Auburn native may be Obama’s press secretary

“He was a political junkie when he was 17.”

Dr. Emily Sparrow, who taught history and government at Auburn High School, knew she had a special student in Robert Gibbs.

“He had a 99 average in Advanced Placement History and a 100 average in Government,” she said of the 1989 AHS graduate. “But the coolest thing about Bobby was he was respectful of other people’s opinions. I watch him on TV and I see that characteristic has served him well. That’s unique for a 17-year-old.”

So well, in fact, that Gibbs, communications manager for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, is speculated by multiple outlets to be named White House press secretary.

Gibbs, now 37, was communications manager for Obama’s Senate office and played an integral role in Obama’s presidential run.

Obama wasted little time building his Cabinet. Just two days after winning the General Election, Obama named Rep. Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff. According to a story published by Politico.com, the president-elect refuted reports Thursday that Gibbs’ appointment is imminent, nor did he deny them.

“Robert is the guy I want in the foxhole with me during incoming fire,” Obama told The Wall Street Journal in an August interview. “If I’m wrong, he challenges me. He’s not intimidated by me.”

Gibbs, who holds a degree in political science from North Carolina State, has worked as the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee communications manager for a number of campaigns, including Obama’s Illinois Senate run in 2004. Gibbs resides in Alexandria, Va., where he lives with his wife, Mary, and young son.

But Gibbs’ experience isn’t limited to the national stage. He worked on State Sen. Ted Little’s campaign staff in 1996 when Little challenged Bob Riley for the U.S. House seat in the Third Congressional District.

“From the very beginning, he was an asset to our campaign,” Little said. “He had a vision that we found very refreshing.”

Riley, however, won the race.

“(When Gibbs is appointed) That will be a great day we folks in Lee County can take pride in,” Little added. “We helped raise him.”

Auburn City Schools Superintendent Dr. Terry Jenkins said Gibbs’ potential appointment would be a “feather in the cap” to the system.

“He’s extremely articulate and he’s always very complementary of the people he worked with,” Jenkins said. “The television hosts always respect his opinion. He is very persuasive and committed. The fact that he is a grad from Auburn High School ... the fundamentals are put in place that people can take with them and be successful.”

Sparrow reflected on watching her young pupil develop into a political afficionado right before her eyes.

“I remember him writing (in a political autobiography) the fact that his family sat down at the table every night and talked politics,” she said. “He came to me from a politically-involved family.”

Attempts to reach his mother, Nancy, who now works at Duke University, failed. Attempts to reach Gibbs through the Obama media staff also failed.