The Political Speechwriter's Companion 2/e

Robert A. Lehrman served as Chief Speechwriter to Vice President Al Gore and, in 2004, as Chief Speechwriter for the Democratic National Committee during his more than three decades of experience writing speeches. He has written for political figures, celebrities, heads of nonprofits, and corporate CEOs, most recently as speechwriter to the Chairman and CEO of Pfizer. He created and co-teaches the political speechwriting course at American University, where he was awarded the 2010 University Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching in an Adjunct Appointment. He speaks often at other campuses, conferences, and associations, on the topic of political speechwriting. Author of a number of award-winning novels and coauthor of a highly acclaimed non-fiction book for young adults, Lehrman has a B.A. from Tufts University and an M.F.A. from the University of Iowa's Writer's Workshop, where he studied with Kurt Vonnegut and Richard Yates

Preface Foreword Introduction: Why Speechwriting Matters Does Speechwriting Matter? Why This Book? Why Focus Only on Political Life? PART I: LAYING THE FOUNDATION Chapter 1. The Political Speech Politicians Must Speak More Politicians Must Persuade Politicians Must Be Liked Politicians Must Stay Upbeat Politicians Must Speak to Average Folks Politicians Must Get Quoted Final Words Chapter 2. Persuasion Persuasion: The Questions Persuasion: The Modes Appealing to Reason Appealing to Emotion Appealing through Characterization Final Words Chapter 3. Audiences Who Are Your Audiences? What Makes Each Audience Unique? What Do Audiences Feel about the Speaker? Final Words Chapter 4. Research Researching the Event Researching the Ideas Researching the Poetry Final Words PART II: HOW TO DO IT Chapter 5. Structure Why Monroe Works Well in Politics Other Structures Monroe Plus Monroe in Practice: Four Tips Final Words Chapter 6. Language People Understand Writing for Clarity Reading versus Hearing Final Words Chapter 7. Language People Remember Making Language Vivid Making Language Rhythmic Final Words Chapter 8. Anecdote Relevant, Remembered, Ready to Act Types and Tips Final Words Chapter 9. Wit Writing to Make Them Laugh How to Do It Formulas Types and Tips Final Words Chapter 10. Support Using Evidence Types of Evidence Making Evidence Memorable Arguing Responsibly Fallacies Final Words PART III: APPLICATIONS Chapter 11. Beginnings Attention Praise, Thanks, Acknowledgments Getting Serious and Stating the Purpose Final Words Chapter 12. Problems Structure Language Anecdote Wit Support Final Words Chapter 13. Solutions Inspire Solutions with Language Inspire Solutions through Ethos The Three Ps: Proposal, Persuasion, Punch Line Final Words Chapter 14. Writing Conclusions Four-Part Close: The Steps Four-Part Close: Strategy Final Words Chapter 15. Delivery Elements of Delivery Delivery's Best Practice: Practice Expanding Your Horizons Final Words Chapter 16. Ethics Plagiarism Misleading Listeners Lying Speechwriting: Unethical by Definition? Final Words Chapter 17. The Uneasy Partnership: Advice for Speakers and Writers For Speakers: What Speechwriters Need from You For Speechwriters: What Speakers Need from You Final Words Chapter 18. Final, Final Words Appendix. A Speech for Almost Every Occasion Notes Bibliography Index Index of Speakers About the Authors

"All of us who write and speak and try to help others do so should be grateful." -- Lamar Alexander "A classic for anyone who cares about speech, or covers it." -- Al Hunt "By far the best book on speechwriting I have ever read:" -- Dan Pink "This solid guide for speechwriters and speechgivers, written by a pair of the top practitioners of the art, makes both the philosophical case of why speechwriting matters and the very practical one of precisely how to make a speech work." -- Susan Page "The Political Speechwriter's Companion is the first book on speechwriting I ever read, and it's the first one I recommend to anyone seriously interested in speechwriting as a craft. If you work in political communications (or really any type of communications) this belongs in your office." -- David Litt