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Lincoln's Speechwriter: John Hay and the Friendship That Inspired American Eloquence
John the Voice Behind the Legendary Oratory of Abraham Lincoln
John Hay’s contributions to Abraham Lincoln’s political oratory—including his First Inaugural of March 1861, Springfield Farewell Speech of February 1861, the Gettysburg Address of November 1863, as well as many others—uplifted the president’s influence. An extraordinary transformation that appeared throughout his speeches, Hay helped launch Lincoln’s Republican campaign that culminated in Lincoln being elected the 16th president of the United States.
The rhyme and language of a writer’s voice is the living soul of narrative. The evolution of John Hay’s voice, established during his formative and college years at Brown University and echoed during his time with Abraham Lincoln, is documented in Lincoln’s Speechwriter through evidence of Hay’s distinct voice and Lincoln’s ability to engage audiences, fused into something remarkable.
Lincoln’s Speechwriter gives readers a closer look into the man behind the political voice that was Lincoln himself.
John Hay’s contributions to Abraham Lincoln’s political oratory—including his First Inaugural of March 1861, Springfield Farewell Speech of February 1861, the Gettysburg Address of November 1863, as well as many others—uplifted the president’s influence. An extraordinary transformation that appeared throughout his speeches, Hay helped launch Lincoln’s Republican campaign that culminated in Lincoln being elected the 16th president of the United States.
The rhyme and language of a writer’s voice is the living soul of narrative. The evolution of John Hay’s voice, established during his formative and college years at Brown University and echoed during his time with Abraham Lincoln, is documented in Lincoln’s Speechwriter through evidence of Hay’s distinct voice and Lincoln’s ability to engage audiences, fused into something remarkable.
Lincoln’s Speechwriter gives readers a closer look into the man behind the political voice that was Lincoln himself.
497 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 17, 2026
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June 5, 2026
An absolutely wonderful biography on Lincoln's personal secretary, speechwriter, journalist, and press secretary John Hay. After graduating from Brown University, Hay, an immense literary talent, returned home to Illinois where he began an apprenticeship to study law with his uncle Milton Hay in Springfield. Milton Hay's law offices just so happened to be located next door to Abraham Lincoln's law office, and soon Hay became wrapped in the rising political star's orbit.
Lincoln would recognize Hay's literary talents and first utilized Hay's skill set with some edits to his famous Cooper Union speech. It was at this moment when Lincoln's speeches began to include rhetorical and poetic flourishes that were not shown in his prior speeches, and help produce some of the greatest speeches in American history thereafter. That was not coincidence, that was Hay. Hay would follow Lincoln to the White House and work on Lincoln's first inaugural, numerous addresses to Congress, The Gettsyburg Address, and my personal favorite the Second Inaugural Address. That alone should place Hay on the high mantle of America's greatest presidential speech writers.
Jan Cigliano Hartman is a great writer herself, and has produced an outstanding biography. I recommend.
Lincoln would recognize Hay's literary talents and first utilized Hay's skill set with some edits to his famous Cooper Union speech. It was at this moment when Lincoln's speeches began to include rhetorical and poetic flourishes that were not shown in his prior speeches, and help produce some of the greatest speeches in American history thereafter. That was not coincidence, that was Hay. Hay would follow Lincoln to the White House and work on Lincoln's first inaugural, numerous addresses to Congress, The Gettsyburg Address, and my personal favorite the Second Inaugural Address. That alone should place Hay on the high mantle of America's greatest presidential speech writers.
Jan Cigliano Hartman is a great writer herself, and has produced an outstanding biography. I recommend.
Displaying 1 of 1 review