Ask not why words matter, ask when they mattered most

Words do matter and few presidents knew this better than JFK (who of course also understood that rhetorical power has its limits).

How JFK came up with his memorable words and why they matter -- from "ask not" to the Cuban Missile Crisis -- is the subject of this US News and World Report excerpt of my book, White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters.

Click through and enjoy!

UPDATE: I should note -- happily -- that in addition to be a great news magazine, US News and World Report is also my employer.

Comments

[moderationsmuse]

04:35 PM on 05/04/2008

I can already hear the complaint.
Well, looks like I was mistaken. I was talking in an empty room!

[moderationsmuse]

03:33 PM on 05/02/2008

Since words matter, you might have written a few here. And as for presidents and their words, I have been reading the words of Ronald Reagan -- his own words. Reagan is famously libeled here at Huff Po according to various cliches that were current while he was living. But what many of his critics do not know is how prolific a writer Reagan was, in speeches, in letters and in the diary he kept while president. The man you never knew, the great president that history will remember, is there in his own words (not a speech writer's).
I can already hear the complaint. Yes, of course, eventually he did use speech writers as of course his schedule made necessary. But Reagan before the speech writers was a wonderful writer. And his respect for the dignity of individuals and his wonderful sense of empathy made him a very adept editor of his speech writers, bringing their wordsmithing back down to earth, giving it the tone of real speech.
He was a great good man. But don't take my word for it. The Reagan documents are wonderful to read, full of stories about life.