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Gibbs Will Meet the Press

Obama taps aide as press secretary, names 2 others for communications

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 22, 2008 4:56 PM CST

(Newser) – Barack Obama today named Robert Gibbs as White House press secretary, the Washington Times reports. Gibbs, 37, worked for 2 years as an Obama spokesman on the campaign trail and was widely expected to take the job. Well-liked by reporters, Gibbs flared up at times on the campaign and is trying to control his temper under pressure, the New York Times reports.

Obama also appointed Ellen Moran as director of communications and Dan Pfeiffer as her deputy. Moran is executive director of Emily’s List, a group dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women; Pfeiffer is the transition team’s communications director. Obama said in a statement that today's appointments "bring a breadth and depth of experience" to his White House team.

[Images (3)]

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President-elect Barack Obama formally named his longtime aide and close adviser Robert Gibbs as press secretary Saturday. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

As press secretary, Robert Gibbs will be the face of the Obama administration, meeting the press each day and pushing and defending the president's policy from the podium. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Robert Gibbs is a native of Auburn, Alabama. He has worked on many campaigns and for several politicians. He lives in Alexandria. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)

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Gibbs Will Meet the Press