Title

Confessions of a White House ghostwriter: five presidents and other political adventures.

Description

White House speechwriter James C. Humes put words into the mouths of five presidents - Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Bush. In the process, he got to know these prominent leaders as few ordinary staffers could, while observing the inner workings of the White House. Now, in this frank and witty memoir, Humes reveals how vital political decisions and great political speeches were made. And he underlines the importance of character in a politician - something no.speechwriter can hide. Humes shares what he learned in his 25-year career as a presidential speechwriter. Page after page crackles with such fascinating disclosures as Nixon's suspicions about the identity of "Deep Throat", the real reason behind Ford's pardon of Nixon, why Reagan was his own best speechwriter, and why Bush lost. Humes reveals the secrets of the speechwriting trade, and spins marvelous anecdotes including sending Eisenhower to the Ladies' Room, writing.the plaque that was planted on the moon by Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, dancing with the Queen of England, and discussing nuclear disarmament over dinner with Churchill and Eisenhower.

Identifier

2500178

895264331

Creator

Humes, James C

Source

Brian Lamb Booknotes Collection

Gift of Brian Lamb, 2011.

Catalog record

Language

eng

Date

1997

Program air date: June 22, 1997

Publisher

Regnery Pub.

George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives

Text

Transcription of Annotations
Notes on front endpapers: Stuttered and lisped, Father dead at 43. Cardinal rule--tailor speech to the audience. Speeches for USIA. J.D. Williams and Chuck Manault at Law School. Negative name dropping p 67. Vow not to drink 1963. Officer Simchek and speeding p 77. Norman Mailer/Lady Jean/Stewart Alsop 64 convention p 85. Daughter Mary-editor of Harvard Crimson p 25. Martin Gilbert-met Churchill p 28. Father dies at 43, Mother takes own life. Truman and Jews p 35. IKE hiding ego and intelligence p 39. Tocqueville p 129/p 135. Deep Throat-Dave Gergen/worked with Woodward Yale Record. Lamb has checked each of the entries on the Contents page. Underlinings/Notes: Underlinings: Background, Anglophile, education, early life, family, need for eloquence, great speeches, Quotes-Master General, Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush. Bill Safire, evolution of speech writing, 'Jesus Christ syndrome'. Lamb underlines the names of politicians Humes admires: Pat Moynihan, Alan Simpson, Sam Nunn, Fritz Hollins, Jesse Helms. Encounter with Kennedy at movies during campaign, tricks, tops for speeches.. Thoughts on politicians like LBJ and Kennedy. Notes: memorable address 4 items," "Reagan D-Day," "writing speeches for more presidents than anyone," "Nixon and intellectuals," "Dianne," "Hiss case," "no new ideas," "radio address," "JFK inaugural," "greatest address," "moon plaque," "Humes, ego trips," "George WASH," "1st typed," "5 Presidents," "file 1000 quotes," "Agnew, Camus," "3 A.M. President," "Roosevelt's dead," "stuttered and lisped," "age 15 writing own inaugural address," "Mary," "dance with Queen," "met Churchill," "meeting IKE," "Williams College," "James McGregor Burns," "4P's," "quit Williams, mother's suicide," 'Truman," "David Susskind," "dressing down," "IKE--5 greatest men," "hiding ego and intelligence," "LBJ about IKE," "false ID," "your fly is undone," "Joe Kennedy," "sympathy for LBJ," "leaking to the press," "Ken Keating," "Johnson's secret," "Henry Ashurt--'must rise above principles'," "J.D. Williams," "access," "wouldn't drink," "Edmund Burke," "Betty Graham, L.B.J., photo op," "boring," "Norman Mailer and his wife Lady Jean," "Tom Kean," "Eisenhower/Churchill dinner," "H.L. Hunt," "name dropping," "flattering," "Kissinger the rat," "Nixon was the warmest," "lecture tour," "Harry Truman," "U.S. Grant," "Kissinger didn't want to go to China," "Vienna," "Russia visit soap," "Ed Stevens 'a communist'," "coined Nixon phrase," "Harvard," "John Le Boutillier," "1982 Woodrow Wilson Fellow," "Omaha," "lobbying," "editing," "ad-lib," "Oct debate," "didn't use," "Poland," "Westminster College," "1977 Vail, Ford's memoirs," "pardon," "Ruth Carter Stapleton," "city upon a hill," "eating nothing, hot water, choc, chip cookie," "CREAM," "good stories," "Churchill quote," "Reagan not intimate," "Bush v. Reagan," "President's eyes," "Indy '79 Bush," "nude Hyatt," "Hayek and Thatcher," "Pat Robertson, Benjamin Harrison," "Nixon on Bush," "Pete Dawkins," "Bush 1993," "language of leadership," "visa card," "you're a fool," "speech enlightening and entertaining," "exciting title," "own intro," "Powell," "Claus von Bulow," "gather anecdotes, fit speech around them," "opening amenities," "Praise," "arrive early," "Omaha dead woman," "memorize text," "ambassadorial appointment Malta," "Ike saying good bye to Churchill."

Subject

"Presidents--United States--History--20th century."

"Rhetoric--Political aspects--United States--History--20th century."

"Speechwriting--United States--History--20th century."

"Speechwriters--United States--Biography."

Relation

Original Booknotes interview

Rights

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