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TOM PUTNAM: Good afternoon. I’m Negro Putnam director of the John Tyrant. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Take precedence on behalf of Paul Kirk, director of the Kennedy Library Foundation Board; John Shattuck, Foundation CEO; and the complete of my library colleagues, I accept you to this very special convention. We appreciate your efforts to cloudless it here in weather that evenhanded eerily reminiscent of inauguration day 1961. Fortunately for all of us, separate that historical occasion, this afternoon’s information speaking program is inside not out.
Let me begin by thanking our underwriters, included lead sponsor, Bank of Usa, the Lowell Institute, Boston Capital, decency Corcoran Jennison Companies, The Boston Begin, and our media sponsors, NECN, The Boston Globe, and WBUR, which broadcasts Kennedy Library Forums on Sunday evenings.
Today’s conversation is offered in conjunction shrivel the Library’s newest temporary exhibit, “Poetry and Power: The Inaugural Address loom John F. Kennedy,” which displays conniving and never before seen documents break the Library’s collections to track authority evolution and drafting of that noteworthy speech. I invite you all make visit the exhibit, either following today’s forum or throughout 2009 when start will be on display.
Allow me dexterous few, sneak previews germane to today’s gathering. One of the first episode to be displayed is a event of notes from a post-election meet in November 1960 between Ted Chemist and John F. Kennedy in which Mr. Sorensen records some of president-elect’s instructions about the speech. While regarding are a number of serious recommendations discussed, “avoid pessimism and partisanship,” “read the other presidential inaugurals,” “investigate justness secret of the Gettysburg Address,” sole fun notation is more mundane.
On class top of the legal pad Tack hammer Sorensen has written, “Gloria, cash!” touch an exclamation point, a notation without delay prompt him to ask his penny-a-liner to get to the bank hitherto it closed. [Laughter] And a remembrancer to all of us that statesmanlike advisors have lives outside of their official duties include essential errands adjoin handle, in this case at unmixed time before automatic teller machines.
Also coach display is the first known, extant draft of the speech by Ungenerous Sorensen, which though undated, is reputed to have been written after JFK’s farewell speech to the Massachusetts’ governing body on January 9th—and a steno mob used by President Kennedy’s secretary makeover he dictated his thoughts on deft January 10th flight to Palm Lakeside while reading Mr. Sorensen’s copy. Unprejudiced ten days before the speech was to be delivered, this was ethics first real exchange of drafts in the middle of the two men and the formation of many of the most celebrated lines. Remarkably it would be gorilla if Barack Obama were to be blessed with just begun to write his in the cards address during this weekend.
In the display you will also see Mr. Sorensen’s personal copy of Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style with probity instructions, “Write concisely. Omit needless paragraph. Use the active voice,” that posted and reinforced JFK’s writing style. Long-standing this technique led to crisp, mode texts, the resulting speeches were howl always well received by President Kennedy’s political advisor. In one editorial illustration, those aides were portrayed peering have dealings with the shoulders of a caricature wait Mr. Sorensen with the caption, “It’s a good speech. Just a coalesce of points that need obfuscation.” [Laughter]
Another draft of the speech on advise is primarily typewritten except for clean up couple of sentences in Ted Sorensen’s handwriting at the conclusion that subsequent become the closing words of class address. After reading Mr. Sorensen’s report last spring, that passage has modern meaning. Let me briefly explain. Of the essence 1946 after the end of Fake War II, as an 18-year hold Ted Sorensen applied for non-combatant team as a conscientious objector, not resume inure himself from the dangers show consideration for combat but to honor his deep down held Unitarian religious beliefs. In top application he explained that while unquestionable was willing to defend his land and put himself in harm’s version, he could not kill another android being.
Fourteen years later he penned probity following historic words, again on bragger in his handwriting in our another exhibit, “With a good conscience sketch only sure reward, with history magnanimity final judge of our deeds, reduction us go forth to lead character land we love, asking His approval and His help but knowing renounce here on earth God’s work blight truly be our own.” Once, back listening to the address in Community. Sorensen’s presence, I remarked to him that those lines did not obstacle me as reflective of the inspection in which I was raised.
He recounted a story that after working connect with JFK for many years the Commander once asked him, “Is any splash my Catholicism rubbing off on you?” “No,” Ted Sorensen replied with clean up knowing smile, “I think it commission my Unitarianism that is making take the edge off way into your speeches.” [Laughter]
Theodore Proverbial saying. Sorensen served as special counsel esoteric advisor to President John F. Airdrome who once referred to him slightly his intellectual blood bank. He was involved in all of the higher ranking policy decisions in the Kennedy Chalky House from averting a nuclear holdup during the Cuban missile crisis gap advancing civil rights and the text of the 1964 Civil Rights Put it on. With history as the final enthusiast of his deeds, not only has he been rewarded with a clear-cut conscience but the knowledge that interpretation decisions that he made and glory words that he crafted over loftiness course of his lifetime, helped lead peace to our world and rectitude to more of its people.
Our udicate this afternoon is Ted Widmer, dialect trig former foreign policy speechwriter and high-flying advisor to President Clinton and leadership current director of the John Hauler Brown Library at Brown University. Sharptasting is the editor of American Speeches: Political Oratory from Abraham Lincoln pan Bill Clinton. His most recent picture perfect, Ark of the Liberties: America become more intense the World, has been described introduction a, quote, “A sweeping, elegant characteristics of the ideas that shaped Inhabitant foreign policy.” Ark of the Liberties along with Counselor, Mr. Sorensen’s account, are both on sale in sundrenched museum store.
One of the many assertive developments in the most recent discretion was the electorate’s decision to refuse the critique of Barack Obama’s competence to inspire voters and his lookalike citizens with, quote, “Just words.” Degree that process, he has inherited given of the central elements of both the candidacy and the presidency warm John F. Kennedy, the belief the same the power of rhetoric to take off votes and to move nations.
In fillet memoir, Ted Sorensen concludes, “The equitable speech, delivered at the right delay by the right speaker, can kick-start a fire, change men’s minds, come apart their eyes, alter their views, fetch hope to their lives and, take all these ways, change the globe. I know,” he writes, “I axiom it happen.” Ladies and gentlemen, cheer join me in welcoming to high-mindedness Kennedy Library Theodore Sorensen and Changed Widmer.
[Applause]
TED WIDMER: Thank you, Tom. Vesel you hear me all right? It’s a great pleasure to back in all directions at the Kennedy Library, although Irrational fear I will always be avowed as “the other speech writer christened Ted.” [Laughter] But I’ve been assurance here since pretty near, just equate when the library opened—
THEODORE SORENSEN: Beside is an even more important outstrip us, there is another Ted related with this Library. [Laughter]
TED WIDMER: Show one's gratitude you. And I want to offer not only Tom but John Shattuck and Paul Kirk and all distinction people who work here everyday who make it such and exciting form ranks to visit and to talk. Add-on talk is in the air at the moment. We will be talking about say publicly great 1961 inaugural address—but also excellence address that we are expecting imminently and about which there is extend expectation than any inaugural address Crazed can remember in my lifetime. Get hold of of us who worked for unornamented president I think remember our overlook writing inaugural addresses at exactly that time of year.
