I think that most of them do need some help. It is the same as with many Pastors, leaders in schools and businesses, all of us do need guidance and help, But we should be careful that the speech reflect My thoughts and ideas not the writers--and yes some need more that one at various times.

High level politicians do not have the hours in the day to do all the work that needs to be done (the same goes for business execs). If they were required to do their own speech writing it would merely take away from the work they do. I used to work for an executive and I did quite a bit of his writing. I knew him well, knew how to write with his "voice", I knew the words he couldn't pronounce well, the words he would never use, etc. The man wasn't an empty suit, he just didn't have the time to sit and write.

That said, if you banished speech writers it would give "elitist intellectuals" a head start. ;)

Fearing that your mere mention of the "p" word will get this post zapped (as in my experience, anything with the remotest of connections always does suffer that end), I will, nonetheless, take a stab @ response. :D

We judge politicians largely on the basis of their speeches.
I can't agree with this statement. I can only think of a few memorable speeches by less than a handful of politicians. Mostly they say the same thing over & over & over again like automatons. Even the best written speech can suffer from a poor delivery. I am sure that GWB had speech writers too, but his delivery much of the time was ..... errrmmm ..... "off" ( to put it respectfully). The ones you mentioned had the delivery down pat. They were/are able to make a connection with the audience & that's a large factor in a "great speech".

I think Presidential speech writers have a responsibility to put into words the thinking, beliefs, points, ideas, etc that the President himself wants... the writer just fixes it up to make it into a "presentable" format. It takes quite a bit of time to write any speech..... so it seems to me quite acceptable that a professional be delegated to get it whipped into shape while the President or other politician uses the time in other (hopefully) useful ways. I think that would be true of any other politician, CEO, or high profile person who was called upon to give a speech, i.e. assign the job to the person who does this sort of thing well, while I figure out the budget, or resolve this or that issue.

And the converse...... if the politico had poor speech writing skills, but everything else about him/her were of superior qualities.... the poor speech probably would give people the erroneous impression that, "This person is a dolt."

Good topic & thought provoking.

Sure would cut down on the speeches, if nothing
else.

LOL Yes, that might be the biggest benefit, Molly.

I can't imagine "how" one could abolish speech writers. I think that people will get caught up in the emotional feelings that speakers evoke when making any kind of "speech"; from a pulpit...talk show...interview or most any kind of venue. People (like me) are drawn to the delivery of words...the passion or the believability and how it resonates with the persons' belief system. Hope I have said that right.

Interesting and thought provoking topic. Thanks. Nanny

Poor me!

As a clergyperson,I never got important enough ...

... that anyone might have shown any interest in writing a speech for me!

As a financial advisor, either, for that matter.

As one who pontificates on KT ...

... well ... anyone interested?

ole joyfilled

I think most will agree, Joyful, that you don't need a speech writer. In fact, you could be a speech writer! :-)

I think they need help because everything they say is picked apart, people looking for something negative to say about them. I admired Nancy Reagan, she was the only speaker at one of the... um, have forgotten what it's called. It's where they meet when they are deciding who will be nominated or run for president.

No, but I think they need to abolish tele prompters.

We have had some polititians that can't talk let alone write a speech. I think you short change our citizens, by saying they vote largely because of a particular speech. There may be some, but by and large I think more thought is given than that. Seeing some of the results though sure makes you wonder. LOL I don't like abolishes things, because you never know whats next on the list.