Written by Doug Goodnough
For Jim Beley, ’10, a career in politics is a chance to be a part of history. The former director of Presidential Writers under former President Donald Trump helped write, edit, and direct policy, proclamations, and other personal presidential communications while working in the White House from 2017-2020.
Although his time there ended when the Biden administration took over in January of 2021, Beley has found a new role in Washington, D.C. For the past year, he has been the legislative director for Florida Representative Matt Gaetz, one of the most high-profile people in Congress.
“I really enjoy working for Matt. He’s a very smart guy,” said Beley, who has worked in politics since graduating from Hillsdale College. “He challenges me, which is great. I like to be in a position where I have the opportunity to learn.”
In his current role, he oversees all legislative and policy operations for Gaetz. The Congressman also sits on the House Judiciary and House Armed Services committees, which requires a lot of prep work and support.
“He’s front and center compared to other members of Congress,” Beley said of Gaetz. “But I found it to be very good. I really like the aspect of being out there and trying to lead on issues.”
Beley got his start in politics as an intern in the Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program (WHIP). In the spring of 2009, he interned with former Kansas Senator Sam Brownback’s office. That internship proved fruitful because when Beley graduated in May of 2010, his connections helped him land a position on Brownback’s Kansas gubernatorial campaign.
After Brownback’s successful campaign, Beley stayed in Kansas, working in several positions in politics that allowed him to learn legislative and policy development. When his wife (Alyson, whom he met during the Brownback campaign) was offered a job working for Oklahoma Senator James Lankford in Washington, D.C., Beley also made the move to the nation’s capital. He worked as a legislative assistant for former Michigan Representative Justin Amash before the opportunity came to work at the White House.
“My wife’s best friend, who started Day One in the White House, told me, ‘We really need some help with writing, and we particularly need somebody who understands policy and legislation,’” Beley said. “And the next thing I knew I got a (job) offer. The job itself was a little more focused on writing than my previous jobs. But it was also where I was able to use not only my writing skills but also my experience with policy and legislation.”
He accepted a position as a presidential writer, and within a few months was promoted to directing the writing office and supervising a team of five writers.
“The position entailed coordinating everything that was coming out of the office,” he said. “We made sure things were in line with the administration, not just with the White House, but also with all the various departments and agencies.”
Although policy and legislation were top priorities, his office also worked on presidential correspondences to people like foreign heads of state.
“I did enjoy that because these are historic documents. Who knows exactly where they will end up,” he said. “The historical aspect of the writing was pretty neat to me.”
He credited his Hillsdale College experience for much of his career success.
“I feel like I got a great education at Hillsdale,” said Beley, who was a political science major and a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. “A lot of the things that have put me in a position of success I attribute largely to Hillsdale. And I came to know a group of guys at the Sigma Chi house who are some of my very best friends, even to this day.”
Beley said he appreciates his current role on the Gaetz team and enjoys being in the “mix of things and politics.”
“I do feel like I’m in a place where I’d like to stay for a while,” said Beley, who lives in the D.C. suburb of Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife and their five-year-old son. “I’m definitely very happy where I am right now.”
Doug Goodnough, ’90, is Hillsdale’s director of Alumni Marketing. He enjoys connecting with fellow alumni in new and wonderful ways.
Published in February 2024
