ROBERT S. WEINER

Robert Weiner Associates and Weiner Public News

1750 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #28271
Washington, DC 20038-8271
Tel. 301-283-0821, cell 202-306-1200

FORMER SPOKESMAN, CLINTON WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESSMEN JOHN CONYERS AND CHARLES RANGEL, CHIEF OF STAFF FOR CONG. CLAUDE PEPPER, LEGISLATIVE ASST TO ED KOCH, POLITICAL AIDE TO SEN. TED KENNEDY, DIRECTOR OF THE 2012 AND 2008 DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION PRESS BRIEFING ROOMS. NOW NATIONAL COLUMNIST & WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, AUTHOR OF 700 OPEDS IN MAJOR PAPERS. WINNER OF THIS YEAR’S (JAN. 2016) NATIONAL PRESS CLUB PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR OPEDS ENLISTING YOUNG JOURNALISTS AS CO-AUTHORS.

  • CURRENT: President, Robert Weiner Associates Public Affairs and Issue Strategies, 2001-present Democratic Issues Strategist. With 30 years of top level government and political experience, created and heads Washington, DC based company. Generates news coverage, electronic and print, for political and private sector clients. Created and heads foundation for young journalists to be co-bylined in op-eds in major papers (over 700 since leaving White House staff in 2001). January 2016, won National Press Club President’s Award for successful young journalists’ op-ed program.

Consults with media on issues including aging, Social Security, health care, drug and crime policy, government operations, sports policy, environmental concerns, national security, election reform, budget priorities, and other subjects in which he and his associates have expertise. Recent appearances and coverage include “Fox and Friends,” CNN “Crossfire,” ABC “Politically Incorrect,” Sky News, CNN, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, TV Guide, AP, and regularly on network radio. Recent op-eds in Miami Herald, Baltimore Sun, Christian Science Monitor, Palm Beach Post, Atlanta Constitution, New York Post, Washington Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Adweek, Orlando Sentinel, Indianapolis Star, San Jose Mercury News, Michigan Chronicle, others. National radio spokesman“talker” for Democratic positions. Has assembled experienced team of experts in media execution and issue development and analysis.

* Event Coordinator, National Press Club Newsmakers Committee, 2011-present, ongoing. Organize and host forums/news conferences, most covered on C-Span and other networks, withCharles Schumer, Steny Hoyer, Chris Van Hollen, Elijah Cummings, John Conyers, Steve Israel, Barry McCaffrey, Eric Garcetti, Antonio Villaraigosa among others, and many bipartisan debates at NPC with state attorneys general and various members of congress including Chris Van Hollen-Rob Portman on federal budget, Steve Israel-Rob Price on election outcome projections, and others.

*Director of Public Affairs/Chief of Press Relations, White House Office of National Drug Policy, May 1995-August 2001. Liaison with media and spokesperson for Clinton Administration and Office for top national profile issue. Developed over 20,000 press opportunities and interviews for White House "Drug Czar," the National Drug Policy Director (Barry McCaffrey 1996-2001, Lee Brown 1995-96, and Presidential Transition 2001, the President's Cabinet Member coordinating $19 billion anti-drug strategy involving fifty agencies, with television, radio, and print media. Arranged 3000 print and 1000 television stories and interviews annually, highest per-staff rate in the Cabinet. Strategized and generated coverage, stories, and appearances on evening and morning TV network news, "Meet the Press," "Face the Nation," "This Week," Dan Rather live interviews, Tom Brokaw and Peter Jennings "Close-up" profiles, "Nightline," "Today," "Good Morning America," Lehrer Newshour, "Montel," news and feature stories in AP and Reuters wires and all papers including New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, national magazines including Time, Newsweek, U.S. News, and Parade (cover story), and radio. Organized national and regional, as well as international, news conferences. Constant telephone liaison. Drafted releases, advisories, statements, and media talking points for Director and the President. Spoke on the record with media as needed to define and amplify positions and activities.

Conceived and produced nationwide campaign of over 30 television and radio PSA's by National Drug Policy Director with celebrities including Michael Johnson, Montel Williams, Dan Marino, Jerry Rice, Dominique Dawes, Lynda Carter, Juwan Howard, John Thompson, ABC "Murder One" stars, top network TV daytime actors from "Young and the Restless" and "General Hospital," and child stars from "Sesame Street" and Nickelodeon. Award-winning ads shown regularly including prime time on all major networks.

