Early Years and Legal Career
Craig was born in Norfolk, Virginia, the son of William Gregory Craig, a university educator, former associate dean of students at Stanford University, president of several universities and colleges, and first Director of Training for the Peace Corps, who died in 2005. Greg Craig's mother, Mary Lois (née Bestor), was attentive to four boys, two of whom had learning disabilities; she worked with them endlessly; one is now a teacher and the other is a medical doctor. Lois also owned a bookstore in the Craigs' hometown of Middlebury, Vermont.
Greg Craig went to Philips Exeter Academy, then graduated in the class of 1967 of Harvard (where he sang in the a cappella group the Harvard Krokodiloes). While an undergraduate, Greg gave leadership to and was a major fundraiser for Harlem Prep, organized to create academic opportunities at the highest level. During this time Greg also traveled to South Africa with Allard K. Lowenstein, to declare common cause with those seeking an end to racist policies. Greg and Al Lowenstein, joined by Bill Clinton and others, were instrumental in beginning the student opposition to the war in Vietnam. Lowenstein said at that time: "Either Bill or Greg could some day be President of the United States." Following Harvard Craig won the Lionel de Jersey Harvard Scholarship to Emmanuel College at Cambridge University. He received his J.D. in 1972 from Yale Law School, where he met Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham.
Craig's first employment following law school was with the Washington-based law firm Williams & Connolly, and he was a partner with the firm before becoming President Obama's counsel. His previous year's income, in a 2009 report, was a salary of $1.7 million from the firm, where he was reported to have been a partner since 1999.
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