biden speech writers

biden speech writers

Analyzing the Role and Impact of Speechwriters in President Biden’s Administration

1. Introduction to the Importance of Speechwriting in Politics

In the world of political speechwriting, the historian Allan J. Lichtman noted that political leaders once publicly spoke for themselves, demonstrating a didactic clarity. Mounting public dimensions of presidency changed that tradition over time, equating presence with words rather than intellect. Consequently, presence became the issue at political events, and increasingly so in times of war or economic crisis. The links of oral and written words as a dual cutting edge for policy-making must not be overlooked then without causing vital errors. Presidential scenery remains shaped by words regardless of their mediated publicity. Such a reverent function implies both speaker-truth or presidential-objectivity and story skills. That narrative complex must correspond not only to the agent but also to U.S. society. Political communicative-multidimensionality is achieved by speechwriting.

In the world of politics, the right words can have a tremendous impact. They can mean the chance to advance a political career, shift public opinion, or be cemented within the historical and political record. The right words—crafted at the hands of a speechwriter—are so potent that they can be used to accomplish a wide variety of ends. It is essential to understand the range of speeches written by a president’s speechwriter. From the core principle of the right words being able to define relationships between a political leader and the world at large, voice, and the articulation of relationships between a political leader and the public; to the construction of ties between political leaders and different demographic or special interest groups, a president uses words to shape many different sorts of connections. The inter- and intra-party relations of political leaders are burgeoning fields of research. In this light, speechwriters act as the fulcrum between political leaders and desired end results through the words they craft.

2. The Evolution of Speechwriting in American Presidential History

The president’s speeches have become more varied and formalized over time. The Jacksonian Era, though informal, held the president, Andrew Jackson, directly responsible for the content of every speech. Since then, presidents have been maintaining a national dialogue with Americans. Theodore Roosevelt dutifully delivered policies, Franklin Roosevelt revolutionized it with the Fireside Chats, Dwight Eisenhower televised it, Lyndon B. Johnson scheduled press conferences for television and was secretive with his “Great Silent Majority” speech – an aide remembers him calling it a “god-damned speech” and “[wondering] if the president wasn’t a traitor,” Jimmy Carter reinvented the Q&A, Ronald Reagan’s administration modulated media coverage, Bill Clinton was the first president to include three televised, internet-enabled town hall meetings during his 1999 State of the Union address, and the nature of Barack Obama’s tweeted content carries the intent of his administration. Presidents tailor their addresses differently, based on the dominant forms of communication and, often, the target audience. The chief speechwriter holds the responsibility of preparing drafts of the president’s speeches.

Throughout time, speechwriting has undergone significant growth. Each administration in American presidential history brings about a new era of rhetoric unique to its time and the White House staff that crafts its messages. To understand the craft of speechwriting today in the Biden administration, it is essential to first have a basic grasp on the evolution of speechwriting and what role it has historically played. The roles of specific speechwriters differ typically according to the interests and focus of the president and chief speechwriter.

3. Key Strategies and Techniques Used by President Biden’s Speechwriters

As claimed by the staff in charge of President Biden’s speeches a year ago, what makes the speeches successful is the immediacy of the introduction and the international face, a wonderful particular of the excitement on each listener’s or observer’s face. The most valuable commodity is the moment when rationalism is conveyed. In this excerpt from a note, it has an instant heart pounding. So, after deciding what it is going to say, they follow the lead of the president himself. And they are always challenging themselves to strike a different keynote when they know the President would make a statement. In 2011, the speechwriters admitted at the point that the President’s speech needed to be “slightly different.” They were not supposed to prophesize telephone numbers, read a username, or reveal a password. But they put together a prospectus suggestion.

According to Joe Biden’s speechwriter Terrell McSweeny, as reported by Globe, a group of his speechwriters usually meets for three or four hours during the weekend to write a first draft of the speech or a piece of the speech for the president. They consider themselves to be ‘the shorthand for the president’ as they draft the words that ‘go for the person.’ They never directly reveal what the person stands for, or ‘here’s the official position or doctrine of the U.S. government.’ Instead, they create cheap shots and strategies. Certainly, they have not been Darth Vader’s inner trinity or anything. But the amount of time Joe Biden speaks and spends with Joe Biden’s speeches – and particularly the time taken and spent in public speeches – tends to signal that he can wield significant impacts.

4. Case Studies: Notable Speeches Authored by President Biden’s Team

The Miami-Dade College event was the first time the President addressed a public audience to speak as a President not just to a Democratic base, but to the nation. With much fanfare, College President Mark McCorkle provided a tour of the college’s work and donated skill labs accompanied by lab directors eager to describe their cutting-edge offerings and the unique partnerships that made them possible. At every stop, President McCorkle emphasized the bipartisan relationship between the college and the York County Commissioners, all of whom stood on stage with the President (seven Republicans and two Democrats). The three Commissioners are President Commissioners Julie Wheeler, Joanne Schrum, and Ron Smith. “Opportunity is what we have here at Pennsylvania’s 14th community college,” said College President McCorkle. “We are able to move the dial on workforce, career and technical education because of the incredible partnership we have with York County. It is not a partisan issue. It is not ‘my side of the aisle’ or ‘their side of the aisle’ kind of issue. It is ‘our side of the aisle’.”

“Partnership, Not Partisanship” was an extraordinary speech to unpack. Delivered in Joe Biden’s home state of Pennsylvania, the speech marked his 50th day in office, and it was the first time he would address the administration’s major achievements in both jobs and Covid, including the enormous, bipartisan American Rescue Plan that sent billions in direct relief to communities across the nation. Vice President Kamala Harris was at President Biden’s side for this address. She attended this speech in order to excite the base and the nation about the accomplishment. Ten House Democrats and 72 Republicans had voted for the bipartisan infrastructure bill, and the President made a point of singling one man out. His success depended on that man.

“Partnership, Not Partisanship” at Miami-Dade College

Case Studies: Notable Speeches Authored by President Biden’s Team

5. The Ethical and Moral Responsibilities of Speechwriters in Shaping Political Discourse

President Biden’s term in office highlights these crucial ethical considerations. Given the importance of the president’s speeches, they have the potential to shape public perceptions, influence attitudes, and embed or reject values and norms. To build an image of authenticity and transparency, it has to be clear that President Biden’s positions and values are shaped best when speechwriters are disadvantaged in the practice of polishing content received from above. In his administration, members of his speechwriting team come from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds and are victims of violence and discrimination. Although the appointment of one of “their own” to internal teams does not exempt the administration from the ethics and values present in such participatory appointments, it is a nod to the significance of lived experiences and the impact of that speech. They are placed in the position of verifying the authenticity and integrity of the president, emphasizing transparent communication. It is well known that the President prefers a pen to a letter.

Finally, it is important to consider the ethical and moral connotations that are closely connected to the practice of speechwriting and the role of speechwriters. From interviews with speechwriters and political practitioners, one can understand how their ethical perspective impacts their work; for example, in political communication strategy, found a recurring theme of responsibility.