March 11, 2009
My fellow readers (of whom I am the first and, quite possibly, the only one),
The very idea of crafting an opening line thrills and terrifies me. How might I draw you in, entice you, convince you to continue reading without making you feel coerced?
Such is the task of a speechwriter each time he or she sits down to write. Ted Sorensen, chief speechwriter for JFK, read every speech ever given by Winston Churchill for inspiration. “Never, never, never, never give up” certainly was applicable to his situation, for Churchill gave a good many speeches in his lifetime. Peggy Noonan, who wrote for Reagan, would pace the halls of the Old Executive Office Building until the perfect opening line came. Michael Gerson, one of George W. Bush’s writers, read the psalms for their lyrical rhythm and poetic form.
Regardless of their inspiration, all three used their talent to communicate hope amidst uncertainty, comfort in grief, and determined resolve in the face of terror. And their audience, the American people, listened – and still remember.
So what makes a speech worth remembering? Why are we inspired by some and bored by others? Looking back through history, who are the great speechwriters? The great rhetoricians? How did they develop their talent and engage their audience? And how can we write and speak today so that future generations will remember and listen to our words?
These questions have been swirling through my mind ever since I finished my senior thesis on President Reagan’s Cold War rhetoric. My research left me with more questions than answers. It was though I had discovered the tip of the iceberg and didn’t have time to uncover the rest. But now, three years later, I do.
I’m embarking on a year of self-directed study. I will be reading and researching and writing and studying as much as I can about the art of rhetoric before I (hopefully) enter the graduate program in Rhetorical Studies next fall. I cannot wait. But I am just as excited to learn “on my own” over this next year. And I would be delighted for you to accompany me on the adventure.
