Robert F. Bauer (born February 22, 1952) is an American attorney who served as White House counsel under President Barack Obama.

[2] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College in 1973, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1976.

[4] As general counsel for the 2008 campaign, Bauer asked the Justice Department to investigate the officers and donors of American Issues Project after it ran a negative ad about Obama.

Bauer returned to private practice to again represent the president's election team and the Democratic National Committee.

"[7] Obama chose Bauer and Benjamin L. Ginsberg, a Republican, in 2013 to co-chair the Presidential Commission on Election Administration, a yearlong investigation into voting problems.