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The Political Speechwriter′s Companion: A Guide for Writers and Speakers
The Political Speechwriter′s A Guide for Writers and Speakers guides students through a systematic "LAWS" approach (language, anecdote, wit, and support) that politicians can use to persuade their audiences into taking action. In the highly anticipated Second Edition , esteemed speechwriter and author Robert A. Lehrman has teamed up with one of the "go-to-guys" for political humor, Eric Schnure, to offer students an entertaining yet practical introduction to political speechwriting. This how-to guide explains how speakers can language the audience will understand and remember; anecdotes that make listeners laugh and cry; wit that pokes fun at opponents but also shows their own lighter side; and support in the way of statistics, examples, and testimony. Packed with annotated speeches from the most recent elections, technology tips, and interviews from speechwriting luminaries, this edition offers the most practical advice and strategies for a career in political communication.
536 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 7, 2020
I found this to be a very useful and well-organised professional read. It came in very helpful when I had to draft a speech a few weeks back. Whenever I was having problems with the different sections, I’d flip directly to that chapter to zoom in on the advice from the authors.
I was so pleased to hear my speech spoken today. But of course, there’s plenty more for me to learn; I got the comment that it was too Long. I’ll likely flip through this again for inspiration in the future, keeping in mind the things I have learned from my past experiences and the feedback from the listeners as I set fingers to keyboard once again.
I was so pleased to hear my speech spoken today. But of course, there’s plenty more for me to learn; I got the comment that it was too Long. I’ll likely flip through this again for inspiration in the future, keeping in mind the things I have learned from my past experiences and the feedback from the listeners as I set fingers to keyboard once again.
June 24, 2013
Bob Lehrman has more than three decades experience writing speeches. He has written for politicians, celebrities, nonprofits and corporate CEOs. He worked as Chief Speechwriter in the White House to Vice President Al Gore. He's currently an adjunct professor at the American University in Washington, DC where he teaches, together with political humorist Eric Schnure, a well-regarded graduate-level speechwriting course.
This is the texbook for their course. It's an invaluable resource for writers and speakers in the political and corporate worlds.
Lehrman's writing career began as a novelist who studied with Kurt Vonnegut at the Iowa Writers Workshop. He still enjoys the balance between writing under his own name and putting words into the mouths of the powerful.
Lehrman is the author of four novels and numerous op-ed's. But it's the experience gained as a speechwriter in both houses of Congress, as well as the White House, that is the source of the lessons he shares in the classroom and his book.
Bob and Eric teach two semesters a year. Many of their students have wanted to be speechwriters since middle school, when they became hooked on episodes of The West Wing. A common question he's asked is "How do I get a job as a political speechwriter?" He points out that with 200,000 candidates running for 60,000 elected positions in America every two years there's no shortage of work for anyone who can stand the long hours and low pay. He reminds students that political speechwriting is hard work. Ten hour days, six days a week, are common. Corporate speechwriters make three times the salary and can go home to their family. But corporate speeches are often information dumps built around PowerPoint. Those who want to influence public policy, to express ideas their bosses want to make into law, are drawn to politics.
It's obvious from his background that Lehrman is a staunch Democrat. But he teaches the techniques of persuasion to supporters of any political party. In fact, his willingness to draw lessons from speeches delivered by both sides is a refreshing surprise in our increasingly polarized world. Testimonials inside the front cover of his book come from both Republicans and Democrats.
The book took him two years to write. However, some of the lessons it contains were those he first shared with interns in the Clinton White House in the 1990's. Don't be misled by the title. Lehrman claims that 90% of the content is useful for speechwriters outside politics, including those of us who write for the corporate world.
Lessons include:
- Realizing that the beliefs and values of the secondary audience might be more important than the people who are actually in the room when the speech is delivered;
- Why it's important not only to research facts and figures, but also spend time researching the stories and poetry that makes a speech sing;
- Why Monroe's Motivated Sequence is the best way to structure a political speech;
- Ways to make a speech memorable and move the audience to action, including checklists for everything from speech structure and supporting arguments to problems that are relevant to the audience and plausible solutions.
The challenge, he reminds us, is mastering the nuts and bolts while keeping the text of many political speeches at a 7th grade reading level so the majority of the audience can follow along.
Lehrman's book illustrates, with links to dozens of speeches, how some of the best writers practice their craft. He takes us behind the scenes with colleagues such as Clinton speechwriters' David Kusnet and Lissa Muscatine and George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum.
Bob Lehrman is aware that the fundamentals of speechwriting have not changed since Aristotle. His systematic approach to teaching the craft, as outlined in this book, gives us all the opportunity to learn new ways to improve.
This is the texbook for their course. It's an invaluable resource for writers and speakers in the political and corporate worlds.