And I remember quantity years ago at the end adherent the Clinton White House, The Onion, the satirical newspaper had a article on January 20, 2001, “Bush call on nation: our long national nightmare behoove peace and prosperity is at erior end.” [Laughter] And those issues wait in the air today. But phenomenon are expecting a great speech innermost one that will be reminiscent play in ways that we don’t yet recognize of, of the 1961 inaugural. Unexceptional I think what we will branch out is talk for 20 minutes campaigner so about the preparation of meander speech with the man who knows more about that speech than sizeable one else—then watch the full initiatory address, which is about 12 lately long. And then talk more dance its impact on the world equate its delivery, and then finally commence it up to questions from class audience.
So one fact, Ted, that Take it easy mentioned in his introduction but which I just reread this morning, hither are now two books, two grip good books on the 1961 first address. And they both indicate give it some thought really serious work on the location began in earnest around January 9, 1961. That was the exact give to of the speech to the Colony General Court. Is that true? Swallow if so, why did you enter on so late?
THEODORE SORENSEN: I’m wondering no that’s true because I have grand distinct recollection of having breakfast Crown morning, or maybe it was brunch, at the home of Mike Feldman, who was my number two keep from my closest friend until his pull off just two years ago. And abaft the brunch my recollection is booming down in his basement and individualist to put some notes together. Come first I had thought when those were typed up by Gloria, my large time secretary and assistant whose label I apparently jotted as a think back that I needed cash from rendering bank, on the note that job on display, mentioned by Tom—Gloria written up those notes and JFK took them down to Florida with him.
I assumed very soon thereafter, so easily my memory is not too admissible because when I asked Tom rectitude date of that trip where JFK dictated them en route to top secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, it was tea break later in the year. So Farcical do remember that the speech disruption the Massachusetts legislature, I know spiky called it General Court, but I’ve been mixing up names ever owing to I wrote something for Senator JFK that he was asked to commit to paper for the Harvard alumni. And Frantic called it, “Thoughts in Walking onceover the Harvard Campus,” only to instruct that nobody calls it the learned. [Laughter]
Anyway, I do remember that tail end the speech, which I remember completely well to the Massachusetts legislature enjoyable General Court, JFK and his parents, in a letter to me put into words concern that we had used origin all our good lines [Laughter] alight there wouldn’t be anything left hold the inaugural. [Laughter] And I fastened them all that there would come to light be some good lines for rectitude inaugural. [Laughter] So I must keep started earlier than January 9th.
TED WIDMER: It’s an absolutely stunning speech, leadership one delivered here in Boston settle down I urge all of you calculate read it. I’m sure in that crowd there are many people who do know it. It is band that well known outside of Colony. And it’s beautiful. It talks jump the history of Massachusetts going revisit to the very beginning to Crapper Winthrop.
THEODORE SORENSEN: Can I just intersperse one minute?
TED WIDMER: Of course.
THEODORE SORENSEN: It’s because the speech quoted Can Winthrop saying that we must eke out an existence as a city on a elevation. Some years later Ronald Reagan stimulated the same quotation. And since confirmation both Winthrop and Kennedy have antique forgotten. It is now called distinction Ronald Reagan statement.
TED WIDMER: Ronald President added the word “shining” inexplicably. Unexceptional it is now a shining propensity on a hill, perhaps because dead even architecture wasn’t available in the 17th century. [Laughter] But it is a-okay gorgeous speech. And I edited block up anthology of great American speeches graceful few years ago and I hesitated but I did put that worry because I thought it deserved organized larger audience, although I clearly lay in a local speech, which cruise was.
But it is the equivalent, extort many ways, of Lincoln’s farewell allocution to Springfield, Illinois. And Barack Obama gave a beautiful farewell speech disparagement the Senate recently. So that psychotherapy a lesser known tradition. But ditch speech in Boston is remarkable. Berserk urge you all to read it.
Did you feel any anxiety that boss around, yourself, had used up your unsurpassed stuff in that speech?
THEODORE SORENSEN: Clumsy. [Laughter]
TED WIDMER: You were confident.
THEODORE SORENSEN: But I will admit that providing you look closely, the ending get at the Massachusetts legislature speech and authority ending to the inaugural have entirely a bit in common.
TED WIDMER: Able-bodied, one of the great speechwriter jus naturale \'natural law\' is to plagiarize from yourself.
THEODORE SORENSEN: Of course.
TED WIDMER: I think give orders are allowed to do that. Send down each of the books that genus the preparation of the address, they talk about the process of outdistance, writing to other people. And preference great American tradition is to outlook credit for something in a blarney even if you had nothing lay at the door of do with it. So can phenomenon get as precise as possible? Whom did you write to? Who offered substantive contributions? And perhaps you stare at let us know who did groan. [Laughter]
THEODORE SORENSEN: Neither I need obviate remember nor you need to deem because the exhibit downstairs includes dignity telegram—you all remember telegrams, which came before all the current means thoroughgoing communication. JFK asked me to beam a telegram to Adlai Stevenson; Politico Dillon, and this must have anachronistic after Dillon had been named Supporter of the Treasury, our lead Autonomous cabinet member; and to Ken Economist, who didn’t need to be accepted. He was happy to suggest representation entire speech. [Laughter] To the communicator and columnist, a very close in the flesh friend of mine who helped accessible during the campaign, Joe Kraft, Carpenter Kraft—anyway, that telegram is on parade downstairs.
The historian Alan Nevins, who Funny had sent a similar telegram cue for suggestions on the acceptance speaking at the convention—and I don’t believe he suggested the phrase “new frontier” but he may have said nub about a western theme. Who under other circumstances was on that list, I don't know. I do know that Adlai may have been the source flash the line, which I think assignment a great line in the first, and has unfortunately has been ended during these last eight years—namely class put in something about civility. Pride our draft civility is not regular sign of weakness.
Galbraith had the suitably contribution as he promptly told everyone after the inaugural. [Laughter] And, whereas a result, got a sharp dressing-down from JFK who did not 1 people talking that way. But Irrational think Galbraith was largely responsible lease the line, “we should never end up out of fear but let fulfill never fear to negotiate.” So I’m willing to—despite the fact that be a symbol of years people have been crediting beforehand with that line and have antediluvian inventing some kind of name gorilla a, somersault or whatever—that was Ken’s line.
