President Obama and Bill Simmons: The GQ Interview
There's the president of the United States, and then theres the person who happens to be the President of the United States.
Bill Clinton served for eight years, but we were always more intrigued by Bill Clinton the Persona magnetic charmer once described by Chris Rock as a cool guy, like the president of a record company. Clintons charisma defined his presidency, for better and for worse. He couldnt always harness it. He couldnt stop trying to win everyone over, whether it was a 60 Minutes correspondent, 500 powerful donors in a crowded banquet hall, or a fetching woman on a rope line.
If Clinton acted like someone who ran Capitol Records, Obamaboth the person and the presidentcarries himself like Roger Federer, a merciless competitor who keeps coming and coming, only theres a serenity about him that disarms just about everyone. At one point during the hour I spent interviewing him at the White House this fall, he casually compared himself to Aaron Rodgers, and he wasnt bragging. Obama identified with Rodgerss ability to keep his focus downfield despite all the chaos happening in front of him. Thats Obamas enduring quality, and (to borrow another sports term) this has been his career year.
Obama lives in Americas most famous museum and uses it to his advantage. Youre sitting there in some ancient tearoom waiting for him to show up, surrounded by portraits of former first ladies and framed maps from battles that America won over the centuries. Everyone is friendly but suspicious. Everyone talks in hushed tones. You feel like youre intruding at all times. Youre just
waiting. Suddenly, ten anonymous security guards pop out of hallways and doorways that you didnt know were there. The energy shifts. And then, theres Obamabig smile, big handshake, some ball-busting comments to put everyone at ease. Within seconds of greeting me, he was poking fun at my shoes and teasing me for not writing anymore.
http://www.gq.com/story/president-obama-bill-simmons-interview-gq-men-of-the-year