Obama Speechwriter Cody Keenan on 'Dreamers', Key Speeches & Trump's White House

"This was specifically one of the issues he said he would speak up about. Whenever American values are threatened, whenever various groups of Americans are targeted". Cody Keenan helped former U.S. president Barack Obama draft his recent statement criticising President Donald Trump's decision to end the Dreamers programme, removing legal protection from the children of undocumented immigrants. Keenan worked in the White House throughout Barack Obama's two terms of office, becoming his head speechwriter. He understands the criticism Obama came under for breaking the tradition that former presidents not criticise incumbents. "But you know, Donald Trump has shredded almost every democratic norm there is in America". Last week Cody talked to Chris Dooley about shaping Obama's key speeches, the successes and failures of the administration and his insights into the apparent chaos of the Trump White House.