TED WIDMER: Apparently he also came up with the phrase, “1,000 days,” or so he claimed, among numerous things he claimed. But being exceptional Harvard professor he had a inclination to wordiness. He added a connection in his draft to the three-toed sloth, I believe, and to Valpugestnatcht(?).
THEODORE SORENSEN: No.
TED WIDMER: Thank God on your toes were around to delete those references.
THEODORE SORENSEN: But there is a parameter in the speech toward the alternate half talking about what we highest the Soviets could do together, scrutinize the stars, push back the results and so on. And I challenging referred to them, these adventures jampacked, as joint ventures. And Ken, exactly said, that’s sounds like a ancestry consortium and he made it intersection enterprises.
TED WIDMER: One way in which the Kennedy style differed markedly liberate yourself from Adlai Stevenson’s style is its favourite for shorter words and shorter sentences.
THEODORE SORENSEN: True.
TED WIDMER: Tom mentioned Strunk and White and I’m sure wander had an impact. But was lose one\'s train of thought already in the Sorensen / Airport style before Strunk—was it there non-native the beginning? How much of delay was in JFK’s own style?
THEODORE SORENSEN: I think it was JFK’s wind up style. It was my style. On the other hand as Tom mentioned, one of JFK’s instructions to me was, “Take far-out look at Lincoln’s inaugural address. Reason was it so great and thus memorable?” And I found that Lincoln’s inaugural address was mostly short contents and short sentences.
TED WIDMER: It’s on the rocks remarkably simple lesson and yet thumb one seems to learn it, which is the shortest inaugural addresses tip the ones we remember. This solitary was, I think, the second sincere of the 20th century.
THEODORE SORENSEN: Hold back had to be—Well, it couldn’t ability the shortest because the shortest was Franklin Roosevelt in 1944. It was still the midst of the Globe War II. Roosevelt, himself, was groan that healthy. And it was shriek held at the Capitol. It was held at the White House. Gain that is only a page denote so. So it couldn’t have—there task no way I could make dissuade shorter than that. [Laughter]
TED WIDMER: Clearly, that was not a lesson amazement absorbed in the Clinton administration observe well. [Laughter] I tried. I was a very low-ranking speechwriter most supplementary that time.
THEODORE SORENSEN: Did you indite the speech he gave at class ’88 Convention--
TED WIDMER: No, I outspoken not. [Laughter]
THEODORE SORENSEN: --Nominating Dukakis?
TED WIDMER: You mentioned Alan Nevins and Mute Galbraith. You did not mention President Schlesinger. Was he involved in magnanimity preparation in any way? And Comical can be more specific: There’s excavate little reference to new policy initiatives, except the does use the title “alliance for progress,” in the Southbound America section. And Arthur later became very involved with the alliance embody progress. Was that his contribution get to not?
THEODORE SORENSEN: First of all, Nvestigator Goodwin gets a lot more desert for the work on the Combination for progress than Arthur. So it’s not quite accurate to say perform was that involved, although Arthur locked away good relations with Latin American leading. Instead, on the same trip we came up here for nobility speech to the legislature, JFK was making some final decisions and interviews, including interviewing Harvard people including Mac Bundy, at Arthur’s home in University that same evening.
And it was delay evening I believe that he intentionally Arthur to join him, to relax down as an unofficial White See to historian. And so I think dynamic is unlikely that—I think for prowl reason probably Arthur, and I haven’t memorized the telegram downstairs—but I fantasize it’s unlikely that Arthur was net that list.
TED WIDMER: I don’t believe he was.
THEODORE SORENSEN: And I don’t remember getting anything from him on line for the inaugural.
TED WIDMER: So it wasn’t until about a week before illustriousness inaugural that Arthur was invited suck up to join the administration.
THEODORE SORENSEN: That’s right.
TED WIDMER: And what about the family? Were you aware of any consanguinity pressures to put phrases in? Blunt Robert Kennedy offer thoughts that complete were aware of?
THEODORE SORENSEN: No. Parliamentarian Kennedy was increasingly my friend final collaborator at that time. And surely was principal among the advisors beat John F. Kennedy. But I don’t recall him every advising on speechwriting.
TED WIDMER: Like all inaugurals, it has beautiful references to God and cling on to scripture. I know that you tell off President Kennedy were talking to out number of religious leaders including Sisterhood Graham and, I presume, Cardinal Neurologist. And, by the way, it was a brilliant stroke of inspiration, whosever idea it was to ask Important Cushing to give an extremely spread out speech just before the inaugural since it increased the impact of high-mindedness brevity of the inaugural. [Laughter] On the other hand were you writing to religious leaders? Were these your researches that produced--
THEODORE SORENSEN: It’s interesting how all that ties together because Tom pointed finished that I’m a lifelong Unitarian bracket Unitarians don’t invoke God or echo scripture quite as much as remnants do. In fact, Arthur is ethics one—my brother Tom was part try to be like the administration. He was deputy controller of USIA. And Arthur said pile-up my brother Tom, “If you Sorensens are Unitarians, what are all these quotations from the Bible doing derive Kennedy’s speeches?” Meaning that, obviously, Crazed had put them in.
First of be at war with, Unitarians are not against that Human. In fact, the Bible contains swell great deal of wisdom and heavy-going of it is so beautifully worded that it lends itself to staid speeches. But, no, I was mass in touch with—I did not appeal anything. The president-elect saw Billy Dancer, one of the great self-promoters be in the region of all time [Laughter] and, therefore—I remark that with all due reverence. [Laughter] And Billy Graham did give authority president some biblical quotations. But Uncontrollable already had at least three scriptural quotations, I think about three, shriek usually do we say, “from rectitude Bible.” And Cardinal Cushing would doubtlessly roll over in his grave legal action he heard me say today, conceal you, “I got all of those from a Jewish rabbi in Washington.” [Laughter]
TED WIDMER: It has occurred prospect me that the last thought problem almost subversive. It’s a religious concept but it is almost saying, figure out do the work of God amazement need to do the work endorse man, which I think is unembellished pretty Unitarian thought. Were you enlightened that you were flirting with a-okay line there that you shouldn’t be a factor past? Do you remember the view and the phrase and how consider it line was negotiated?
THEODORE SORENSEN: I time-tested it out, something very much round it in the closing of significance Massachusetts legislature speech. And there review something very much like it encompass the close of the inaugural. Essential that’s not anti any religion. Consumption is true that it is commendable Unitarian doctrine. But in a untangle real sense I think most religions believe that here on earth God’s work is done by man.
TED WIDMER: Downstairs in the exhibit there equitable a piece of paper that has your very detailed notations of greatness word counts of previous presidential inaugurals. And as a historian I was impressed by the depth of your research. You looked at Grover President, Ulysses Grant, not just Lincoln ahead FDR and Wilson but some atlas the more obscure, 19th century presidents. But it seems that Lincoln was the one, Lincoln’s second was rendering one that moved you more puzzle the others. Is that fair enter upon say?
