Jeff Connaughton
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Jeff Connaughton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jeffrey J. Connaughton c. 1959 Alabama, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | B.S., MBA, J.D. |
| Alma mater | University of Alabama, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Stanford Law School |
| Occupation(s) | Political aide, lawyer, lobbyist, author |
| Known for | Aide to Joe Biden, author of The Payoff |
| Political party | Democratic |
Jeff Connaughton (born c. 1959) is an American political aide, lawyer, lobbyist, and author. A longtime aide to Joe Biden, he later served as Chief of Staff to Senator Ted Kaufman and authored a memoir exposing systemic issues in U.S. politics and finance.
Early life and education
[edit]Connaughton grew up in Alabama and studied business at the University of Alabama, earned an MBA from Chicago Booth, and a J.D. from Stanford Law School. Early exposure to politics and finance shaped his critical view of elite power structures.
Political career
[edit]He began working for Senator Biden in 1987 and later joined the White House Counsel's Office under President Clinton. He developed a skeptical view of Washington, describing politics as driven by lobbying and institutional inertia.
Lobbying
[edit]In the 2000s, Connaughton worked at Quinn Gillespie & Associates, representing major corporations and foreign clients. A controversial lobbying trip to Côte d'Ivoire triggered ethical concerns, deepening his disillusionment with the lobbying industry.
Financial crisis and reform
[edit]Returning to Capitol Hill in 2009, he worked on financial reform during the aftermath of the 2008 crisis. He became frustrated with the failure to hold large banks accountable and came to believe that meaningful reform was structurally blocked.
The Payoff
[edit]In 2012, he published The Payoff: Why Wall Street Always Wins, criticizing the U.S. political system’s complicity with financial elites. The book documented his insider experiences and argued that democracy had been undermined by corporate influence.
In popular media
[edit]Connaughton was featured in George Packer’s The Unwinding as a symbol of ethical defection from within the American political system.
Career
[edit]- 1983: Analyst, Smith Barney
- 1987–1991: Aide to Senator Joe Biden
- 1995–1996: Staff, White House Counsel's Office
- 2000s: Vice Chairman, Quinn Gillespie & Associates
- 2009–2011: Chief of Staff to Senator Ted Kaufman
- 2012: Published The Payoff
Education
[edit]- B.S., University of Alabama (1981)
- MBA, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (1983)
- J.D., Stanford Law School (1994)