“And then I saw him speak. Years later, after writing dozens upon dozens of presidential speeches, it would become impossible to listen to rhetoric without editing it in my head. On that historic Iowa evening, Obama began with a proclamation:… — David Litt Copy Share Image
“What I hadn’t realized was that, above all else, Favs was a prodigy. Speechwriters, even great ones, tend to lead either from the head… — David Litt Copy Share Image
“In 1960, a mere 5 percent of Americans said they would be upset if their child married someone from the opposite party. A half… — David Litt Copy Share Image
“But as the weeks rolled on, I realized it wasn’t a lack of glamour that was bothering me. Instead, I kept thinking back to… — David Litt Copy Share Image
“The cost of living the dream, I was taught, is the responsibility to expand it for others. It’s a more than fair price.” — David Litt Copy Share Image
“This is the most common misconception about speechwriting. It came up especially often in the years before I started at the White House, when… — David Litt Copy Share Image
“In the real world, speechwriters are more like personal trainers than puppet masters. They can help you present the most attractive version of yourself… — David Litt Copy Share Image
“The firm’s fourth partner, Jeff Nussbaum, had carved out a niche writing jokes for public figures. It was he who taught me about the… — David Litt Copy Share Image
“I was lucky to receive it. Most rogue interns never get a second chance. And here it’s worth mentioning that I benefited from what… — David Litt Copy Share Image
“If I had lied to the CIA, perhaps I might have passed a test. Instead of writing a book about the White House, I’d… — David Litt Copy Share Image
“Some of the leaders of the backlash said their name was an acronym for “Taxed Enough Already.” Maybe this was true at first. But… — David Litt Copy Share Image
“Some accomplishments, in other words, are impossible to undo. Millions of people found jobs thanks to Obama’s decisions. Soldiers who spent Christmas 2008 in… — David Litt Copy Share Image