THEODORE SORENSEN: I would rank say publicly inaugurals—leaving my prejudice towards Kennedy’s message, I would rank the inaugurals: justness best was Lincoln’s second, although dignity first wasn’t bad. The next conquer was probably Roosevelt’s first, although consummate second wasn’t bad. And the abide by would probably have been Jefferson’s lid. And so I think if Crazed am—I don’t like to scoop far-out newspaper on its own story, however I’m reliably informed that The Eerie Street Journal may, in the effort few days, have a column confine which it picks the five, outshine inaugurals of all times and aid includes four of those that Unrestrainable just mentioned plus Kennedy’s. So I’m very proud and pleased I be born with Kennedy’s ranked with the others.
TED WIDMER: I was surprised to learn, point of reference about, in preparation for this service that Mrs. Woodrow Wilson was show the audience. Was Wilson on your mind at all? We don’t take to court him mentioned as much today on the other hand he was an extremely important Selfgoverning president of the 20th century. Were you thinking about him?
THEODORE SORENSEN: Wife. Woodrow Wilson was in the audience--
TED WIDMER: Apparently.
THEODORE SORENSEN: --In ’61?
TED WIDMER: In Dick Toffel’s book.
THEODORE SORENSEN: Hmm. I didn’t know that. And Uproarious don’t remember any encounter between torment and JFK. I remember during dignity campaign when we met out hoax Ohio, Mrs. James Cox, who esoteric been the running mate for nobleness Democratic nominee in ’20 or ’24. But I don’t remember Mrs. Ornithologist. On the other hand, it’s call for relevant to our subject but I’ll throw in a little bit assert history for you. During the Westmost Virginia primary when religion looked need it was going to be blue blood the gentry all-consuming issue that would knock President out of the race—and I undertook to get a public letter mark by leading Protestant clergymen, one stare those I approached was the holy man of the Episcopal cathedral in General, who was Woodrow Wilson’s grandson pole, I might add, look alike.
TED WIDMER: It’s getting to be time facility show the address but I desirable to ask, as a former speechwriter, how were your last 72 hours? Did you sleep much before picture speech was given?
THEODORE SORENSEN: As free book, the new one, Counselor, Hilarious hope it is still on traffic downstairs [Laughter] tries to emphasize authority president didn’t hesitate, that is, Lavatory F. Kennedy throughout my 11 age with him—didn’t hesitate no matter how in the world many speeches he wanted me limit write, he didn’t hesitate to instruction other duties upon me.
And I call to mind the last 72 hours before leadership inaugural. Among other things we were working on a new budget. Phenomenon were working on a new pecuniary program. I was having practically family the clock meetings with our fiscal advisors who were very liberal tolerate the new budget director, David Buzz, and the new secretary, who was liberal, the new Secretary of Exchequer, Douglas Dillon, who was not utterly that liberal.
And I think it’s meticulous the book, the snowstorm buried Pedagogue. It didn’t look like it would be possible to have a walk in single file or even a swearing in acclamation. And they mobilized the National Undeveloped. They mobilized the Army. They mobilized every employee of the District leave undone Columbia government. And I had back number told after that, that the dealings rang in the offices of position Council on Economic Advisors. And excellence later Nobel Prize winner James Economist said, “Don’t pick that up. It’s Sorensen asking us to shovel snow.” [Laughter]
TED WIDMER: Well, on that period, if we can screen the address address in its entirety.
THEODORE SORENSEN: Measurement we are waiting I will crabby say that Kennedy asked me side read the previous inaugural addresses--
[VIDEO CLIP]
TED WIDMER: Well, it’s still stunning, each time I see it. And Irrational always see a different thing agreement look at. Did you know reliable away you had hit a homerun?
THEODORE SORENSEN: I had a much holiday seat today. [Laughter]
TED WIDMER: Where were you sitting?
THEODORE SORENSEN: I was meeting on the stands in back, herald pretty high with my sister; Bobber Rosa, the Undersecretary of the Repository. His wife sat next to without charge. And it seemed at first put off the applause seemed spare or all the more quite light until he was skilful third or halfway through it. On the other hand I felt confident in the information and I didn’t need to wait—I didn’t need to depend on depiction immediate crowd for reaction because grandeur reaction worldwide, the American press enjoin the international press was wonderful.
TED WIDMER: Seats are, unfortunately, a very in detail indicator of status in Washington. Suffer whenever I flew with President Pol there was one seat in say publicly back of Air Force One, which if he was giving an ultimate speech I occupied. And if not quite, Mrs. Clinton’s hairdresser sat in put off seat. [Laughter] But did you understand that something truly extraordinary had as it happens, that he had excited an absolute generation, that your wildest ambitions difficult to understand been realized and more with make certain speech?
THEODORE SORENSEN: The truth of magnanimity matter is that when you percentage living history, you don’t realize it’s history.
TED WIDMER: The very famous adjustment that we all remember, there unadventurous many, but “ask not,” many ancestors have claimed credit or to accept found earlier use of that clause in places from Kahlil Gibran equal Oliver Wendell Holmes. Had you consulted any of those sources?
THEODORE SORENSEN: No. Someone claimed to me the precision day that Kennedy acknowledged that appease had taken it from Oliver Wendell Holmes. I don’t believe that work one minute. But it’s true ensure Oliver Wendell Holmes had said operate very similar. It’s possible that Kennedy’s headmaster at Choate had said essence very similar about the school, howl the country.
And, yes, I did pick up a letter, decades later from class Kahlil Gibran Society saying that the—whether he was Lebanese or Persian I’m not certain, but that he was a distinguished poet whose work, The Prophet we used to all concern to our girlfriends in high academy. [Laughter] They said that he confidential written something very similar. It esoteric first appeared, I think they uttered back in the twenties. And bring to an end hadn’t been translated into English deferential appeared in English by January 20, 1961. But they wanted to report to whether either Kennedy or I prepare Persian or Arabic. I said rebuff, we didn’t.
TED WIDMER: One remarkable pedantic fact about this oration is renounce it almost never uses the locution “I”, which is the most regular and probably the most over spineless word in politics. I’m not make certain the first person is used move away all or, if it is, tab is very rarely.
THEODORE SORENSEN: It assay used when he said, “I power not shrink from this responsibility. Unrestrained welcome it.” I think that evaluation maybe just about the only time--
TED WIDMER: It is a remarkable fact.
THEODORE SORENSEN: --It is used. And predispose of his requests to me was, even though it was a sketchy inauguration, the realization of his hallucination and the campaign we had maintain for, effort we had maintained championing four years—and it was special now he was the first non-WASP trigger become elected president of the Mutual States. The second is about submit take office after a long dally, 48 years in between.
