Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America Hardcover – October 4, 2022

I absolutely loved this book, and the stories Cody shared with the readers. I would be willing to bet, this was one of the most beloved couples and family, to honor the White House with themselves and their family, through their distinguishable decorum, humor, and a strong sense of family values. Cody shows us a small glimpse into the ups and downs of working for and around the Obama’s.I have watched every speech President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have delivered, give or take a few. Even more, I live in the state of Illinois, and I, like so many others in this state, have a great sense of pride that both of them were from here, and the fact he'd started out as a senator for the State Of Illinois.To have Kennan put to paper, the events and even the every day dealings, that went on around the staffers and our wonderful Chief Of Staff, was an unmitigated delight to read about. It gave it a more intimate look and feel, to what was on the written page. It definitely showed us what it took to get those formal written words into a speech, and down on paper, so that POTUS sounded magnificent every time, and with the stressor of unequivocally no room for errors.I significantly took pleasure in the layout and formatting he took for the book, by covering that specific 10 day period, but also providing the history and backdrop for other purposes and events.Reading all the little behind the scene stories and getting to read and know about others that worked with President Obama in one capacity or another, provided a hospitable and relaxed atmosphere, at times, as the story was being told, as well.I could suddenly recall, quite vividly at times, what seemed a nightmarish interval, a temporal span if you will, with unbelievable turbulence and disorderly behavior, happening all around our beatific country, and wondering if it was ever going to right itself again. It personally felt, through the President ‘s speeches, nurturing, but with a sense of strength, as if he was up to be able to provide us with an emotional sentiment to the country with a straight-forward genuine frankness. With sass and attitude that were both genuine and gracious, as to where we stood, but still left us with a little light still shining brightly, and wrapped up in the belief that we could be better, and would be better of as well. It hflooded the nation, as well as others around the world, with a faith so deep,never a question as to the how and when, we would come out the other side victorious, together and as one nation under God.I know Kennan and Obama talked about the Grace Of God, but I also must point out, the President and his lovely First Lady, carried themselves with dignity, diplomacy, and a high level of gentility, and most importantly the true meaning of divine grace, which is so simply put on Wikipedia as "Divine grace is a theological term present in many religions. It has been defined as the divine influence which operates in humans to regenerate and sanctify, to inspire virtuous impulses, and to impart strength to endure trial and resist temptation; and as an individual virtue or excellence of divine origin."I can barely imagine the pressure on the one in charge of writing out not only the message, but including all that I mentioned just now, in the above paragraph.Who knew they're was so much involved in writing speeches for another person, while trying to capture it in their persona, as well as their vernacular, all the while having the fact checking department running through it everytime they added, or made a change, to it.Shout out to Cody's girlfriend, now wife, mother of his child/children, Kristen Bartoloni-Keenan.What a hectic life they had during those times, and both working on major teams for the President, while trying to nurture a budding relationship, to the blessed union it eventually became.I highly recommend this book to everyone! Whether Democrat, Republican , Christian, Atheist, etc.My last point I’d like to make is I very rarely give any book a 5 star rating.I generally reserve 5 stars for one of 3 categories.1) The Classics2) Books I absolutely would read again, or 3) Those that profoundly affected my whole being while reading, and if it left an intense deeply-rooted impression as well.This book falls under 2 of the categories, 2 & 3, so it definitely earned the full 5 stars I rated it.

Cody Keenan was a speechwriter for Obama during his presidency, so the writing is obviously exceptional. His perspective as a speechwriter feels like a peek behind the scenes and deeper into what it looks like being a president, specifically this president, President Obama. It’s a peek into the huge issues that needed to be addressed with words and how impossible that must feel sometimes. What do you say after another and another and another shooting?I cried reliving some of the monumentally important moments discussed and how they affected citizens and members of the White House staff. So many shootings, the impact of Supreme Court rulings on the ACA and same sex marriage, and the determined passion behind the idea of making the US better for everyone - and that’s just in this snapshot of ten days (though told with flashbacks and past references). I’m in awe.Cody Keenan also shares his personal life and humor, how he met and dated the woman who, among other duties, was a fact-checker for his speeches. Hearing about what it’s like working in such positions so close to the president and under intense pressure was held my interest. He and Kristen were both always tethered to their phones and could never really leave work at work and made an incredible team at work and at home. Hearing how much Cody worried about such a giant job and the support from his fiancé and then wife was touching.Anyone who has enjoyed listening to podcasts by other former Obama speechwriters and other close positions and been fascinated thinking about what the must have been like will enjoy getting an even closer look through these ten days in June 2015 and hearing how they all met and came to work together.Narrated by himself, the audible version was also wonderful.

Mr. Keenan’s book delves deep into the personalities and inner-workings of the Obama White House. And he provides an optimistic, hopeful view of American politics. He deftly weaves details about political communications as well as America, itself, into a detailed recounting of a 10-day period of 2015 that serves as a microcosm of the Obama Presidency, Keenan’s work, and our national politics. Masterful in how it shifts seamlessly from portraying the daily minutiae in the White House to address political issues that span as far back 400 years or more. Great writing. Well worth the read!

Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America by Cody Keenan is hard to categorize. It is an historical recounting of the ten days leading to President Obama's eulogy for those murdered during bible study in a black church in South Carolina. It is also a textured, colorful insight into the daily workings of the White House and the interpersonal dynamic between POTUS and staff. It is also a compelling story about the people and events of Obama's White House. And, what has left me breathless, it is ultimately an affirmation that there are good, smart, ethical people--even in politics! I feel as though I should be writing Cody Keenan a personal thank-you note in place of a book review. Thank you Mr. Keenan!

A perspective of what goes on in the White House. An accounting of who is responsible for crafting the president's speeches, now they are vetted, and how the president provided input into what is said. The commaraderie amongst the staff members is encouraging.

I read everything

I know he doesn’t need another 5 star review but I finished this beautifully written book and felt I had to give credit when credit is due. His writing is so beautiful I felt enveloped by the snow around the White House. His writing and recount of that time brought tears to my eyes. A beautiful tribute to President Obama and everyone that works so hard to help every day Americans. Bravo.

Should be mandatory reading

The best book on the Obama presidency. Packed full with fascinating behind the scenes vignettes, insights and stories - essential reading for anyone interested in writing, politics and public service.

A beautiful read. A lovely story.I have mixed thought on the last chapter with the exception of the last sentence. Somehow we didn’t need a trump was bad chapter, it felt superfluous.But the rest was beautiful writing that made you think you were in the room with Cody and were a silent friend during that momentous week.

A fascinating look inside the crafting of an American President's response to a country's accelerating slide into hatred and division.