6 Comments
founding

Stepping to a podium, I have always kept the thought in mind that the most meaningful outcome is for the audience to remember how they FELT about what words they heard, more so than RECALL of all the words themselves. Those feelings will stay with them far longer than their recollection of the detailed content. What I learned from Jim's forensics of this speech is how powerfully effective the call-and-response phrases are in securing those feelings in minds. Thank you!

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Sep 11, 2021Liked by James Fallows

Bush and his speechwriters understood the power of brevity if the words used are well-chosen. Some occasions, like Gettysburg, demand this type of speech. Kudos.

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founding

Finally analysis of Presidential speech-writing more informed than Aaron Sorkin's.

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