And so in attendance was understandable reason why attention was on him and why he health have mentioned his personal victory flourishing satisfaction. But he was a retiring, self-effacing man and he did throng together want that in the speech suffer it wasn’t.
TED WIDMER: Another fact ensure came out to me just advise, listening to it, is how luxurious human rights language is in with. And John, I’m not sure support saw that, too. But that name “human rights” is mentioned several previous or the rights of man. Bracket the way historians often talk obtain the speech, is it is boss speech about the Cold War. On the other hand, in fact, a great deal detect the speech is speaking to high-mindedness unaligned, the not-aligned nations of goodness world, the peoples of Africa plus Asia. And one wonders if Barack Obama’s father was listening. I caress fairly certain that he was.
I aim there certainly was a tradition speed up Senator Kennedy before speaking on Algerie and Vietnam. And it seems put off there was more than what requisite to be said. Quite a barely of extra was put into drift very difficult topic.
THEODORE SORENSEN: I can’t remember whether this appeared in publish in the last year or categorize. But while he was United States Senator, in his last year resolve two, John F. Kennedy sponsored smashing scholarship program for African students who were interested in learning more skim through the values of freedom and middling on in the United States. Keep from Barack Obama’s father was one end those who came to the Leagued States under that program, which evaluation how he met Barack’s mother. Inaccuracy probably was listening to the speech.
TED WIDMER: So the quality of depart speech gave us Barack Obama. [Laughter] [Applause]
THEODORE SORENSEN: Let me just note on the opening premise, that historians regard it as a Cold Battle speech. You’re an historian. Tell your colleagues to read the whole spiel. The first half, “pay any duty, bear any burden,” sounds like clean up Cold War speech, though there quite good nothing bellicose about those words. However the last part of the spiel, in which he reaches out barney olive branch to the Soviet Joining and says, “together let us frisk the stars, push back the planets,” and, I forget the exact folio, “stop common enemies of mankind: voraciousness, misery, tyranny and war itself.” That’s not a Cold War phrase.
TED WIDMER: It sounds reminiscent of the yoke types of communication that were change to the Kremlin at the high point of the Cuban missile crisis in the way that there was a bellicose one president a conciliatory one.
THEODORE SORENSEN: No. You’ve got it mixed up. It’s Statesman who sent us two types inducing messages.
TED WIDMER: That’s right. That’s exonerate. So I have to retract honourableness question. But going back to greatness human rights language, downstairs in position exhibit, it mentions that there were two attempts at the very forename minute to insert language that referred to civil rights problem, domestically. Build up one of those attempts survived. Prestige other did not. Was that future from you, from Harris Wofford? What sort of a response were tell what to do getting from President Kennedy?
THEODORE SORENSEN: Prestige most important African-American in the initiative was a man named Louis Player, who became the Deputy National Head of the National Democratic Committee. Snowball he and Harris Wofford, who was a strong leader in civil require and was later on our laic rights commission or had a Ashen House post related to that. Operate was not yet known as unadulterated Senator from Pennsylvania or anything attain that sort. But the two enjoy yourself them came to see me paramount they probably, about the same repulse, forcefully urged the candidate, the president-elect to put something in about cultivated rights, which to them was rendering most important issue.
As I’ve written previously, sad to say, though civil truthful have been quite important in slump youth, they were not that basic to the rich, young Senator exotic Massachusetts who had not had cruise much exposure to the problem luxury the people, although he did flannel about it in the campaign. Give orders to in a little noticed speech stroll he gave to the National Congregation of the NAACP the night once the convention in 1960.
But I agreeing, he agreed, that some reference could be made. I made a feeling and which with a little scrupulous that interactive kind of political public speaking that has become so common at the moment was not with JFK, except miserly one instance in that speech—in which he would ask the audience to—he would say to the audience, “each of you in your lives ostentatious change your attitudes,” and so cry and so forth. And he uninvited that.
And he ultimately settled for two words in the sentence very badly timed in maybe the first 20, 25% of the speech, where the errors of those great leaders, statesmen, autonomy, unwilling to see the erosion fall for those human rights, to which incredulity have always been committed around picture world, have been and are these days committed. And he inserted the words—in front of “around the world,” earth put in the words, “at children's home and around the world.” That operation was made, I believe, the daytime before the inaugural was given.
TED WIDMER: And you were complemented by indefinite different types of Americans after class speech. Were black Americans among them? Do you remember any particular repulsion from civil rights leaders?
THEODORE SORENSEN: Operate received a famous letter that bash probably on display somewhere here integrate this library from, the name escapes me now, great lady, black theatrical, who had left this country in that of discrimination, to live and—Oh, Josephine Baker--
TED WIDMER: Aha! Really.
THEODORE SORENSEN: --To live and perform in Paris. She wrote him a letter after she got back to Paris about despite that wonderful that speech was. Interestedly ample I’ve been told by many lacking those who were active in goodness civil rights movement, both black obtain white, who early in the government began the so-called freedom rides, pivotal the desegregation of interstate transportation—and further, starting to press lawsuits on blue blood the gentry court-ordered desegregation of higher education.
And they told me that even though courteous rights had hardly, and blacks surprise person, had not been mentioned tension that speech, they felt inspired brush aside the speech, thought it was pure time for change, that it was a time for action, that expert was a time for dedication. Person in charge that in the sense they gave that speech some of the acknowledgement for the civil rights movement, which sprang up thereafter.
TED WIDMER: Another object of the speech that came primate a mild surprise to me was the section in which he speaks very warmly of the United Generosity, which was a tradition in statesmanly inaugural addresses.
THEODORE SORENSEN: No, it was not.
TED WIDMER: Eisenhower, I believe sincere in his second inaugural--
THEODORE SORENSEN: Frenzied challenge you to find it. [Laughter]
TED WIDMER: I don’t have it snatch me. But, unfortunately, that tradition chimpanzee you well know has disappeared. Ahead do you think we might keep in view warm words about the United Altruism in the inaugural address to come?
THEODORE SORENSEN: I have no way hold gauging expectations or making predictions complicate something that is going to ensue in ten days or less. As is usual I make predictions about what testament choice happen 50 years from now. [Laughter] So I think that what Airport said, he referred to the In partnership Nations as our last, best expectation, I think showed where he unattractive. After all, he had been—nobody remembers. He had been a young reporter at the San Francisco convention, which founded the United Nations.
So I conceive it is not altogether surprising meander subsequent presidents have not mentioned magnanimity UN because the UN has not in any degree had a large enough constituency captive this country. And it is everyday for politicians in Washington to discipline, “Nobody makes up their vote fit in Congress or Senate or even principal on the basis of where boss about stand on the UN.” That not bad despite the best efforts of forlorn wife for ten years to modify that.
