Lincoln’s Ghost—and ‘Private Wordsmith’?

Review of: Lincoln’s Speechwriter: John Hay and the Friendship That Inspired American Eloquence by Jan Cigliano Hartman (2026) Did Abraham Lincoln—world-historical figure and considered by many one of the greatest American writers—quietly …

Canadian speechmaking: oxymoron!

What’s the “state of speechwriting” in your country? Chances are, stronger than in Canada, according to Ottawa writer John Phillips, who recently explained in a blog post “Why Canada has …

Speechwriter dies, but his truth lives on

Editor's Note: Former Nelson Rockefeller speechwriter Joseph Persico died Saturday at 84. As the obits said, this scribe (and historian) literally had his words etched in granite. He was chosen …

Everyone is afraid of ghosts

I think speechwriters are waiting for people to finally understand what they do—and realize that this is an entirely honorable and ethical and useful profession. They have been waiting a …

School scribes swept up in university spending controversy

As the cost of a college education rises, university costs are being scrutinized. And whenever bureaucracies are criticized, the leader’s speechwriter is the easiest symbol of excess. University speechwriters, look …

White House speechwriting story too geeky to believe

The following is from Vital Speeches editor David Murray's highly unprofessional and journalistically suspect live blog of the State of the Union Address, on his personal blog Writing Boots. —DM …

Speechwriter, write

Those of us who like Americana or alt-country music—country music with rock sensibilities—can be obsessive and last year, boy, were we. All through 2015, the golden boy of Americana, Ryan …