Editing Bob Shrum

{{Short description|American journalist}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Bob Shrum
| image              = Bob Shrum on the Campaign Tapes.jpg
| caption            = Shrum speaks to the [[United States Studies Centre]] during the [[2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries]]
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1943|7|21}}
| birth_place        = [[Connellsville, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| education          = [[Georgetown University]] {{small|([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])}}<br>[[Harvard University]] {{small|([[Juris Doctor|JD]])}}
| spouse             = {{marriage|Marylouise Oates|1988}}
}}
'''Robert M. "Bob" Shrum''' (born July 21, 1943) is the director of the [[USC Center for the Political Future|Center for the Political Future]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dornsife-center-for-political-future.usc.edu/staff/robert-m-shrum/|title=USC Center for the Political Future|website=dornsife-center-for-political-future.usc.edu|access-date=2019-11-20}}</ref> and the Carmen H. and Louis Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics at the [[University of Southern California]], where he is a professor of political science in the [[USC Dornsife|Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.]] He is a former American [[Political consulting|political consultant]], who has worked on numerous [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] campaigns, including as senior advisor to the [[John Kerry presidential campaign, 2004|Kerry-Edwards campaign]] in 2004 and to the [[Al Gore presidential campaign, 2000|Gore-Lieberman]] campaign in 2000. Shrum wrote the [[The Dream Shall Never Die|famous speech]] [[Ted Kennedy]] gave at the [[1980 Democratic National Convention]] conceding to and supporting President [[Jimmy Carter]]. He has been described as "the most sought-after consultant in the Democratic Party."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2004/05/kerry-s-consigliere/302942/|title=Kerry's Consigliere|last=Lizza|first=Ryan|work=The Atlantic|access-date=2018-01-29|language=en-US}}</ref> Shrum served as speechwriter to New York Mayor [[John Lindsay|John V. Lindsay]] from 1970 to 1971, speechwriter to Senator [[George McGovern]]'s [[George McGovern 1972 presidential campaign|1972 presidential campaign]] and speechwriter and press secretary to Senator [[Ted Kennedy|Edward M. Kennedy]] from 1980 to 1984 and political consultant until 2009.

Shrum's book, ''No Excuses: Concessions of a Serial Campaigner'', was published in June 2007 by [[Simon & Schuster|Simon and Schuster]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/noexcuses00robe|title=No Excuses|date=2008-06-24|isbn=9780743296526|language=en|last1=Shrum|first1=Robert|publisher=Simon & Schuster }}</ref>

==Early life==
Shrum was born in [[Connellsville, Pennsylvania]] on July 21, 1943,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1987/07/22/personalities/d10ca853-ebb8-48db-b12a-10af572b5f38/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630025024/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1987/07/22/personalities/d10ca853-ebb8-48db-b12a-10af572b5f38/ |archive-date=2018-06-30 |title=PERSONALITIES - The Washington Post|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] }}</ref> the son of Cecilia (Welsh) and Clarence Shrum. His father was a tool-and-die maker and his maternal grandfather was a member of the [[Pennsylvania State Senate]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/27/nyregion/27profile.html?_r=0|title=It's Back to School for a Beaten Political Warrior|newspaper=The New York Times|date=27 January 2005|last1=Hedges|first1=Chris}}</ref> His mother was from an Irish immigrant family.<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AaTfe9RUIIkC&q=Cecilia+welsh+shrum&pg=PT447 |title = No Excuses: Concessions of a Serial Campaigner|isbn = 9781416545583|last1 = Shrum|first1 = Robert|date = 2007-06-05| publisher=Simon & Schuster }}</ref> Shrum was raised in [[Los Angeles]]. He is a graduate of [[Loyola High School of Los Angeles]] and [[Georgetown University]] (where he was named the outstanding debater at the 1965 national [[policy debate]] championship, the [[National Debate Tournament]]). On December 21, 1965, he made his first television appearance as a law student, debating [[Henry Kissinger]] on a broadcast of the CBS program ''Town Meeting of the World.''<ref>[https://collections.library.yale.edu/catalog/11786604 Yale University Library, "Town Meeting of the World," CBS, Dec 21, 1965]</ref>  He later received a [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] degree from [[Harvard Law School]].