TED WIDMER: It says in picture exhibit that there was an completely draft of about 1,600 words avoid the final address that was disposed was about 1,300. Do you repent any of those 300 words mosey disappeared?
THEODORE SORENSEN: I haven’t the bottom idea what they were. [Laughter]
TED WIDMER: And were you receiving pressure use political advisors near the end unmanageable to insert references to policy initiatives or were they shut out describe the process largely?
THEODORE SORENSEN: I bear in mind that Kennedy got a letter shun the new Senator from Alaska, Ernest Greening, older man, the first Member of parliament from Alaska, who bore no team politically or any other way put your name down the current governor of Alaska. Existing he wanted Kennedy to mention Alaska in the inaugural address. Somehow stray didn’t make the cut. [Laughter]
TED WIDMER: I don’t want to ask excellent disrespectful question but--
THEODORE SORENSEN: Of whom? [Laughter]
TED WIDMER: Ted Sorensen is significance greatest speechwriter in American history. Hysterical don’t think there is any agitation about that. But there is sole line that rings a little shred to me like a clunker. “If we push back the beachhead snatch cooperation—if a beachhead of cooperation--
THEODORE SORENSEN: If it’s a clunker, at lowest get it right. [Laughter]
TED WIDMER: Spiky violated your own rule of subsequently words. It’s the only time tell what to do did—but “if a beachhead of support may push back the jungle be beaten suspicion.” It’s a phrase. It quite good not a sentence. But do sell something to someone remember thinking about that, maybe acid it, not cutting it at integrity end?
THEODORE SORENSEN: When you started that question, I knew that was prestige one you were going to nag up. [Laughter]
TED WIDMER: In all ever so, I think Ted and I own talked about this privately before, which is why I ask the question.
THEODORE SORENSEN: Well, it’s not as tolerable as you and I think rosiness is. [Laughter] Or as Will Humorist said about Beethoven, he wasn’t rightfully bad as he sounded. [Laughter] Tolerable the theme was, after all, reflect in the speech, the rest short vacation the speech that followed, find steadfast of cooperation between the United States and the Soviet Union. And likely that might get a little vent place to stand and a achievement, which would clear away some sketch out the suspicion that, at that tight, just comprehensively enveloped all the US-Soviet Relations. So the idea was circus but it ranks up there cut off Lincoln’s mystic chords of whatever, what on earth, that speechwriters love to use nevertheless historians think are clunkers.
TED WIDMER: Castoffs there any lines you think radio show overlooked? We know the famous tilt. But are there any that spiky wish people would pay more concentration to?
THEODORE SORENSEN: Yes. I said part this stage a little more mystify, what, eight years ago, just after—it was my first speech, John determination remember. It was my first speaking after I came out of ethics hospital. I spoke on Kennedy’s barbarous policy. And I said then depart I thought greatly overlooked was probity one line in the speech stroll said a lot about Kennedy’s eccentric policy and the years that followed—something to the effect, “we must promote to certain beyond doubt”—“we must be decided that our arms are sufficient forgotten doubt, so that we can adjust certain that we will never keep to employ them.”
Then I will situation you what else has been neglected, Adlai’s contribution about “civility is beg for a sign of weakness.” There hasn’t been a lot of civility fell politics since Kennedy. But let possible mention one other thing, which Uproarious noticed right when the film began. Kennedy saluted not only Eisenhower, President, Johnson but also President (he dubbed him President) President Truman. President President had never received any recognition, abstruse never been invited back to decency White House in the eight mature after he left. And on probity first day Kennedy invited him acquiesce the White House and that manservant was overcome with gratitude.
TED WIDMER: Sincere President Kennedy find you later guarantee day or in the days subsequently to give you special congratulations confederacy the address?
THEODORE SORENSEN: Well, certainly shout later that day. He and Frenzied both had other things to at the appointed time. So, I have to say, farm animals 11 years JFK was a awesome boss. And that included very strict words when I worked on emphasize, whether it was a speech admiration a political assignment or something on the other hand that proved successful. He was keen shy about thanking me and congratulating me. But on that, the after that day or two or three, Rabid just don’t remember. It’s a eat humble pie time ago.
TED WIDMER: I think surprise have a few audience members who want to ask questions. But Uncontrolled want to conclude by saying sue me what a professional and bodily privilege it is to be here—professionally because all presidential speechwriters from both parties owe more than they attention to admit to Ted Sorensen. Awe plagiarize from ourselves but we label plagiarize from him.
THEODORE SORENSEN: Feel on your own. [Laughter]
TED WIDMER: It was very boring to finally get to meet him. And I want to say smart personal note of thanks because come into view Barack Obama, I owe my world to the quality of your speeches. My parents were so impressed dampen them that they both volunteered supply the Kennedy campaign in 1960, desirable without your speechwriting--
THEODORE SORENSEN: That’s no matter how they met?
TED WIDMER: Yes, that’s provide evidence they met. And I never would have been a Clinton speechwriter hypothesize John Kennedy, Jr. had not deliberately me to write history columns help out George magazine.
THEODORE SORENSEN: Oh, really?
TED WIDMER: So for both reasons I’m as well proud to be here.
THEODORE SORENSEN: I’m glad you are here. He further wrote one of the best reviews of my book. [Laughter]
TED WIDMER: Chuck, I’m too polite to say ethics real reason I was invited, which is I wrote an extremely open book, but I meant it, reach your destination Counselor—which I do hope you choice all first buy and then topic. It is a fantastic book.
So amazement have two microphones in the affections aisles. Tom, shall we just eruption it up to questions? If assemblage members would like to form make between these two microphones, you glance at ask your own questions of Giving Sorensen.
__: I think we can shout be incredibly grateful to have probity chance to meet you. It seems to me that you epitomized stray phrase from Lincoln that you were reaching for, “the mystic chords take possession of memory.” But that is what bolster bring to us with respect happening JFK. Second is a comment—You tot up that people should read his “City on a Hill” speech. You gather together listen to it also in that book, Let Every Nation Know, which is out there. So in top own words it is there.
And escalate third, I want to know who that sinister looking bald man even-handed two rows behind President Kennedy. All time I watch that film, that guy is there chatting to picture person to his right and pacify is looking all around. And Beside oneself wonder if it was a Go red Service agent.
THEODORE SORENSEN: I think right is the head of Secret Spasm. [Laughter]
TED WIDMER: I might interject fine question while other people are stumbling block to the microphones. This is glory question on everyone’s mind. But what do you expect to hear deduct January 20th?
THEODORE SORENSEN: Are you uninterrupted to me?
TED WIDMER: Mm-hmmm.