ADDITIONAL PRIOR POSITIONS:

*Press Secretary and Communications Director, Committee on Government Operations, U.S. House of Representatives, 1990-95, under Chairman John Conyers. Generated and coordinated all media coverage and interviews for Chairman and Committee including "Sixty Minutes," "Nightline," "Today," "Larry King Live," network news, national and local newspaper stories.

*Press Secretary/Media Coordinator, Select Committee on Narcotics, U.S. House of Representatives, 1987-90, under Chairman Charles Rangel. Developed and coordinated all national and local media for Chairman and Committee as drugs grew to a top national issue. Arranged "Nightline," "Oprah," regular national television network news and major newspaper interviews.

*Director, Robert Weiner Associates, 1980-87, a nationwide executive search company; included position as senior associate for Management Recruiters International. Set national executive search record for placements in single day (eight) by recruiting women and minorities.

*Chief of Staff/Staff Director, Select Committee on Aging, U.S. House of Representatives, 1976-80, under Chairman Claude Pepper. Coordinated the successful effort of Chairman Pepper and 44 Members to enact landmark legislation ending mandatory retirement at 65. Conceived and developed hearings with productive older Americans as witnesses, including Colonel Sanders, Ruth Gordon, Will Geer, and Averill Harriman. Also Staff Director, Subcommittee on Health and Long-Term Care, House Select Committee on Aging, 1975-76, under Chairman Pepper.

*Washington Legislative Assistant to Cong. Edward Koch, 1974-75. Briefed all floor votes; coordinated his legislation including winning committee and House floor amendments on home health care, transportation, foreign policy, and government auditing; and sustained support in conference committees.

*Director, Democratic National Convention Daily Press Briefing Room 2012 under Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and 2008 under Howard Dean/Jenni Engrebretsen.

*Director, Democratic National Convention General Press Rooms and Filing Centers, 2004, 2000, 1996, 1992, and 1988 under Terry McAuliffe, Kiki Moore, Mike McCurry/Paul Kirk, Don Fowler, and Ron Brown. Also Staff at 1984, 1980, 1976, 1972 Conventions.

*National Voter Registration and Get-out-the-Vote Media Coordinator for the Democratic National Committee, 1972, at the Watergate headquarters under Chairman Larry O'Brien. Also National Youth Voter Registration Coordinator at the Democratic National Committee for the Young Democrats' office at the Watergate headquarters, and Administrative Assistant to the National Young Democratic President, 1971-72.

*National presidential campaign aide to Senator Edward Kennedy, 1980. Western Massachusetts Student co-coordinator and Central Mass. phone bank director for Sen. Kennedy, 1969-70.

*Consultant to Carter-Mondale Transition Planning Group, 1976: drafted Administration position papers on aging and health.

AWARDS ANDPERSONAL

* January 2016, National Press Club President’s Award, for program enlisting young journalists as bylined co-authors of op-eds in top papers.

* 2014 USA Track & Field David Payne Outstanding Service Award for masters track and field, awarded to one person a year nationally.

* 2012 USA Track Field President’s Award for bringing media visibility to national masters track, presented on stage at national convention.

* White House Office of National Drug Control PolicyDirector's Award for Distinguished Service, 2001, and Outstanding Performance Award, 2000, 1999,and 1998,.

* Communicator of the Year Award, Washington Crime News Service, 1988, 1989, 1990.

* Smithsonian Museum of American History, 1973-2003, exhibit in glass case, "The Youth Vote;" portions still displayed through present.

* USA Track & Field National Masters Media Chair and masters executive committee member, 2003-present.

* White House Athletic Center, Executive Board Member, 1995-2001.

* Board member, Northern Virginia Running Club, 2010-present. President, Capitol Hill Runners, 1990 - present. Past Vice President, D.C. Road Runners, President, Sugarloaf Mt. A.C. (Massachusetts), and Chairman, Road Runners of America Ten Mile National Championship.Organizing and Bid Chair, 2009 Indoor Masters National Track Championships.

* U.S. Track Field Masters All-American ten-times. Approx. twenty medals though present (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) at National Masters Championships, 3K Steeplechase, 1500 Meter run, and relays. Scoring member of National Masters Championship team (PVTC) 2015 and 2013. Ten-time invited runner, 1989-2001, Mobil and Adidas Invitational (#1 U.S. Indoor Track Meet), and Co-Director, Masters Mile.

* Education and Personal: M.A., American History, 1974, University of Massachusetts; B.A., Oberlin College, 1969 (graduated Dean’s List); Blair Academy, 1965 (prizes History, French, English, Outstanding East Coast Model U.N. delegation; Created school’s first Mock Presidential Convention). Married to Patricia E. Berg, Ph.D.