by Rob Cottingham | Jul 12, 2005 | Speechwriting
Friends! Tannin-stained comrades! The time has come to rise up and overthrow the shackles of half-assed hotel tea! We have gone from conference to conference, month after month, year after year. We have choked down stale mini-croissants, poked at soggy and lifeless... by Rob Cottingham | Jul 7, 2005 | Politics, Speechwriting
I don’t often reproduce speeches in their entirety, but Ken Livingstone’s statement today is extraordinary, stirring and well worth reading. This was a cowardly attack, which has resulted in injury and loss of life. Our thoughts are with everyone who has... by Rob Cottingham | Jul 3, 2005 | Politics, Speechwriting
I’ve been scouring the web for the text of Nelson Mandela’s speech to Live 8 on Friday. The closest I’ve come is finding these excerpts from the BBC. Update: Jay Pausner has found the whole thing. Updateder: …Ach — it’s a speech... by Rob Cottingham | Jun 21, 2005 | Speechwriting
You’ve heard Terry Edmonds, even if you’ve never heard him. He’s written speeches for Donna Shalala, Bill Clinton and John Kerry, and now he has a wide-ranging interview at Gothamist. This passage in particular struck me: We saw you described... by Rob Cottingham | Jun 12, 2005 | Speechwriting
The thought of working for government fills some writers’ hearts with terror. “Work within a bureaucracy? Have my words and imagery dulled down and bowdlerized by the forces of unimaginative conformity? Never!” That’s the stereotype… but... by Rob Cottingham | Jun 10, 2005 | SpeechList, Speechwriting
A few days ago, I launched SpeechList, the (free! free!) newsletter for people who write and deliver speeches. You can subscribe by clicking here. If you’re wondering whether SpeechList is for you, here’s the inaugural issue: SPEECHLIST: WRITING TO BE...