Robert F. 'Bob' Bauer (born February 22, 1952, in New York City to a Jewish family) is a prominent American attorney specializing in election law and political reform. He graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy (1970), Harvard College (BA, 1973), and the University of Virginia School of Law (JD, 1976). Bauer began his career in private practice and government service, serving as general counsel to the Democratic National Committee and advising President Barack Obama since 2005. He played a key role in Obama's presidential campaigns as general counsel in 2008 and 2012. From 2009 to 2011, he served as White House Counsel under President Obama. After leaving the White House, he returned to private practice before joining New York University School of Law as Professor of the Practice and Distinguished Scholar in Residence, where he co-directs the Legislative and Regulatory Process Clinic and teaches courses on the role of lawyers in public life and political reform. In 2013, President Obama appointed him co-chair of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration, which produced the report 'The American Voting Experience' in 2014. In 2021, President Biden named him co-chair of the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States. Bauer has also served in other high-profile roles, including co-counsel to the New Hampshire State Senate in 2000 and counsel to the Democratic leader during President Clinton's 1999 impeachment trial. A prolific author and commentator, he co-authored 'After Trump: Reconstructing the Presidency' (2020) with Jack Goldsmith and wrote 'The Unraveling: Politics without Ethics and Democracy in Crisis.' He has contributed to bipartisan reports on legal and policy reforms and assisted in vetting efforts for Joe Biden's 2020 running mate selection. Bauer's career reflects deep involvement in Democratic politics, election integrity, and legal scholarship.