 Kahn's political campaign experience began as a high school student when he first met and worked for Newt Gingrich, then a Tulane University graduate student, and the Louisiana campaign director for the presidential campaign of Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller (R-NY).In 1969, Kahn served in what became the successful campaign for Maurice Edwin ("Moon") Landrieu, elected in 1970 as Mayor of New Orleans, and worked in Mayor Landrieu's Administration in 1975.In 1974 and 1976, Kahn managed Gingrich's first two campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives.