Bensinger: Reggie, what was the campaign like for you?
Love: It wasn’t like anything I’d ever experienced before. I had worked on a statewide campaign when I was a sophomore in college for about three months, but I’d never been a part of something that was so big, so long, and so organized. This was my first national campaign. I said to President-elect Obama the other day that I’ve been on a lot of great teams before, but the Obama campaign was by far the best team that I’ve been a part of. There were so many people who were dedicated, so many people who were in it for the right reasons, and were really hungry and excited about changing this country. I think that’s one of the main reasons why we were able to pull things off.
Bensinger: I want to go through some moments and get your thoughts on what first comes to mind. I would imagine the hardest part is simply the daunting schedule, but what about the best perk?
Love: For my 26th birthday, I actually got to spend a few hours backstage at the Jay-Z concert with Jay-Z, Beyonce, and Mary J Blige. It was right after the Pennsylvania Primaries so that was a real treat even though the next day we had to be up and on the plane at 6 a.m. It was really nice of my boss to look out for me and to set something up like that for me as well.
Bensinger: The most stressful moment for you, personally.
Love: The most stressful moment is definitely the moments when he asks me for something and I know before I even start looking for it that I don’t have it. But I still give a good search around for it!
Bensinger: Was there a particular moment that you dreaded having to tell President-elect Obama that you didn’t have something?
Love: There were a couple times when there was a bag or a briefing that had gotten left in another state and I started beading up with sweat before telling him.
Bensinger: The most interesting call you’ve received.
Love: I mean, there have been a lot of calls and they’re all usually about work.
Bensinger: But have you picked up the phone and it was President Clinton or [French President] Nicholas Sarkozy or someone like that?
Love: There are some weird times when the phone will ring and it will be late and President-elect Obama will not be around and it will be some kids who have somehow tracked down the phone number. They’ll say they’re really excited that Senator Obama is running for President and four or five friends will be on in the background and they’ll all be yelling. There have been a few of those calls and they’re always surprising and interesting.
Bensinger: I understand you play cards with the President-elect and you both occasionally talk late into the night. Either the most interesting conversation you’ve had with him that you’re willing to share or your favorite moment from the campaign.
Love: We didn’t play a lot of cards towards the end, but we definitely watched a bunch of SportsCenter. We had a debate for a very long time about who was the top point guard in the NBA. Before Chris Paul was an All Star, I made the case that he was one of the premier point guards in the NBA and even better than Tony Parker. He went on about how I was wrong for months. He’d even send me emails about Tony Parker’s stat lines and then [sarcastically] ask, "What’d Chris Paul do last night?" After Chris Paul’s performance last year, I think he realizes that they’re probably a lot closer than he gives them credit to being.
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Bensinger: You turned down a lucrative offer from Goldman Sachs to accept a job in Senator Obama’s mailroom. I understand, at one point during the campaign, you were cramming for law school exams. I read you might try out for a basketball team overseas after the election is over.
Flying on the hardwood, racing on the rink, getting physical on the gridiron, and much more.
Love: (laughs) I said that a long time ago!
Bensinger: OK ... So then the question is where you see your future going now and how much interest you have in being part of the Obama Administration?
Love: It would be an honor and privilege to serve the President and serve the country. At some point, I do want to get back to school and get a higher degree, probably law school. I still haven’t taken the LSTATs and haven’t applied to schools. I was thinking about going to Goldman Sachs [before working for Senator Obama] and didn’t really turn it down, but the conversation we had is that they’re going to be around for awhile. Working for Senator Obama was definitely the opportunity of a lifetime.
Bensinger: And that’s where you see yourself staying in the near future?
Love: Probably so.
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