Table of Contents
1. Opportunity Knocks
"Their Finest Hour," Winston Churchill, June 18, 1940
"A Date Which Will Live in Infamy," Franklin D. Roosevelt, December 8, 1941
2. Before You Speak
"The Awesome Power of Disobedience," Charlton Heston, February 1999
"Today I am an Inquisitor," Representative Barbara Jordan, 1974
3. Preparing to Write
"Glory and Hope," Nelson Mandela, May 1992
"The Woman I Love," Edward VIII, December 11, 1936
4. Outlining and Organizing
"A Celebration of Freedom," President John F. Kennedy, January 20, 1961
5. Beginning Well
"This Breed Called Americans," President Ronald Reagan, January 20, 1982
6. The Best of References
"Remember How Futures Are Built," Mario Cuomo, July 16, 1984
7. Watch Your Language
"My Last Goodnight to You," President Dwight D. Eisenhower, January 17, 1961
8. Write It Right, Say It Right
"The Name America Must Always Exalt Pride," George Washington, March 1797
9. Professional Techniques
"Common Ground and Common Sense," the Rev. Jesse Jackson, July 1988
10. Wisdom of the Ages
"The Battle Has Been Joined," President George Bush, January 16, 1991
11. Get Personal
"Our Long National Nightmare," President Gerald Ford, August 9, 1974
12. Statistics and Other Lies
"The Danger of Our Decade," Margaret Thatcher, December 18, 1979
13. Closing the Speech
"You Have Summoned Me to the Highest Mission," Adlai Stevenson, July 26, 1952
14. I Have the Honor to Present
"The Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth," Lou Gehrig, July 4, 1939
15. More Than Words Can Say
"Gaining Strength and Respect in the World," Ambassador Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, January 20, 1984
16. The Final Stages
"Eulogy for Richard M. Nixon," Senator Robert Dole, April 27, 1994
17. And So to Speak
"A New Birth of Freedom," Abraham Lincoln, November 19, 1863
Appendix A: An Editing Checklist
Appendix B: Resources for Speakers and Speechwriters