Kathryn Ruemmler

Chief Legal Officer, Secretary & General Counsel, Goldman Sachs

Search every verified Kathryn Ruemmler interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a 2017 Oxford Union appearance, Kathryn Ruemmler discussed her tenure as White House Counsel under President Barack Obama. She described the role as a legal position at the intersection of law, politics, policy, and communications. Ruemmler recounted decisions made during her service, including her choice not to share IRS audit information with the President to avoid the perception of manipulation, and the administration's continued defense of the Defense of Marriage Act until a legally sound reason to change emerged. She also addressed the importance of protecting national security while weighing civil liberties, and noted that being underestimated as a younger woman in senior roles could sometimes be an advantage. Ruemmler offered observations on contemporary politics, stating that she had become more concerned with the "devaluing and debasing of the office of the president" and the defense of institutional norms. When asked how she would advise President Trump regarding potential impeachment, she said she would recommend he avoid alienating congressional leaders who control the process. She described her personal motivation as wanting to leave people feeling she was respectful and decent, and emphasized the importance of forging consensus and respect across the aisle.