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Working in the West Wing
Rishi Sahgal ’07 satisfies zeal for politics By Andrew Clark
Interning for Bill Clinton’s 1996 re-election campaign isn’t exactly the typical teenage experience. Yet for 15-year-old Rishi Sahgal ’07, bypassing trips to the movies for a chance to cut his teeth in the political world influenced him beyond expectation.
“Registering new voters, making phone calls, and persuading people to turn out was all so new to me,” Sahgal says. “Only later did I realize that this was what the Obama field campaigns had revolutionized.” Over the next dozen years, the South Pasadena native would work on four different presidential campaigns, including Barack Obama’s initial bid in 2008. Through his work on the Obama
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campaign, Sahgal came into contact with a number of people who would go on to work in the administration, important relationships that ultimately led to his own staff position at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. In the early years of the Obama presidency, Sahgal wore a number of different hats, but these days, he’s settled into his role as deputy associate counsel in the Office of the White House Counsel. It’s a job that combines Sahgal’s two passions: the legal and the political worlds. “It’s a unique mix of law, and that makes [this job] very interesting,” Sahgal says. On a given day, Sahgal’s responsibilities can run the gamut. He may work with potential Senate-confirmed nominees, check in with agency colleagues, or train staff on the laws that apply to them. Ultimately, Sahgal says, his days involve a healthy dose of strategy sessions peppered with checking items off his to-do list. However, he makes it a priority to stop in the hallways if he sees the Commander-in-Chief ’s two dogs, Sunny and Bo. Life can move at a dizzying speed working at the White House. Sahgal says the unparalleled environment can prove to be one of the greatest challenges of his gig. “What makes the job interesting is how fast-paced it is,” Sahgal says. “You have to pay attention to every detail that comes through. It’s complex, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.” For a lifelong fan of the political world, working as a lawyer for the White House is an honor for Sahgal. He says that working on campaigns inspired him to pursue a career path in public service. And as he notes, having the chance to work in the Obama White House has given him an opportunity to make a positive impact in the world. “I feel tremendously grateful for this opportunity to serve,” Sahgal says. “When I graduated from law school, I had dreamed of the possibility, and for it to come to fruition has been amazing. I feel blessed.”