Graduated in 1976 from Princeton University and received master's degree at Georgetown University. He has worked for several presidential candidates. He started working for Clinton late because he was already working for Sen. Bob Kerrey in the primaries for the election of 1992. He was previously the chief spokesman at the State Department before becoming the Press Secretary. He won high remarks and comments for his effective performance at the State Department. He has also served as director of communications for the Democratic national Committee and has worked for four Clinton Cabinet secretaries. This can be summed up to more than a decade of acting as a spokesman for Democratic officeholders. He also worked in a Washington public affairs firm before joining the State Department. He has spent all of his working career in Washington.