==Political career==

===Speechwriter===
Shrum began his political career as a speechwriter in 1970, first for Republican New York City Mayor [[John Lindsay]], and then for United States Senators [[Edmund Muskie]] and [[Ted Kennedy]]. Shrum was also a speechwriter for 1972 Democratic Party presidential nominee [[George McGovern]] as well as for 1976 Democratic Party presidential nominee [[Jimmy Carter]]. Shrum worked for Governor Carter for a total of ten days, and quit the night Carter won the Pennsylvania Primary. In his resignation letter to Carter, Shrum wrote "I am not sure what you believe in, other than yourself."<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cfNPudFLctwC&q=I+am+not+sure+what+you+believe+in%2C+other+than+yourself+shrum&pg=PA95|title=Advice from the Presidents: The Student's Guide to Reaching the Top in Business and Politics: The Student's Guide to Reaching the Top in Business and Politics|last=Thomas|first=G. Scott|date=2008-06-30|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780313356636|language=en}}</ref>

Shrum later worked for [[Ted Kennedy]] and wrote [[The Dream Shall Never Die|the famous speech]]<ref name="American Rhetoric">[http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/tedkennedy1980dnc.htm American Rhetoric]</ref> Kennedy gave at the [[1980 Democratic National Convention]]. After Kennedy's unsuccessful bid for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 1980, Shrum returned to work in his Senate office as his press secretary until 1984, after which he became director of Kennedy's Fund for a Democratic Majority Political Action Committee until 1985.

===Political consultant===

====Non-presidential campaigns====
In 1976, Shrum began work as a political consultant, designing campaign advertising and message strategy for Democratic candidates at the presidential, congressional, and gubernatorial levels, partnering with [[Patrick Caddell|Pat Caddell]] and David Doak. Their first client was [[Gerald Baliles|Jerry Baliles]], who was running to succeed [[Chuck Robb]] as governor of Virginia.

The partnership with Pat Caddell dissolved in 1986, and Doak and Shrum continued to work together through a new firm for nine years. During their partnership, they served as strategic consultants and ad-makers for the successful campaigns of [[Bob Casey Sr.|Bob Casey]] for Governor of Pennsylvania, [[Alan Cranston]] for reelection to the Senate in California, and [[Barbara Mikulski]] for Senate in Maryland. Mikulski would go on to become the first woman who was elected to the Senate who did not have a husband or father who served in high political office.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cVtFJ5tvINsC&q=almanac+of+american+politics+mikulski&pg=PA308|title=Encyclopedia of Women and American Politics|last=Ford|first=Lynne E.|date=2010-05-12|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=9781438110325|language=en}}</ref>

The firm continued to grow, acquiring new partners such as Peter Harris, Michelle Carrier, and [[Mike Donilon]], while political consultants [[Joe Trippi]] and [[Steve McMahon (consultant)|Steve McMahon]] began their media consulting careers at the firm.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/noexcusesconcess00shru|url-access=registration|quote=Joe trippi.|title=No Excuses: Concessions of a Serial Campaigner|last=Shrum|first=Robert|date=2007-06-05|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=9781416545583|language=en}}</ref>

