Presidential Speechwriters:
Making History One Word at a Time

Words have power...On June 12, 1987, in Berlin, Ronald Reagan told Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall.” But it was Peter Robinson, banging away at a computer, who wrote the words. John F. Kennedy inspired us with his inaugural address saying, “Ask not what your country can do…,” but it was probably Ted Sorensen who first conjured the phrase. In the end, the best presidential speechwriters know their bosses’ mind so intimately that they often seem to be channeling presidential thoughts rather than writing dry scripts.

Presidential speechwriters are meant to be faceless figures in the background, to let the chief executive shine. But The Smithsonian is bringing the craft out of the shadows with an evening with some of the top presidential speechwriters of the past decades. They will take you behind the scenes to explain the demanding—and often agonizing—process that can shape a presidency and even change history. Ted Sorensen, adviser and primary speechwriter for President John F. Kennedy; Chris Matthews, speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter; Michael Gerson, speechwriter for President George W. Bush; Michael Waldman, speechwriter for President Bill Clinton; Landon Parvin, speechwriter for
President Ronald Reagan (and both Presidents Bush); and a representative from the Obama White House (schedule permitting) offer a look at the words behind the presidency. This stimulating panel discussion is moderated by Ken Walsh, senior White House correspondent for U.S. News & World Report.

We’ll depart Baltimore at 4:30 p.m. serving a gourmet dinner en route. The discussion is from 6:45—8:30 p.m. and we will arrive back in Baltimore at 10:15 p.m.
Call ASAP as space is limited.

Wednesday, October 6 @ $129.