“If Obama didn’t go to his fiftieth birthday party, it’d kill him.” The ruthless, take-the-hill persona also masked a true believer’s passion for progressive policy. In that sense, the ultimate Clintonista was also an Obamian. “You wouldn’t think this from his reputation but he believes deeply,” says Favreau. “He’s so passionate and angry sometimes because he believes in all of the issues. And he’ll fight for the stuff—he’ll get angry because none of it’s bullshit to him.”
