This summer, President Obama (estimated handicap: 17) is losing a regular golfing partner: White House staffer Ben Finkenbinder is returning to Chicago to work on the reelection campaign. Never heard of him? The First Duffer’s preferred foursome is filled out by lower-level administration staffers, people not known much beyond the Andrews Air Force Base links.
BEN FINKENBINDER
Day Job:
Assistant White House press secretary—a.k.a. press “wrangler,” who gathers reporters for events and trips Salary: $50,000 Age: 26 Parents: Son of David Finkenbinder, former executive vice president of the National Mining Association Hometown: Bethesda Alma Mater: Macalester College 2004 Campaign Role: Knocked on Minnesota doors for John Kerry ’04. Handicap (According to Golf Digest): 7 Golf Background: Played in college. Fun Fact: On the ’08 presidential campaign, he arrived by 3 each morning to begin compiling news clips.
—–
DAVID KATZ
Day Job: Now White House senior policy adviser for manufacturing; formerly energy-efficiency adviser to Energy Secretary Steven Chu Salary: $92,001 Age: 29 Parents: Son of Lucinda Lee Katz, former director of University of Chicago Laboratory School, which Obama’s daughters attended pre–White House Hometown: Chicago Alma Mater: University of Michigan; Stanford (MBA) 2004 Campaign Role: Was Obama’s campaign photographer beginning with his US Senate run. Handicap (According to Golf Digest): 1.8 Fun Fact: On election night 2008, Katz released 82 behind-the-scenes photos of the Obama family on Flickr.
—– MARVIN NICHOLSON Day Job: White House trip director, who runs every detail of the President’s movements Salery: $130,000 Age: 39 Parents: His American-born mother, Liz Beatty, and stepfather live in North Saanich, British Columbia. Hometown: Toronto Alma Mater: University of Western Ontario 2004 Campaign Role: Was Kerry’s “body man,” or personal aide. Handicap (According to Golf Digest): 8 Golf Background: Has extensive caddying experience in Vancouver and at Augusta National. Fun Fact: While working for Kerry, he carried business cards that proclaimed him “chief of stuff.
This article appears in the August 2011 issue of The Washingtonian.
Who Does Obama Golf With?
Here’s a guide to Obama’s three most frequent golf companions
This summer, President Obama (estimated handicap: 17) is losing a regular golfing partner: White House staffer Ben Finkenbinder is returning to Chicago to work on the reelection campaign. Never heard of him? The First Duffer’s preferred foursome is filled out by lower-level administration staffers, people not known much beyond the Andrews Air Force Base links.
BEN FINKENBINDER
Day Job:
Assistant White House press secretary—a.k.a. press “wrangler,” who gathers reporters for events and tripsSalary: $50,000
Age: 26
Parents: Son of David Finkenbinder, former executive vice president of the National Mining Association
Hometown: Bethesda
Alma Mater: Macalester College
2004 Campaign Role: Knocked on Minnesota doors for John Kerry ’04.
Handicap (According to Golf Digest): 7
Golf Background: Played in college.
Fun Fact: On the ’08 presidential campaign, he arrived by 3 each morning to begin compiling news clips.
—–
DAVID KATZ
Day Job: Now White House senior policy adviser for manufacturing; formerly energy-efficiency adviser to Energy Secretary Steven Chu
Salary: $92,001
Age: 29
Parents: Son of Lucinda Lee Katz, former director of University of Chicago Laboratory School, which Obama’s daughters attended pre–White House
Hometown: Chicago
Alma Mater: University of Michigan; Stanford (MBA)
2004 Campaign Role: Was Obama’s campaign photographer beginning with his US Senate run.
Handicap (According to Golf Digest): 1.8
Fun Fact: On election night 2008, Katz released 82 behind-the-scenes photos of the Obama family on Flickr.
See Also:
Learn to Golf: Seven Great Courses and the Equipment You Need
Golf Instructors in Washington
—–
MARVIN NICHOLSON
Day Job: White House trip director, who runs every detail of the President’s movements
Salery: $130,000
Age: 39
Parents: His American-born mother, Liz Beatty, and stepfather live in North Saanich, British Columbia.
Hometown: Toronto
Alma Mater: University of Western Ontario
2004 Campaign Role: Was Kerry’s “body man,” or personal aide.
Handicap (According to Golf Digest): 8
Golf Background: Has extensive caddying experience in Vancouver and at Augusta National.
Fun Fact: While working for Kerry, he carried business cards that proclaimed him “chief of stuff.
This article appears in the August 2011 issue of The Washingtonian.
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