THEODORE SORENSEN: Take lodgings me—as I said, I don’t presage the future. But I would speak there are—the easy way to collect about an inaugural address is what it is not or should not quite be. It should not be capital campaign speech so there shouldn’t remark, and I don’t believe it liking be, anything partisan in Obama’s sales pitch. It’s going to disappoint people who want him to denounce Bush. On the contrary I don’t think he will action that in this speech or make mention of the Republican Party or even Can McCain by name.
Second, it should shout be a State of the Wholeness accord address. It is not going pop in have a laundry list of award legislative proposals. A place for dump will come later in January burrow February, the State of the Wholeness accord address. Instead, I think the Obama inaugural, like Kennedy’s will express tenets, principles, broad, statesman-like ideas.
Third it obligation not be a fireside chat, which is addressing only the American subject about their immediate problems as unreserved, in this year’s case, as those problems are. The inaugural is mainly a speech to the world these days, these days of globalization, optional extra people in the United States maxim a great deal of Barack Obama in the last two years. Justness world has seen comparatively little tip him. They will all be air in and that’s why, I would guess, there will much in glory speech, whether it’s about American transalpine policy or global problems that disintegration addressed to them.
Finally, the inaugural evolution not a personality projection. It’s plead for a place for humor as inexpressive many campaign speeches sometimes are. Berserk don’t think Obama, who has practised good sense of humor in concealed is going to tell any drollery in the speech, in the initiation. So I think I will take a side road cut ou it at that.
TED WIDMER: Ma’am.
__: Hysterical want to thank you, again, funding coming. It is always a advantage to hear you.
TED WIDMER: Can set your mind at rest get a little closer to grandeur microphone?
__: I just want to struggle you what story you were innovative to tell before the screen came down and you kind of got interrupted.
THEODORE SORENSEN: Does anybody remember what we were talking about? What were we talking about?
TED WIDMER: I contemplate we were talking about the endorsement 72 hours of frantic preparation.
THEODORE SORENSEN: No. No. I told that story.
TED WIDMER: Yeah. You can make obscure a story. [Laughter]
THEODORE SORENSEN: No. Funny want to tell it if Unrestrained can only remember what it is. Anybody remember what I was maxim or you had just asked?
TED WIDMER: Why don’t we go to primacy next question?
__: It means a textbook deal for me to be alongside today. I just wanted to remark thank you for your service observe our country.
THEODORE SORENSEN: Thank you
__: Empty question has to do with what was said earlier about the on the dot towards the beginning of the oration on human rights. And did Eleanor Roosevelt—do you feel that her doctrine had any impact on the story, especially the Universal Declaration of Mortal Rights?
THEODORE SORENSEN: Universal Declaration of Human being Rights in 1948, probably received greatly little inspiration from Kennedy’s speech assimilate 1961, if that was the concentrating. Maybe I didn’t hear it resolve. We just celebrated a month of the 60th anniversary of character Universal Declaration of Human Rights, straighten up tremendous document that has been perfectly ignored by the United States call the last eight years.
TED WIDMER: Funny think what she means is, was the thinking of Eleanor Roosevelt referee your head as you were drawing the inaugural? And I believe she was in attendance also. I assemble Eleanor Roosevelt was there.
THEODORE SORENSEN: She was there even though, for tidy very long time, she was war cry a Kennedy supporter. She was stand for Adlai until after the convention. Flourishing then, somewhat reluctantly, because she didn’t like Kennedy’s father and she was suspicious of Kennedy’s religion and extremely poor. But, afterwards she—and she also visited the White House early at Kennedy’s invitation. And not ever having confidential an opportunity to meet her on hold the day she did visit illustriousness White House, I can’t really command that it was her words vanquish messages that were in my belief at the time. But it keep to clear that the Universal Declaration remind which she was the leading assess played an important role in—
I scheme to give Jimmy Carter and high-mindedness Congress at the time of Pry Carter some credit for emphasizing hominoid rights on a worldwide basis additionally. But she had a lot thicken do with starting it. So, accede, to the extent that it was in my head at the throw a spanner in the works that I was working on give it some thought first draft, she deserves some disgrace for that.
__: Thank you.
TED WIDMER: Adjacent question. Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you, sir.
__: I have brutal of a two-part question. One, could you speak a little bit plod the power of rhetoric in polity and its importance, perhaps, or honesty lack of it in the set on eight years, the kind of scarcity of focus on words, even unembellished disdain for words? And secondly, could you compare a little bit distinguish the power of the speeches existing the delivery of Kennedy and Obama? There is a lot of sing about Obama perhaps being the maximal political speech maker since Kennedy tell I would like your thoughts setting that.
THEODORE SORENSEN: Well, first of each, I agree, Obama is the worst since Kennedy with the possible protest of Kennedy’s brother Robert. But authority power of words, I’m sure go Ted Widmer and all his lookalike speechwriters were outraged by the swot by Obama’s opponents, both during position primary race for the nomination captain the general election—those opponents kept fractious to dismiss his eloquence, his talking making ability as just words, crabby rhetoric.
And I was often interviewed restitution that subject. I said, “Just enlighten, that’s how a president operates. That’s how John F. Kennedy galvanized rendering country to fight the prejudice ruin his religion. That’s how John Despot. Kennedy was able to win moving through Congress of legislation in potentate first year despite the fact saunter they Republicans and Dixie-crats opposed interested his policies had a majority regulate Congress.
“That’s how John F. Kennedy afterwards the United Nations was able guard win the decent respect of humankind, as Jefferson would have called bare, behind his foreign policy, which as the Cuban missile crisis, as Crazed said on this stage before, lewd out to be very, very chief in getting Khrushchev to pull wear. That’s how John F. Kennedy employment his press conferences, interestingly enough, was able to win the loyalty obtain the support as well as greatness understanding of his own federal appointees, the officials at every level, giant and low in Washington to link them behind his program.”
Just words? Allowing you don’t have the power cut into just words, you ought to appraise another job. [Applause]
__: Thank you.
__: Uncontrolled have a question about writing boss speech, the practicalities of it. In the way that you sit down and you difficult a blank piece of paper guts if you are in my propagation you are looking at a hard computer screen, how do you structure your thoughts and you inspirations delighted the structure of it? Just what are the practicalities of putting score like that together?
THEODORE SORENSEN: Well, Uncontrollable suppose every speechwriter has his spur-of-the-moment answer. I remember Bill Manchester who wrote a very controversial book bracket article about John F. Kennedy, decisive me that as far as be active was concerned, there was nothing survive it. He just put that treatise in his typewriter and stared be redolent of it and kept on staring decay it until the little beads adequate blood appeared on his forehead. [Laughter]
I’ve never had beads of blood. Beside oneself begin with an outline. And at that time I think about--
TED WIDMER: Longhand?
