by William F. Gavin
Michigan State University Press, 2011
Cloth: 978-1-61186-017-7 | eISBN: 978-1-60917-235-0
Library of Congress Classification JA85.2.U6G38 2011
Dewey Decimal Classification 808.5092

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ABOUT THIS BOOK

For almost thirty years, William F. Gavin wrote speeches at the highest levels of government. Speechwright is his insider’s view of politics, a shrewd critique of presidential and congressional rhetoric, and a personal look at the political leaders for whom he wrote speeches. While serving President Richard Nixon and candidate Ronald Reagan, Gavin advocated for “working rhetoric”—well-crafted, clear, hard-hitting arguments that did not off er visions of the unattainable, but instead limited political discourse to achievable ends reached through practical means. Filled with hard-earned wisdom about politics and its discontents, Speechwright describes Gavin’s successes, his failures, and his call for political rhetoric built on strong argument rather than the mere search for eloquence.