Ricki Seidman
Born
Ricki Lynn Seidman

(1955-08-24) August 24, 1955
NationalityAmerican
EducationMiami University (BA)
University of Georgia School of Law (JD)
Occupation(s)Political activist, adviser
Political partyDemocratic
Parent(s)Eileen Joan (née Ladenson) and Frank Seidman

Ricki Lynn Seidman (born August 24, 1955) is an American political adviser, government official, and Democratic Party activist. Seidman is nationally recognized for her involvement in the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Robert Bork, Clarence Thomas, Sonia Sotomayor, and Brett Kavanaugh.

Seidman's role in Democratic politics over the past four decades has led her to be represented in media such as the HBO film Confirmation, where she was depicted an as adviser to Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination.[1]

Early life and career

Seidman was born on August 24, 1955, to a Jewish family, the daughter of Eileen Joan (née Ladenson) and Frank Seidman.[2][3] She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Miami University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law.[4]

After graduation, she worked as a senior investigator for the investigation firm, Investigative Group International[5][6] and later for the People for the American Way.[7]

Political career

Presidential politics

She has been involved in presidential campaigns beginning with Walter Mondale in 1984, Michael Dukakis in 1988,[5] and Bill Clinton in 1992. Seidman worked for President Clinton as assistant to the president, as the director of scheduling and advance, and as the deputy communications director and assistant to the president.[5] She served as deputy communications director during the Clinton–Gore presidential campaign transition,[5] and worked on the failed nominations of Lani Guinier and Webster Hubbell.[8]

She appeared in the 1993 documentary film about the 1992 Clinton campaign for president, The War Room, and the 2008 film The Return of the War Room documenting Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

Supreme Court

Seidman worked as an assistant to Senator Ted Kennedy and chief investigator for the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee[5] where she worked against the Robert Bork (1987) and Clarence Thomas (1990) nominations to the U.S. Supreme Court.[8] Nan Aron from Alliance for Justice asserts that she was the one that tipped Seidman off about Thomas' alleged harassment.[9]

In 1991, she prepped Anita Hill before she testified.[10] She was played by Grace Gummer in the HBO film Confirmation, depicting her role as adviser to Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination.[1]

In September 2018, Politico reported that she is serving as an adviser to Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her in 1982 when they were teenagers.[11] Her involvement was criticized by Cassie Smedile, press secretary for the Republican National Committee, who stated, "If you're concerned about an appearance of partisanship, hiring a Democratic operative with a history of smearing conservative judges doesn't exactly mitigate that."[12]

Department of Justice

Subsequently, she was named as a deputy associate attorney general at the U.S. Department of Justice.[4][13] In 2000, she served as a senior principal at TSD Communications, a position she maintains today.[13] She served as then-Senator Joe Biden's communications director during the Obama presidential campaign in 2008.[4] In 2009, she advised President Barack Obama during the successful nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.[13] In 2021, Seidman rejoined the Department of Justice under the Biden administration.[14]

Other activities

She also served as a fellow of the Harvard Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, and for three years as executive director of Rock the Vote.[4] Seidman served as an advisor to Google from 2006 to 2011 and her firm, TSD Communications, included Facebook among its clientele.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 "Ricki Seidman: Played by Grace Gummer". HBO. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Weekend Birthdays — Friday: Senior principal at TSD Communications, she formerly worked in both the Clinton and Obama White House, Ricki Seidman turns 63". Jewish Insider. August 24, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Obituary: Eileen Joan Seidman". Atlanta Jewish Times. September 21, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Key People-Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL)". Democracy in Action. Archived from the original on September 24, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ricki Seidman". Harvard University Kennedy School of Politics. Fall 1997. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  6. ↑ Lovelace, Ryan (August 10, 2018). "After 34 Years, Storied DC Investigations Firm Has No Lenzner at the Helm". National Law Journal. Law.com. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  7. ↑ Chen, Edwin; Healy, Melissa (October 12, 1991). "Hill's New Harassment Allegations Draw Angry Denials From Thomas : Hearings: The law professor testifies that the court nominee repeatedly boasted of his sexual prowess. The judge calls session 'high-tech lynching for an uppity black.'". Los Angeles Times.
  8. 1 2 Drew, Elizabeth (1994). On the Edge: The Clinton Presidency. Simon and Schuster.
  9. ↑ Aron, Nan (April 27, 2017). "Anita Hill Taught Us a Lesson That Today's Obstructionist Republicans Have Forgotten". HuffPost. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  10. ↑ Ainsley, Julia; Alexander, Peter (September 21, 2018). "Both Sides Prep for Potential Kavanaugh/Ford Hearing on Sex Assault Allegation". NBC News. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  11. ↑ Axelrod, Tal (September 20, 2018). "Ford Taps Obama, Clinton Alum to Navigate Senate Hearing". The Hill. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  12. ↑ Karni, Annie (September 20, 2018). "Kavanaugh Accuser Leans on Democratic Operative for Advice". Politico. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  13. 1 2 3 "Ricki Seidman: Senior Principal". TSD Communications. Archived from the original on September 21, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  14. ↑ Thompson, Alex; Meyer, Theodoric (April 15, 2021). ""What Would Beau Say?"". Politico. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  15. ↑ Dayen, David (April 15, 2021). "The End of the Insider Party Network". The American Prospect. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
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