Lehrman's writing career began as a novelist who studied with Kurt Vonnegut at the Iowa Writers Workshop. He still enjoys the balance between writing under his own name and putting words into the mouths of the powerful.
Lehrman is the author of four novels and numerous op-ed's. But it's the experience gained as a speechwriter in both houses of Congress, as well as the White House, that is the source of the lessons he shares in the classroom and his book.
Bob and Eric teach two semesters a year. Many of their students have wanted to be speechwriters since middle school, when they became hooked on episodes of The West Wing. A common question he's asked is "How do I get a job as a political speechwriter?" He points out that with 200,000 candidates running for 60,000 elected positions in America every two years there's no shortage of work for anyone who can stand the long hours and low pay. He reminds students that political speechwriting is hard work. Ten hour days, six days a week, are common. Corporate speechwriters make three times the salary and can go home to their family. But corporate speeches are often information dumps built around PowerPoint. Those who want to influence public policy, to express ideas their bosses want to make into law, are drawn to politics.
It's obvious from his background that Lehrman is a staunch Democrat. But he teaches the techniques of persuasion to supporters of any political party. In fact, his willingness to draw lessons from speeches delivered by both sides is a refreshing surprise in our increasingly polarized world. Testimonials inside the front cover of his book come from both Republicans and Democrats.
The book took him two years to write. However, some of the lessons it contains were those he first shared with interns in the Clinton White House in the 1990's. Don't be misled by the title. Lehrman claims that 90% of the content is useful for speechwriters outside politics, including those of us who write for the corporate world.
Lessons include:
- Realizing that the beliefs and values of the secondary audience might be more important than the people who are actually in the room when the speech is delivered;
- Why it's important not only to research facts and figures, but also spend time researching the stories and poetry that makes a speech sing;
- Why Monroe's Motivated Sequence is the best way to structure a political speech;
- Ways to make a speech memorable and move the audience to action, including checklists for everything from speech structure and supporting arguments to problems that are relevant to the audience and plausible solutions.
The challenge, he reminds us, is mastering the nuts and bolts while keeping the text of many political speeches at a 7th grade reading level so the majority of the audience can follow along.
Lehrman's book illustrates, with links to dozens of speeches, how some of the best writers practice their craft. He takes us behind the scenes with colleagues such as Clinton speechwriters' David Kusnet and Lissa Muscatine and George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum.
Bob Lehrman is aware that the fundamentals of speechwriting have not changed since Aristotle. His systematic approach to teaching the craft, as outlined in this book, gives us all the opportunity to learn new ways to improve.
July 20, 2011
Awesome! To be honest, I only skimmed it because it was due back to the library, but it is an imperative must-read for any speech, rhetoric, or political analysis teacher! I plan to buy this...
December 7, 2021
Lehrman breaks everything down. EVERYTHING. A must for aspiring professional communicators. He leaves practices, techniques, and checks the speakers of every political stripe, and my favorite part, the historical context!
January 7, 2022
Articulates really useful techniques interspersed with great anecdotes from speechwriters.
MMS: Attention, Problem, Solution, Vision, Call to Action, Clincher
Other factors: Howdahells, Thank Yous, Explanation
MMS: Attention, Problem, Solution, Vision, Call to Action, Clincher
Other factors: Howdahells, Thank Yous, Explanation
March 18, 2017
كتاب جميل، ومليء بالأمثلة، يشرح أساليب الخطابات السياسية، ويضع لها قواعد مهمة الالتزام بها يحقق خطاب جاذب وملهم.
December 1, 2014
Подготовке хорошей речи, как и хорошему стилю письма, может научиться только внимательный к удачным решениям других. Но чтобы внимательность принесла плоды, нужно знать, куда смотреть и что искать. Книга Лермана решает как раз эту задачу. Она позволяет читателю стать компетентным критиком (и, конечно, ценителем) чужих выступлений. Примеры, которые собрал автор, дают отличный материал для тренировки этого умения.
Книга сосредоточена на нуждах политических выступлений, для которых характерно одновременное обращение к множеству аудиторий, не только к тем, с кем спикер непосредственно общается. Однако большая часть советов будет полезна любому или любой вне зависимости от занятий.
Книга сосредоточена на нуждах политических выступлений, для которых характерно одновременное обращение к множеству аудиторий, не только к тем, с кем спикер непосредственно общается. Однако большая часть советов будет полезна любому или любой вне зависимости от занятий.
May 5, 2012
Great book filled to the brim with examples and analyses of political speeches.
The emphasis is on writing, with a short section on delivery.
The emphasis is on writing, with a short section on delivery.
December 2, 2015
This was a great read. Even though I don't write speeches, I found the process and systematic analysis revealing. If I started writing speeches, this would be invaluable.
February 22, 2016
Very helpful for speech writing in general. Also helpful in determining I would never want that kind of position; to be beholden to the whims of a politician's daily schedule. Insane.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews