Ron Christie never imagined that he would wind up working in the White House. He was a congressional staffer, lawyer, and lobbyist. But in 2000, the recount lawyers for Northern Florida asked Ron to be one of the recount officers and following the victory for President Bush, Ron was asked to be Vice President Cheney’s Deputy Domestic Policy Advisor. In 2001, after the horror of September 11, President Bush asked Ron to work for him in the USA Freedom Corps, where he served as Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director. The best thing to come from his time in the White House? He met his wife, Jennifer.
In 2008, Ron started Christie Strategies, LLC, where he provides strategic advocacy and counsel to clients. In addition, Ron is the North American political analyst for the BBC and an adjunct professor at Georgetown, Cornell, and NYU. Ron also serves as a practitioner senior fellow at the Miller Center on presidential studies at the University of Virginia.
President Bush asked Ron why he chose to make a generous planned gift to the Bush Center, and Ron responded: “Jennifer and I would never have met if it wasn’t for you. Jennifer and I would not be in the jobs we have right now if it wasn’t for you. So, you’re asking me why we decided to make a significant contribution? Because of you, President Bush. We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.”
Ron believes the Bush Center and the work it is doing is innovative and important to what’s happening in our country and world right now. The Bush Center is a beacon of optimism. As Ron says,“ (President and Mrs. Bush) are not looking in the rear-view mirror … they are always looking forward.”
Ron currently serves on the Bush Center’s Executive Advisory Council and supports the work the Center is doing to help to advance the timeless values of freedom, opportunity, accountability, and compassion.