Doak, Shrum, and Associates worked on the following campaigns, among others:<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/noexcusesconcess00shru|url-access=registration|quote=No excuses shrum.|title=No Excuses: Concessions of a Serial Campaigner|last=Shrum|first=Robert|date=2007-06-05|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=9781416545583|language=en}}</ref>
* The reelection of United States Senator [[Alan Cranston]] in 1986 
* [[Ted Kennedy|Ted Kennedy's]] United States Senate campaign in 1988 
* [[David Dinkins]] for mayor of [[New York City|New York]] in 1989 
* The reelection of United States Senator [[Paul Simon (politician)|Paul Simon]] 
* [[David Walters]] for Governor of Oklahoma
* [[Zell Miller]] for Governor of Georgia
* [[Dick Gephardt|Richard Gephardt]] for election to Congress and Presidential bid
* The reelection of [[Denver]] mayor [[Federico Peña]]
* [[Art Agnos]] for mayor of [[San Francisco]]
* [[Tom Bradley (American politician)|Tom Bradley]] for mayor of [[Los Angeles]]
* [[Alex Penelas]] for mayor of Miami-Dade County
* The reelection of Chicago mayor [[Harold Washington]]
* The reelection of Philadelphia mayor [[Wilson Goode]]
* [[John D. Waihee III]] for Governor of Hawaii
* [[Bob Kerrey]] for President in 1992
* [[John Glenn]] for United States Senate
In 1995, following the dissolution of Doak, Shrum, and Associates, Shrum partnered with [[Tad Devine]] and [[Mike Donilon]]. Devine, Donilon, and Shrum's firm went on to work for the following campaigns:<ref name=":0" />
* Reelection of New York mayor [[David Dinkins]] (lost)
* Reelection of [[Ted Kennedy]] against [[Mitt Romney]] for United States Senate
* Reelection of Senator [[Chuck Robb]] from Virginia to the United States Senate
* Election of [[Herb Kohl]] to United States Senator from Wisconsin, and his reelection campaign in 1994
* Reelection of [[Tom Foley]], Congressman from Washington (lost)
* [[Jane Harman]] for Congress in 1992, 1994, and 1996
* Reelection of United States Senator [[John Kerry]] from Massachusetts
* Reelection of [[Joseph P. Kennedy II]], congressman from Massachusetts
* Reelection of United States Senator [[Tom Harkin]] from Iowa
* Election of [[Jack Reed (Rhode Island politician)|Jack Reed]] for United States Senator from Rhode Island
* Election of [[Robert Torricelli]] for United States Senator from New Jersey
* Reelection of Congresswoman [[Louise Slaughter]] from New York's 25th district
* [[Parris Glendening]] for governor of Maryland
* [[Joe Lieberman]] for United States Senate
* [[Paul Sarbanes]] for reelection to the United States Senate
* [[Jon Corzine]] for United States Senate
* [[Bill Nelson]] for United States Senate
* [[Mark Dayton]] for United States Senate
* [[Ray Mabus]] for governor of Mississippi 
* [[Bob Casey Jr.]] for [[Pennsylvania Auditor General|Auditor General of Pennsylvania]]
* [[Frank Lautenberg]] for United States Senate
* [[Chris Dodd]] for United States Senate
* [[Harris Wofford]] for United States Senate
* [[Joe Biden]] for United States Senate
* [[Bernie Sanders]] for Congress
* [[Bill White (Texas politician)|Bill White]] for mayor of Houston

====Presidential campaigns====
In 1986, Shrum began work as a political consultant, designing campaign advertising and message strategy for Democratic candidates at the presidential, congressional, and gubernatorial levels. He worked for the [[Dick Gephardt]] campaign during the 1988 Democratic primaries, including Gephardt's surprise victory in the Iowa caucus, but after Gephardt's defeat, Shrum helped Democratic nominee [[Michael Dukakis]] in preparing for his debates against Vice President George Bush. Dukakis lost the [[1988 United States presidential election|general election]].

In 1992, Shrum worked for Nebraska Senator [[Bob Kerrey]], who was defeated for the nomination by [[Bill Clinton]].

In 2000, Shrum helped [[Al Gore]] beat back a primary challenge from former New Jersey Senator [[Bill Bradley]], and win the Democratic nomination. Gore won the popular vote in the November [[2000 United States presidential election|presidential election]] versus [[George W. Bush]], but lost the [[Electoral College (United States)|electoral vote]].

In 2004, Shrum worked on [[John Kerry]]'s campaign, guiding him to a victory in the crucial Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, and soon after, the Democratic presidential nomination, only for Kerry to be defeated in the [[2004 United States presidential election|general election]] by [[George W. Bush]].

