Policy in Practice

Reggie Love, Barack Obama’s “Body Man,” has developed a strong relationship with the President-Elect. Obama has described him as his “little brother.” Indeed, over the past 22 months, few have spent more time with Obama than Love.

Policy in Practice spoke with Love, a former Duke football and basketball player, as he prepares to transition into his new role at the White House.

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Policy in Practice: You have described the campaign as having resembled a football team’s preparation for the Super Bowl. Now that you’ve won, how does it feel? How did you spend election night?

Reggie Love: I don’t think a feeling has set in yet. There are so many task ahead that it is hard to really look back at what has been accomplished. The celebration was nice. Tons of familiar faces and old friends and there were even some new faces.

I spent election night at Grant Park until about 1am – for the most part I just answered phone calls and returned messages for the President Elect; after the event I sat around a table in my hotel room with my classmate and [former Duke] football teammate Darryl Scott.

Policy in Practice: You’ve said that you’ll be working for Obama for another year or two, and then you’ll apply to law school. Have you an idea of what role you’ll have in the Obama Administration? And what kind of law would you like to study? Is a career in politics in your future?

Love: My role in the Obama administration will be similar to my role in the campaign, however it will be a lot less traveling. I’m not 100 percent sure that I will go to law school, it is something that I want to do. I would probably study civil rights law. I don’t see myself having a career in politics.

Policy in Practice: You’ve famously played a lot of basketball with Obama over the course of the campaign, and have been able to introduce him to former Duke players like Chris Duhon. Obama’s also earned the support of Duke Hall of Famers and NBA stars Shane Battier and Grant Hill. When Obama–who was endorsed by legendary North Carolina Coach Dean Smith earlier this year–partook in a game of pick-up with the UNC basketball team back in the spring, how did you and your fellow Duke alums react? And has Coach K–a Republican who supported George Bush in 2000 and 2004–met Obama yet?

Love: To my knowledge Coach K and the President Elect have never met. The scrimmaging with the Tarheels was put together kind last minute so we didn’t get a chance to discuss strategy with any of the Duke Alums. Though I’m still hoping that we get a chance to come and visit Duke to visit with our blue devil players.