Obama "body man" Reggie Love leaving White House

U.S. President Barack Obama listens to his personal assistant Reggie Love as he greets family members of victims aboard United flight 93 on September 11, in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. / NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's personal assistant is leaving the White House.

Reggie Love, the former Duke basketball player who has been a constant presence by Obama's side since the 2008 presidential campaign, will depart the White House by the end of the year, a person familiar with his decision said.

Love, 30, is the latest in a string of longtime Obama aides to leave the White House this year, including senior adviser David Axelrod, press secretary Robert Gibbs, deputy press secretary Bill Burton and deputy communications director Jen Psaki. All were part of Obama's team since at least since the 2008 race.

But it is Love who has had perhaps the most unique access to the president.

As Obama's personal assistant — a job that's also known as the president's "body man" — since the beginning of the administration, Love has been a near-constant presence by Obama's side, both at the White House and in travels around and outside the United States.

Love first started working for Obama in his Senate office, and was promoted to personal assistant during the presidential campaign.

His job requirements have included everything from carrying copies of the president's speeches, his iPod, and a steady supply of gum, newspapers and aspirin, to taking photos for audience members as they shook the president's hand. Wherever the president goes, Love has rarely been more than a few steps behind.

"I have an iReggie, who has my books, my newspapers, my music, all in one place," Obama said in an interview last year.

The president also credited Love for expanding his musical repertoire, introducing him to artists like Nas and Lil Wayne. Love has been a frequent teammate on the court for the sports-obsessed president. During the 2008 campaign, Obama and Love started a tradition of playing basketball on the day of every primary or caucus.

Love's immediate plans upon leaving the White House were unclear. The source was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Love's departure was first reported by The Washington Post.

[Ben37221]

It is obvious that Obama irritates you. Who do you plan to replace him with? The Texas Governor who can't put a sentence together without a brain freeze, or Romney who changes is mind so much that he can't even tell you what day it is. Don't even get me started on Cain who think he is under harasement from the world-I beth he thinks is running for the president of the tea party whose idea of a genious is Sarah pelin or Micheal Bachman.
You should be greatful that you have president Obama. The thought of any of the republican choices replacing Barack Obama is one you can only contenplate in your dream. so Enzas_bs, enjoy president Obama's inurguration in 2012 along with your teapublican lunies.
In case you forgot, you republicans have caused taxe payers over one trillion dollar in Iraq, over 5000 American life, about 1 million Iraq's life and counting. Is that what you are proud off?
For seven years, your party could not find the mastermind of 9/11-Bin Laden. It took Obama to get it done.

What did the republicans left Obama with as he worked through the door on January 2009? An economy falling of a cliff, with people lining up to take their morning out of the bank- how quickly we forget. He pulled America out off the cliff.

Where was the Auto Industry when he came in? Again in the brink of collapse. Today, thanks to Obama the Auto industry is making profit again.
Left to the republicans, they would have let the auto industry collapse or shipped overseas as they have done in the past with all the manufacturing jobs.
When you hear the name Obama relative to these republican pretenders, you should thank your God for bringing us in your own words the "messiah".

It is a clear choice between the republican clans and president Obama. The American people, judging by Tesday's election are not about to elect the party that created the economic mess, the party whose idea of job creation is fixiation on controlling womens uterus, and yes, the party that is willing to destroy the Country in the name of defeating Obama.

[Ben37221]

Enzas_Bs, you are too stupid to know that every president always have a body man(personel assistant). It was not started by Obama, and it is not going to end with the presidency of Obama. To you worthless republicans, if Obama says it is day time, you just have to say it is night time.
Their is notting this man does that you will not criticize.