That was not Waldman's first visit to the IOP. In 1994, he gave a speech at the IOP Forum about campaign finance reform.

Waldman says he is enthusiastic about his new post at the IOP, but admits he will miss working with President Clinton.

"President Clinton is somebody who has a deep appreciation of what speechwriters do," Waldman said.

Prior to working for Clinton, Waldman headed the Citizen's Congress Watch, a public interest group founded by Ralph Nader.

Waldman is not the first presidential speechwriter to make the transition from the White House to the IOP. Raymond K. Price Jr., speechwriter for President Nixon and Hendrik Hertzberg, speechwriter for President Carter, both served terms as IOP Fellows.

Waldman began working for President Clinton during his 1990 presidential campaign. In 1995, he became Clinton's chief speechwriter. Waldman has written some of Clinton's most prominent speeches, including his past four State of the Union addresses.

Waldman plans to move to Cambridge with his three children and his wife , Liz Fine, who is a U.S. Deputy Attorney General.

Students will get to meet Michael Waldman, along with the other five IOP Fellows, during the annual Open House Sept. 28.