The Gridiron Dinner: “Glee meets c-span three”
USA Today Bureau chief Susan Page gives Gridiron speech that’s by turns light and serious.
The D.R.I.V.E.L. Awards: In praise of ordinary Americans, and their common sentience
You know how we wind up publishing Vital Speeches? By reading and rejecting lots of D.R.I.V.E.L.: Disingenuous Rhetoric, Imbecilic Vagaries and Enraging Language. Sometimes that D.R.I.V.E.L. shouldn’t see the light …
WATCH: “The President’s Speech”
The heartwarming tale of one man’s heartbreaking failure to speak coherently—and an unlikely speaking coach who saved a presidency.
Spring is on its way, but let’s be proactive
Important events, deadlines and agenda planning cycles in March
‘Speeches are back.’ Let Peggy Noonan be right this time!
Former Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan is not my favorite writer, and she’s not even my favorite speechwriter. She’s handy with words, but her b.s. detector sometimes goes on the blink. …
The enduring challenge and increasing frequency of funeral orations
As Baby Boomers begin to fall, speechwriters should contemplate conventions and creativity in condolence addresses and eulogies.
Speechwriter pinpoints the moment the American language started to, like, juvenilize
He was writing for Ed Koch, and the applicant for the speechwriting office was like, “Well … like … yeah.”
“People like the woman from Wausau”
In televised address, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker defends his budget bill.
In Vital Speeches’ crosshairs this week: CEO blogs
Last week in this space I called for the end of the traditional post-speech Q&A, before modifying my position just a bit. This week, I’m pulling the plug on the …
Speakers’ “office hours,” and other alternatives to the clunky Q&A
So in a post last week I called for the end of the traditional post-speech Q&A. The conversation that ensued on various forums helped me clarify my view. Here’s what …