Notable Washington Lawyer Robert Barnett Dies at 79

Washington, D.C. — Robert B. Barnett, a renowned lawyer and dealmaker known for representing prominent American political figures, has died at 79. His wife, Rita Braver, a longtime CBS journalist, confirmed his passing to CNN. “He was the greatest husband ever,” she said.

Barnett was unique among lawyers in Washington for his ability to represent clients across the political spectrum. Though he was known for his Democratic affiliations, Republicans also sought his expertise for their book deals and negotiations.

Over his four-decade career, Barnett built an impressive client list that included figures from Hillary Clinton to Sarah Palin, signifying a prominent role in modern American political history. He worked closely with politicians to sign lucrative deals and connect them with major media outlets.

As a partner at the influential law firm Williams & Connolly, Barnett also guided many top journalists in their negotiations with television networks and publishers. His political knowledge earned him the title of “Washington’s consummate insider,” as noted by Politico in 2017.

Barnett’s contributions to national politics included participating in ten presidential campaigns. He often served as a debate stand-in for opposing candidates, preparing them for high-stakes televised events.

In 1984, he posed as George H.W. Bush for Democratic candidate Geraldine Ferraro’s debate prep. He later played the same role for Michael Dukakis in 1988 and practiced with Bill Clinton over 20 times during the 1992 campaign.

He also acted as Dick Cheney in practice sessions for Joe Lieberman in 2000 and coached John Edwards in 2004. His expertise extended to preparing Hillary Clinton for her 2008 campaign and later assisting Barack Obama.

One of Barnett’s significant roles included helping bridge the gap between Clinton and Obama after their contentious primary campaign in 2008, which he described later as one of his most challenging tasks.

During the 2016 election, he returned to assist Clinton, taking on roles of both Bernie Sanders and Mike Pence during her campaign.

Barnett was born in Illinois and graduated from the University of Wisconsin and the University of Chicago, where he earned his law degree. He was married to Rita Braver for 53 years.