Nine-year-old Robby Novak plays the role of “kid president” whose online video featuring a motivational pep talk for the world have racked up millions of views. Elaine Quijano reports.
About Kid President
Robbie Novak (born 2003), better known by the nickname Kid President, is an American comedian, motivational speaker, TEDspeaker (“Inspirer”),[1] and a YouTube sensation[citation needed], interviewing Andrew WK, Pen Ward, Rainn Wilson, and others. He obtained an interview with Josh Groban after an ambitious Twitter campaign, where he had his 
followers petition Josh.[2] He has made a series of viral inspirational videos over the last few months, on a mission to “Make the world less boring,” including one which has over 10 million views on YouTube.[3][4] He makes videos weekly, in collaboration with Soul Pancake.[5] He has several catchphrases and recurring jokes, including screaming, “Not cool, Robert Frost!” (when referring to his poem The Road Not Taken),[6] and asking “What will be your Space Jam?”.[7] Kid President calls himself “the voice of a generation.” [8] On February 21, 2013, Kid President posted a video in which President Obama called Kid President to promote the 2013 White House Easter Egg Roll.[9]
Origin
Kid President, originally a rather modest creation of the Freed-Hardeman University Office of Marketing and University Relations to promote the school’s annual benefit dinner, has exploded into something much larger. A series of episodes urging viewers “to make the world awesome” and to “be a party” have gone viral on YouTube.[10]
Recent activity
Kid President’s first viral video, “A Pep Talk,” has been viewed over ten million times. It is dedicated to Gabbi Cook, two-year old daughter of Matt and Charla Cook (both FHU alumni) who recently had a liver transplant.
Kid President began as a method to promote Freed-Hardeman’s annual benefit dinner with Condoleezza Rice. Robbie had helped to promote the previous benefit dinner featuring Bob Newhart. He reprised his role as promoter, this time as Kid President. Since that beginning, he has further developed, defined and promoted the character.[10]
On February 21, 2013, Kid President was featured in an official White House video to promote the 2013 White House Easter Egg Roll. He appears in a simulated telephone conversation with President Barack Obama.[11][12]
Portrayal
Kid President is portrayed by Robbie Novak, who was born with a condition called Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or “Brittle Bone syndrome”.[13] He is the son of David, a member of the FHU staff, and Laurie Novak and the brother of Kristi Montague, creative director of the FHU Office of Marketing and University Relations.[10] The videos are produced by his brother-in-law Brad Montague, who directs the university’s efforts in social media.[10]
“We’re overwhelmed and honored that so many have connected with Kid President. We hope it encourages others to take positive action in their lives,” Brad Montague, who directs FHU’s Go! Camp, said. Go! Camp is a service-oriented week-long effort held each summer at FHU. “It is about empowering kids, helping them to have a voice. That’s what we hope these videos do too.” [10]
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