Julianna Smoot

Julianna Smoot
Smoot in 2021 as Detroit's Chief Development Officer
28th White House Social Secretary
In office
February 26, 2010 – March 1, 2011
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byDesirée Rogers
Succeeded byJeremy Bernard
Personal details
Born
Julianna Skinner Smoot

1967 (age 56–57)
North Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Lon Johnson
​
(m. 2011)​
EducationSmith College (BA)

Julianna Smoot is an American political aide and fundraiser for the Democratic Party. She served as a Deputy Manager of Barack Obama's 2012 presidential reelection campaign,[1] having previously served as White House Social Secretary, Deputy Assistant to the President.[2] and Chief of Staff to United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk. Smoot previously served as a professional fundraiser for the Democratic Party.[3] She was the national finance director for Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign. Under her direction, the campaign raised $32.5 million during the second quarter of 2007 and by election day, more money than any campaign in American history.[4] She was named Social Secretary after her predecessor, Desirée Rogers resigned on February 26, 2010.[3][5][6][7][8][9]

Early life and education

Smoot was born in North Carolina, where she was a debutante in Raleigh and the surrounding area. She graduated from Smith College in 1989, where she was a classmate of Stephanie Cutter.

Career

She took leave from her job at the American Trial Lawyers Association to be finance director of John Edwards's 1998 campaign for U.S. Senate. She met Pete Rouse and Steve Hildebrand on Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle's unsuccessful reelection campaign in 2004, where she raised $21 million. Rouse and Hildebrand brought her to the first Obama presidential campaign in January, 2007.[9] She has also held positions with Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois and Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia. She worked in Senatorial campaigns for Chris Dodd and Harry Reid.[6][8][10]

During the 2006 election cycle, she raised record sums as finance director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, under Chuck Schumer.[9]

Smoot was, according to a press report, declared "MVP for the first fundraising quarter" due to her success in raising money for the Obama presidential campaign in 2007.[11][12]

In 2013 she founded the political consulting firm STG Results with fellow Obama staffer Scott Tewes.[13] Smoot is now serving on the board of nonprofit Obama Foundation, which was officially set up for constructing the Barack Obama Presidential Library and Museum.[14] She is also a founder and senior advisor of WaterWorks Fund, a funding portal for sustainable water solutions.[15]

Personal life

Her husband, Lon Johnson, was briefly the chairperson of the Michigan Democratic Party[16][17] until he resigned in June 2015 to run for the United States House of Representatives in Michigan's 1st District and was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2012 election for the 103rd district in the Michigan House of Representatives.[18] His wife's employment in the Obama reelection effort was a campaign issue.[19]

References

  1. ^ "Factbox: Key players in Obama's re-election campaign". Reuters. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  2. ^ "Obama taps Washington insider as social secretary". Blnz.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-20. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  3. ^ a b Kornblut, Anne; Krissah Thompson (March 3, 2010). "Julianna Smoot brings an insider's perspective to Obama's inner circle". Washington Post. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  4. ^ Marlantes, Liz; Greg McCown; Jean Garner (July 1, 2007). "Obama Takes In $32.5M Campaign Haul". ABC News. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  5. ^ Weisman, Jonathan (February 26, 2010). "Desiree Rogers to Leave White House". Washington Wire (blog). Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2013-01-02. White House social secretary Desiree Rogers, who has been under fire ever since Michaele and Tareq Salahi crashed President Barack Obama's first state dinner, will resign in March, she told Chicago Sun-Times columnist Lynn Sweet.
  6. ^ a b Christensen, Rob (September 3, 2012). "Former N.C. debutante Julianna Smoot heads Obama's money machine". Charlotte News & Observer. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  7. ^ "Julianna Smoot and Lon Johnson". New York Times. October 23, 2011. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  8. ^ a b "Idealism and Compromise in Politics and Life". Women's Narratives Project. Smith College. November 5, 2009. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  9. ^ a b c "Julianna Smoot - The Washington Post". Washington Post. July 24, 2012. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  10. ^ "Capital Dames: 10 Powerful Women in DC (Julianna Smoot, The Go-To Fundraiser)". Elle. March 19, 2012. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  11. ^ Cillizza, Chris; Shailagh Murray (April 8, 2007). "Whatever the Postmarks Say, The Checks Are Made Out to Franken". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  12. ^ Cillizza, Chris (January 16, 2007). "Barack Obama's Impressive Team". The Fix (blog). Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 5, 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  13. ^ "STG Results (Smoot Tewes Group)".
  14. ^ David Jackson, USA TODAY (2014-01-31). "Obama library foundation is formed". Usatoday.com. Retrieved 2014-05-19.
  15. ^ WaterWorks. "Julianna Smoot / WaterWorks". WaterWorks. Archived from the original on 2019-08-14. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
  16. ^ Gautz, Chris (February 23, 2013). "Longtime chair Mark Brewer is out; state Dems elect Lon Johnson". Crain's Detroit Business. Associated Press. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  17. ^ Gray, Kathleen (February 23, 2013). "Mark Brewer exits race for party chair after tense day at Michigan Democratic convention". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  18. ^ "Michigan House of Representatives results". Detroit News. Associated Press. December 31, 2012. Archived from the original on August 6, 2014. Retrieved 2013-01-01. (quoted:)
  19. ^ Clark, Zoe; Rick Pluta (August 31, 2012). "It's Just Politics". Michigan Radio. Retrieved 2013-01-02. Representative Rendon sent out a fundraising letter that calls attention to the fact that Johnson's wife ... is one of the people running President Obama's reelection campaign, and a superstar of Democratic politics. ...Johnson released a letter that calls on his Republican opponent to lay off his wife.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by White House Social Secretary
2010–2011 		Succeeded by
  • v
  • t
  • e
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.