After graduation, Lehane worked on a gubernatorial campaign in Maine, the state where he grew up. In 1991, he started Harvard Law School and, at the same time, began work on the Clinton campaign. Following Clinton's victory, he served as assistant counsel to the president at the White House for two years, from 1994-1996.
In 1997, Lehane worked as Counselor to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Andrew Cuomo and afterwards he served as Vice President Al Gore's press secretary from 1998 to 1999. He continued as his press secretary when Gore began his bid for the presidency in 2000.
Lehane described the Clinton and Gore presidential campaigns as very different; their only similarity, he said, was that they were both vital, once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Not only were the two candidates very different types of people and politicians, the economic and political circumstances were quite dissimilar.
"[The Clinton campaign was] a great adventure where you were never sure what was going to happen next," said Lehane. "In '92, we were running against an incumbent president during a period of economic downturn in a time where there had not been a Democrat in office for 12 years," he said.
For much of the early campaign, Clinton was not even considered a serious contender. This situation only changed after a pivotal speech in Dover, N.H., resulting in his surprise second-place finish in the New Hampshire primary and leading the press to dub him the "Comeback Kid." According to Lehane, the Clinton campaign, "all came together" at the Democratic Convention in New York City later that same year.
"President Clinton is, arguably, the greatest political talent in a generation," said Lehane. "[It was] incredible ... to see how effective he was in communicating with people. "In 1992, I truly felt as if I was part of something much bigger than myself."
Recounting the re-count
"The Gore campaign was a roller coaster ride with an historic ending tagged on," said Lehane. While many in the early days of the campaign were of the opinion that election results bore relatively little significance due to certain national stability, Lehane disagrees. "There were tremendous issues at stake-stewardship of the economy, preserving our environment, the nation's role in a rapidly changing world-that made the stakes in this election extremely high," he said. "I felt strongly that Al Gore was the right person for the job at this time in our history."
The rigorous campaign left its mark on Lehane. "Personally, my role in the campaign exacted a tremendous physical toll," he said. "There were four people who traveled full-time with the Vice President on Air Force II, so we were essentially working every hour of every day for about two years," he said. He describes the average day as beginning at 5 a.m., when he had to read an enormous briefing and news clips to prepare the Vice President for issues they were likely to face that day. This was followed by press briefings and numerous events through "four or five states, and numerous time zones where I had to be constantly 'on.'" In the meantime, he had to "return an average of 250 phone calls (not to mention pages of emails)." Each day would end around midnight.
After the campaign, the time after the actual election provided little relief. "I vividly remember the day after the election when it was clear that there would be some type of a re-count effort-feeling like I had just collapsed at the finish line of a marathon, only to be told to get up and keep on running, indefinitely!" Lehane said.
The legendary conclusion to the campaign was "disappointing," he said. "Obviously, given the fact that we won the popular vote (after overcoming a 20 point deficit in the polls and running against an opponent who vastly outspent us), probably won Florida and still did not win the election, many of us were left feeling a bit unfulfilled." But his outlook is positive: "I like to say we didn't lose-we just didn't win."
State and Maine
Lehane's interest in politics is rooted in his childhood. He was born in Lawrence, Mass., but grew up in Portland and Kennebunk, Maine, and graduated from Kennebunk High School in 1986. "Growing up in Maine was a great experience," said Lehane. "It's the sort of place where everybody knows everybody and in which there is a tremendous sense of community."
His upbringing was a significant factor in his getting involved in politics. "[Maine] is a small enough place so that once you become active you are afforded the opportunity to become involved in a significant way at a relatively young age, which would not be available in a larger state," said Lehane. "In addition, it is a state with a great tradition of producing outstanding leaders-Joshua Chamberlain, Ed Muskie, Margaret Chase Smith and George Mitchell."
Lehane's family life also helped in establishing these roots. "Our family is politically engaged and involved at the local level," he said. "[Growing up], the dinner table chatter often resembled CNN's 'Crossfire,' in that sense it was good training for my future choice of occupations. I remember the first time one of my Amherst roommates, Steve Mancini '90, visited and was somewhat taken aback by the no-holds-barred dinner debates."
During his senior year in high school, Lehane was faced with the options of Amherst and several Ivy League schools. A visit to Amherst sealed the deal. "I had a sense that I would eventually go on to law school and felt that Amherst would be the right fit for me-good decision," he said.
Lehane majored in history with a focus on American history. Some of his favorite classes and professors included Professor of American Studies Gordon Levin's diplomacy courses, Professor of American Studies Jan Dizard's social change course, Professor of Spanish James Maraniss' classes, and Film and Writing; another was a Vietnam course with former Professor Tony Lake, with whom he later worked at the White House when Lake was National Security Advisor.
When it came to extracurricular activities, Lehane took part in "a very wide range-who doesn't at Amherst?" He was an active participant in student government, and, appropriately enough, was president of the College Democrats. He performed community service at a local soup kitchen, did radio commentary for football games and played "various other intramural sports." Overall, Lehane described his college days as "a mix of intensity and irreverence."
When he came to Amherst, he was not immediately sure of the path he wanted to take. He played basketball during his freshman year only. "It became clear I was not going to become the next point guard for the Celtics," Lehane said. Subsequently, he shifted his focus to politics and government, what he called his "second love."
Lehane enjoyed his experience tremendously and values the skills he honed during his four years. "Obviously, the analytical skills and critical thinking that are developed at Amherst are invaluable," he said. "However, the school's greatest academic contribution is that the 'Amherst experience' truly imbues you with a well-founded confidence and a sense of purpose that there is nothing you cannot accomplish."
The opportunities provided at Amherst extend beyond the classroom. "Beyond the educational benefits, the people-classmates, teachers, administrators and support staff-are unparalleled," he said."I have no doubt that my four years at Amherst will define me in many ways throughout my life. The greatest compliment I can give is that someday I hope to have the privilege of sending my children to Amherst."
Back in the saddle
"Like all Americans, I am supportive of the President and the administration," said Lehane of the current political situation. "This is an unprecedented time period in our nation's history and it is a tremendous challenge. The way we live in America was forever changed on Sept. 11 but the values and principles that define our country, our democracy and our people are stronger than ever." However, following the conclusion of the Gore campaign, he is taking a break from politics. "I adopted a mutt from the pound the day after Gore conceded, adhering to the D.C. adage-'If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.'"
In July, Lehane married Andrea Evans, a criminal defense lawyer he met at law school; it was "the best development for me since the end of the campaign," said Lehane. He has spent his free time doing much traveling; he visited Africa and the Caribbean, and took a cross-country drive. In August, he and his new wife relocated from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. He is a self-proclaimed "sports nut" and follows all Boston-area teams. His biggest regret about leaving Washington, he said, was "giving up front row season tickets to the Wizards just as Michael Jordan is making his return."
On the business front, Lehane opened a strategic communications consulting business called Fabiani & Lehane with his friend Mark Fabiani, with whom he had worked on the Gore campaign. The company provides "strategic counsel and advice to a mix of political, governmental and corporate clients," said Lehane. "We are doing work, or have done work, for California Governor Gray Davis, Southern California Edison (the state's major utility embroiled in the California energy crisis), a variety of high-tech companies and a number of trade associations and progressive advocacy groups."
After the rigor of the campaign, Lehane is "enjoying my life in exile-running my own business, having a real life that is not dictated by the 24-hour news cycle and exploring Northern California." But he will not be away from politics for long. "Politics and government are my professional love and passion. Soon enough I will be 'tanned, rested and ready.' To quote two Republican icons, General Douglas MacArthur and Arnold Schwarzenegger, 'I'll be back.'"