Born on January 13, 1967, in Manhattan, New York City, Marc Thiessen, an American conservative author, political appointee, and columnist, was raised in a family with left-of-center liberal Democrat leanings, growing up on the Upper East Side in Manhattan.

Thiessen’s parents, both professional doctors, have an interesting background. His mother, who was born and raised in Poland, played a significant role in the Warsaw Uprising military struggle.

Thiessen’s career is marked by its diversity, spanning politics, media, and academia, with notable highlights:

1. Political Speechwriting: Thiessen served as White House Director of Speechwriting for President George W. Bush from 2007 to 2009. During this time, he was responsible for crafting a wide range of speeches covering various topics.
2. Capitol Hill Experience: From 1995 to 2001, Thiessen worked on Capitol Hill as a spokesman and senior policy advisor to Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This role provided him with valuable insights into foreign policy and legislative processes.
3. Media Commentary: Thiessen is a well-known media personality, contributing as a weekly columnist for The Washington Post since March 2010. He also appears as a commentator on Fox News, offering analysis and opinions on current events and political issues.
4. Authorship: Thiessen has authored several books, including “Courting Disaster: How the CIA Kept America Safe and How Barack Obama Is Inviting the Next Attack,” published in January 2010. This work defends the CIA’s use of enhanced interrogation techniques during the Bush administration and critiques the Obama administration’s stance on torture.
5. Academic Fellowships: Since 2009, Thiessen has held a visiting fellowship at the Hoover Institution, a public policy think tank at Stanford University. Additionally, he is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a prominent Washington, D.C.-based think tank. These affiliations enable him to engage in scholarly research and contribute to policy discussions.

In summary, Marc Thiessen’s career encompasses a diverse range of roles, from political speechwriting to media commentary and academic scholarship, particularly focusing on national security and foreign affairs issues.