Richard Socarides

Who is Richard Socarides?

Richard Socarides is a Democratic political strategist, writer, commentator and a New York attorney. Socarides was named Head of Public Affairs for Gerson Lehrman Group in August 2013. He was a White House adviser under United States President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1999 in a variety of senior positions, including as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Adviser for Public Liaison. He worked on legal, policy and political issues and served as principal adviser to Clinton on gay and lesbian civil rights issues. Under Clinton, he was Chief Operating Officer of the 50th Anniversary Summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Socarides also worked as special assistant to Senator Tom Harkin. From 2000 to 2006, Socarides held senior positions at Time Warner, including at its divisions New Line Cinema and AOL.

Socarides has written extensively on political and legal topics in his regular column in The New Yorker, as well as for The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Politico. He is a frequent commentator on television.

Socarides is a Trustee of the State University of New York, appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo and of Antioch College, which he attended.