Critics often point out Shrum's long losing streak, since he has yet to claim victory for any of his candidates in eight presidential elections.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9895-2004Sep9.html Washington Post 9 September 2004]</ref>

'''Foreign campaigns'''

Shrum has also consulted on a number of foreign campaigns, including as a strategic advisor for the [[Labour Party (UK)|British Labour Party]] elections from 1989 to 2005,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/1600/shrum-named-warschaw-chair-in-practical-politics/|title=Shrum Named Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics > News > USC Dornsife|access-date=2018-01-29|language=en}}</ref> [[Ehud Barak]]'s campaign for Israeli prime minister against [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] in 1999 and 2001, the [[Fianna Fáil|Irish Republican Party Fianna Fáil]] in the 1997 and 2002 national elections, and the successful [[Bolivia]]n presidential campaigns of [[Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada]] in 1993 and 2002.

==Journalism==
Shrum was a columnist for ''[[The Week]]'' magazine's website along with his conservative counterpart, [[David Frum]]. As a journalist, Shrum’s work appeared in ''[[New York Magazine]]'', ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', ''[[The New York Times]]'', and [[The New Republic]], among other publications.

He was a columnist for the on-line magazine ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]''.

==Academic career==
Shrum has been a Senior Fellow at [[New York University]]'s [[Wagner Graduate School of Public Service]], where he taught a class on domestic policy formation and analysis. He also taught an undergraduate seminar to freshmen on Presidential debates and speeches since the 1960s.

He now holds the Carmen H. and Louis Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics at the [[University of Southern California]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/1600/shrum-named-warschaw-chair-in-practical-politics/|title=Shrum Named Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics > News > USC Dornsife|date=14 January 2014 }}</ref> At USC, Shrum hosts regular talks, called "Political Conversations," with individuals from every side of the political sphere. The events are open to all students at the university. Shrum, a Democrat, serves as Director of the [https://dornsife-center-for-political-future.usc.edu/ USC Center for the Political Future], and he shares the leadership post with Co-Director [[Mike Murphy (political consultant)|Mike Murphy]], his long-time Republican rival and friend.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dornsife-center-for-political-future.usc.edu/about-cpf/about/|title=USC Center for the Political Future|website=dornsife-center-for-political-future.usc.edu|access-date=2019-11-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-skelton-bob-shrum-mike-murphy-usc-politics-20180910-story.html|title=Capitol Journal: Two longtime political street fighters have a new cause: restoring civility to Trump-era public discourse|date=2018-09-10|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-20}}</ref>

==Memoir==
Shrum has written a political memoir entitled ''No Excuses: Concessions of a Serial Campaigner'', published in June 2007.  It has received attention in the media for its less than flattering portrayal of Shrum's former client, [[John Edwards]].<ref>[http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=w070521&s=crowley052307 TNR.com]</ref>

==Personal life==
Shrum is married to Marylouise Oates,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/greathomesanddestinations/25away.html|title=Writers' Retreat on Cape Cod|last=Cohen|first=Billie|date=2008-04-25|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-12-20|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> a writer and former columnist for the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''.  He has one stepson, the television writer Michael Oates Palmer.

==Media==
Shrum's firm, Greenberg Carville Shrum (GCS), was featured in the 2005 documentary ''[[Our Brand Is Crisis (2005 film)|Our Brand Is Crisis]]'' depicting its work campaigning for [[Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada]] during the [[Bolivian presidential election, 2002|2002 Bolivian presidential election]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150620023553/http://www.gcs3.com/en/page.asp?page_parent=144&site_lan=he GCS Issue Management]
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Bob_Shrum Bob Shrum] at [[SourceWatch]]
*[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9895-2004Sep9.html Loss Leader]
*[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/books/04masl.html?ex=1184472000&en=a673082731b792aa&ei=5070 "The Man Behind the Curtain:Political Strategy and Spin"], [[Janet Maslin]], ''[[The New York Times]]'', June 4, 2007
*{{C-SPAN|1808}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shrum, Bob}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:American campaign managers]]
[[Category:American columnists]]
[[Category:American male journalists]]
[[Category:American memoirists]]
[[Category:American political consultants]]
[[Category:American political writers]]
[[Category:Georgetown University alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Labour Party (UK) officials]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Democrats]]
[[Category:People from Fayette County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Journalists from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Journalists from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Philodemic Society members]]
[[Category:American speechwriters]]