolph grad is Obama aide". The Huntsville Times. Alabama Live LLC. Archived from the original on May 12, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
  8. ^ a b c Benderoff, Eric (February 24, 2009). "Macon Phillips: The man behind WhiteHouse.gov: President Barack Obama's new media director addresses both transparency, technology in office". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 24, 2009.
  9. ^ Rushing, J. Taylor (August 26, 2006). "Web packs political punch The top four Florida governor hopefuls have sites they hope will click with primary voters". The Florida Times-Union. Newsbank. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
  10. ^ Elliott, Philip (January 20, 2009). "Obama texts warn of parking, train problems". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 28, 2009.[dead link]
  11. ^ Sifry, Micah L. (November 12, 2008). "Obama Transition Names New Media Staff". Tech President. Personal Democracy Forum. Archived from the original on January 24, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
  12. ^ Darcy, Darlene (January 23, 2009). "A wired White House". Washington Business Journal. American City Business Journals, Inc. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
  13. ^ "The 20 Most Innovative People in Democracy". TechCrunch. November 3, 2012.
  14. ^ Sen. John Cornyn (August 5, 2009). "United States Senator John Cornyn, Texas" (Press release). Retrieved August 20, 2009.
  15. ^ Ambinder, Marc (August 4, 2009). "[email protected]". The Atlantic. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
  16. ^ Miller, Sunlen and Jake Tapper (August 18, 2009). "Political Punch: Power, pop, and probings from ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper". ABC News. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
  17. ^ Thrush, Glenn (August 19, 2009). "W.H. can't assuage Cornyn". The Politico. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
  18. ^ Phillips, Macon (August 17, 2009). "An Update on "Reality Check"". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved August 20, 2009 – via National Archives.
  19. ^ Rucker, Philip (September 19, 2013). "Obama's officials to revamp digital diplomacy at State Department". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  20. ^ "U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission Successfully Concludes Second Young Journalist Exchange". United States Department of State. November 20, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  21. ^ "Macon Phillips: White House Director of New Media (since January 2009)". The Washington Post. July 25, 2012. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  22. ^ McCarter, Mark (May 31, 2013). "Huntsville's Macon Phillips playing key role in Obama White House as director for new media". AL.com. Retrieved October 5, 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Macon Phillips.
  • First Obama administration blog (by Phillips)
  • Appearances on C-SPAN
Political offices
Preceded by
Dawn McCall
 Coordinator for the Bureau of International Information Programs
2013–2017 		Succeeded by
Jonathan Henick
Acting
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Office Name Term Office Name Term
Secretary of State John Kerry 2013–2017 Secretary of Treasury Jack Lew 2013–2017
Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter 2015–2017 Attorney General Loretta Lynch 2015–2017
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell 2013–2017 Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack 2009–2017
Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker 2013–2017 Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez 2013–2017
Secretary of Health and
  Human Services		 Sylvia Mathews Burwell 2014–2017 Secretary of Education
Secretary of Transportation		 John King Jr.
Anthony Foxx		 2016–2017
2013–2017
Secretary of Housing and Urban
  Development		 Julian Castro 2014–2017 Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald 2014–2017
Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz 2013–2017 Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson 2013–2017
Vice President Joe Biden 2009–2017 White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough 2013–2017
Director of the Office of Management and
  Budget		 Shaun Donovan 2014–2017 Administrator of the Environmental
  Protection Agency		 Gina McCarthy 2013–2017
Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power 2013–2017 Chair of the Council of Economic
  Advisers		 Jason Furman 2013–2017
Trade Representative Michael Froman 2013–2017 Administrator of the Small Business Administration Maria Contreras-Sweet 2014–2017
Below solid line: Granted Cabinet rank although not automatically part of the Cabinet. See also: Confirmations of Barack Obama's Cabinet
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Office Name Term Office Name Term
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel 2009–10 National Security Advisor James L. Jones 2009–10
Pete Rouse 2010–11 Thomas E. Donilon 2010–13
William M. Daley 2011–12 Susan Rice 2013–17
Jack Lew 2012–13 Deputy National Security Advisor Thomas E. Donilon 2009–10
Denis McDonough 2013–17 Denis McDonough 2010–13
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Mona Sutphen 2009–11 Antony Blinken 2013–14
Nancy-Ann DeParle 2011–13 Avril Haines 2015–17
Rob Nabors 2013–15 Dep. National Security Advisor, Homeland Security John O. Brennan 2009–13
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Jim Messina 2009–11 Lisa Monaco 2013–17
Alyssa Mastromonaco 2011–14 Dep. National Security Advisor, Iraq and Afghanistan Douglas Lute† 2009–13
Anita Decker Breckenridge 2014–17 Dep. National Security Advisor, Strategic Comm. Ben Rhodes 2009–17
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Planning Mark B. Childress 2012–14 Dep. National Security Advisor, Chief of Staff Mark Lippert 2009
Kristie Canegallo 2014–17 Denis McDonough 2009–10
Counselor to the President Pete Rouse 2011–13 Brooke D. Anderson 2011–12
John Podesta 2014–15 White House Communications Director Ellen Moran 2009
Senior Advisor to the President David Axelrod 2009–11 Anita Dunn 2009
David Plouffe 2011–13 Daniel Pfeiffer 2009–13
Daniel Pfeiffer 2013–15 Jennifer Palmieri 2013–15
Shailagh Murray 2015–17 Jen Psaki 2015–17
Senior Advisor to the President Pete Rouse 2009–10 Deputy White House Communications Director Jen Psaki 2009–11
Brian Deese 2015–17 Jennifer Palmieri 2011–14
Senior Advisor to the President and Valerie Jarrett 2009–17 Amy Brundage 2014–16
Assistant to the President for Liz Allen 2016–17
Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs 2009–11
Director, Public Engagement Tina Tchen 2009–11 Jay Carney 2011–13
Jon Carson 2011–13 Josh Earnest 2013–17
Paulette L. Aniskoff 2013–17 Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton 2009–11
Director, Intergovernmental Affairs Cecilia Muñoz 2009–12 Josh Earnest 2011–13
David Agnew 2012–14 Eric Schultz 2014–17
Jerry Abramson 2014–17 Director of Special Projects Stephanie Cutter 2010–11
Director, National Economic Council Lawrence Summers 2009–10 Director, Speechwriting Jon Favreau 2009–13
Gene Sperling 2011–14 Cody Keenan 2013–17
Jeff Zients 2014–17 Director, Digital Strategy Macon Phillips 2009–13
Chair, Council of Economic Advisers Christina Romer 2009–10 Chief Digital Officer Jason Goldman 2015–17
Austan Goolsbee 2010–13 Director, Legislative Affairs Phil Schiliro 2009–11
Jason Furman 2013–17 Rob Nabors 2011–13
Chair, Economic Recovery Advisory Board Paul Volcker 2009–11 Katie Beirne Fallon 2013–16
Chair, Council on Jobs and Competitiveness Jeff Immelt 2011–13 Miguel Rodriguez 2016
Director, Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes 2009–12 Amy Rosenbaum 2016–17
Cecilia Muñoz 2012–17 Director, Political Affairs Patrick Gaspard 2009–11
Director, Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Joshua DuBois 2009–13 David Simas 2011–16
Melissa Rogers 2013–17 Director, Presidential Personnel Nancy Hogan 2009–13
Director, Office of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle 2009–11 Johnathan D. McBride 2013–14
Director, Office of National AIDS Policy Jeffrey Crowley 2009–11 Valerie E. Green 2014–15
Grant N. Colfax 2011–13 Rodin A. Mehrbani 2016–17
Douglas M. Brooks 2013–17 White House Staff Secretary Lisa Brown 2009–11
Director, Office of Urban Affairs Adolfo Carrión Jr. 2009–10 Rajesh De 2011–12
Racquel S. Russell 2010–14 Douglas Kramer 2012–13
Roy Austin Jr. 2014–17 Joani Walsh 2014–17
Director, Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy Carol Browner 2009–11 Director, Management and Administration Bradley J. Kiley 2009–11
White House Counsel Greg Craig 2009–10 Katy A. Kale 2011–15
Bob Bauer 2010–11 Maju Varghese 2015–17
Kathryn Ruemmler 2011–14 Director, Scheduling and Advance Alyssa Mastromonaco 2009–11
Neil Eggleston 2014–17 Danielle Crutchfield 2011–14
White House Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu 2009–13 Chase Cushman 2014–17
Danielle C. Gray 2013–14 Director, White House Information Technology David Recordon 2015–17
Broderick D. Johnson 2014–17 Director, Office of Administration Cameron Moody 2009–11
Personal Aide to the President Reggie Love 2009–11 Beth Jones 2011–15
Brian Mosteller 2011–12 Cathy Solomon 2015–17
Marvin D. Nicholson 2012–17 Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy John Holdren 2009–17
Director, Oval Office Operations Brian Mosteller 2012–17 Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra 2009–12
Personal Secretary to the President Katie Johnson 2009–11 Todd Park 2012–14
Anita Decker Breckenridge 2011–14 Megan Smith 2014–17
Ferial Govashiri 2014–17 Director, Office of Management and Budget Peter R. Orszag 2009–10
Chief of Staff to the First Lady Jackie Norris 2009 Jack Lew 2010–12
Susan Sher 2009–11 Jeff Zients 2012–13
Tina Tchen 2011–17 Sylvia Mathews Burwell 2013–14
White House Social Secretary Desirée Rogers 2009–10 Brian Deese 2014
Julianna Smoot 2010–11 Shaun Donovan 2014–17
Jeremy Bernard 2011–15 Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra 2009–11
Deesha Dyer 2015–17 Steven VanRoekel 2011–14
Chief of Staff to the Vice President Ron Klain 2009–11 Tony Scott 2015–17
Bruce Reed 2011–13 United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk 2009–13
Steve Ricchetti 2013–17 Michael Froman 2013–17
White House Chief Usher Stephen W. Rochon† 2009–11 Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske 2009–14
Angella Reid 2011–17 Michael Botticelli 2014–17
Director, White House Military Office George Mulligan 2009–13 Chair, Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley 2009–14
Emmett Beliveau 2013–15 Michael Boots 2014–15
Dabney Kern 2016–17 Christy Goldfuss 2015–17
† Remained from previous administration.
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Position Appointee
Chief of Staff to the Vice President Steve Ricchetti
Counsel to the Vice President Cynthia Hogan
Counselor to the Vice President Mike Donilon
Assistant to the Vice President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison Evan Ryan
Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Communications Shailagh Murray
Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice President Shailagh Murray
Deputy National Security Adviser to the Vice President Brian P. McKeon
Residence Manager and Social Secretary for the Vice President and Second Lady Carlos Elizondo
National Security Adviser to the Vice President Colin Kahl
Position Appointee
Chief of Staff to the Second Lady Catherine M. Russell
Director of Administration for the Office of the Vice President Moises Vela
Domestic Policy Adviser to the Vice President Terrell McSweeny
Chief Economist and Economic Policy Adviser to the Vice President Jared Bernstein
Press Secretary to the Vice President Elizabeth Alexander
Deputy Press Secretary to the Vice President Annie Tomasini
Director of Legislative Affairs Sudafi Henry
Director of Communications for the Second Lady Courtney O’Donnell