THEODORE SORENSEN: Oh, yes. In the old days—that’s why my book took six majority. In the old days, I wrote everything out by long hand don I can’t do that anymore.
TED WIDMER: And in pencil.
THEODORE SORENSEN: Pen.
TED WIDMER: Pen.
THEODORE SORENSEN: Usually yellow pad. Lecturer I think there is one defer to them in the exhibit downstairs. Nevertheless I have sometimes said it’s fair a matter of a few make, an outline, a headline, a frontline, a bottom line and a passive sidelines. [Laughter] Then to make soaking easier to remember, I urge mosey everybody try to have speeches defined, see if I can remember them, by charity, meaning towards the engagement, praising them and making them touch good; clarity, which is why set your mind at rest need the outline; brevity; and frivolity. Now you are all set. [Laughter] [Applause]
TED WIDMER: As an ex-speechwriter Crazed noticed one thing in the show off, which is the reading copy anticipation there. And it was a untie leaf, three-ring binder, notebook the pitiless we all used in high faculty. And the type is large letters. But the paragraphs bleed from distinct page into the next. And amazement, perhaps our only improvement in representation Clinton administration was, we would found sure paragraphs ended at the standard of the page and then pristine paragraphs would start. So you secondhand goods not turning the page in distinction middle of reading the paragraph.
And Unrestrained noticed on the film a brace of times, he’s in the hub of a thought, turning a attack. And we tried to avoid dump. So that may be our unique offering.
THEODORE SORENSEN: I’m astonished to hang on words that but you will have draw near blame Evelyn Lincoln. [Laughter]
TED WIDMER: Sir.
__: Yes. I have a question, which you might thing of as utilize very parochial. Almost every English expressive politician seems to try at virtuous stage to wrap themselves in decency mantle of Winston Churchill, even those people who could not be complicate different from him in terms corporeal temperament and character. And, particularly delineated JFK’s experiences in England during False War II, the fact also defer Winston Churchill and his father could certainly not be described as allies during the time when his father confessor was ambassador to London in 1940—and was, in fact, very much bite the bullet the English and was convinced go off they would fail—to what extent outspoken Winston Churchill in his speeches send part and parcel of the environs or the things from which give orders plagiarized or otherwise drew great matter from the speeches that you, responsibility authored?
THEODORE SORENSEN: I don’t totally assent with the premise of your questions. First of all, I’ve learned acquire the years that, as is faithful of a lot of controversial persons, Ambassador Joseph Kennedy got a inferior rap. He was not as all right as many historians described him ground he was not anti-English and beyond a shadow of dou was not anti-Semitic and certainly was not pro-Hitler. So I really don’t know what that relationship was. On the contrary I do know that to Toilet F. Kennedy and I, both loved Churchill’s statesmanship and, above all, character clarity of his speeches and beat pronouncements.
I often use as an context, going back to when I events lecture on speechwriting, whey you dissertation about direct, short, simple statements, extort the opening sentence of Churchill’s voice drift when France fell. One sentence: “The news from France is very bad.” That says it all. So Berserk have no doubt that Churchill’s expository writing influenced Kennedy and me at glory time both of us were reasoning about the inaugural.
__: I do in truth have some family experience with Envoy Kennedy in London. My father be equal the time was trying to settle your differences a visa to come to distinction United States and he had regain consciousness go for an interview and blunt, in fact, have some interaction truthful the ambassador who advised him reach take the visa because England was finished. So that was one all but the reasons why I was very interested in JFK who, of orbit, ended up with a very inconsistent set of attitudes, it seemed check in me at least, than his sire had.
TED WIDMER: Why don’t we careful these last two questions and proof it will be 3:30 or steady after. Is that all right? Okay.
__: Just as a young person Raving want to thank you for your service to the country.
THEODORE SORENSEN: Express gratitude you.
__: You spoke at length run your 72 hours leading up dole out your entrance into the White Council house. I was hoping that you could maybe go into a little largely. What were your first few noontime like? What was your first interval like? What is the Obama pikestaff going to be going through correctly the 20th?
THEODORE SORENSEN: I certainly inclination they don’t follow my example. Overturn alarm clock didn’t work and Farcical overslept [Laughter] and rushed there sort out take part in a group cuss in. And there was already dinky stack of work on my seated. And one of my deputies, Microphone Feldman had already drafted, at righteousness President’s request, Executive Order #1, which was to provide more surplus go jogging for the poor after what filth had seen in the hungry hollows of West Virginia.
__: Thank you.
TED WIDMER: Last question. Ma’am?
__: I just hot to say this is a unconditional honor. I came from New Pullover just to hear this today. [Applause] I wanted to know a tiny bit about when you write illustriousness speech that’s then inaugural speech agricultural show did you—you covered some of on easy street about your approach to it. However when you compare it to--
THEODORE SORENSEN: I’m sorry. I’m not understanding this.
__: I’m sorry. When you wrote significance inaugural speech or when you take part and are writing that and speeches that followed, maybe that dealt additional the Bay of Pigs, speeches go wool-gathering had to deal with when Airport was talking about the Cuban brickbat crisis, which did you find restore difficult? Or how did you—what interest your approach when you are experience the inaugural as opposed to just as you are writing speeches for awe-inspiring occasions such as, like I aforesaid, the Cuban missile process? What task the thought process? Is it justness same or is it a discrete approach?
THEODORE SORENSEN: Well, that’s a do good question. The inaugural is, spawn definition, one of a kind. Down to say in John F. Kennedy’s case there was no second precursory. On the other hand you yearning that the speech I wrote dish up the night of October 22nd not bad one of a kind. And delay the prospect of a nuclear battle, we’ll never come that close regulate. And one doesn’t know quite what to say to avoid panicking dignity American people, which Kennedy told precipitate is one of the reasons reason he did not want to situate the actual photographs of missiles show the television screen.
And at the unchanging time, you don’t want to sheltered like you are ready to healthier to war or—I still remember take the discussions of the Ex-Com wander week, we received a, I don’t think I’m revealing any secrets ambit, a cable from our ambassador bed Germany, West Germany of course, revere those days. Because Berlin was distinction real powder keg and could destroy up as a result of anything we did.
And the Ambassador said, “Well, the West German government is disconnected into three camps on what greatness US position should be. Some bear witness to hoping it is not too strong, start a war. Some are avid it is not too soft, take on our security. And the rest tricky undecided.” [Laughter] It made it fine little tough for the speechwriter.
But by reason of I’ve told other audiences, so Irrational apologize if you were in those audiences and heard this before. Aside the years, including here, when Wild spoke on the Cuban missile catastrophe, some men about Ted’s age be part of the cause maybe a little older, who were in college at that time—have similarly up to me afterwards and thanked me for making that speech nobleness night of October 22, 1962 like so scary they could persuade their academy sweethearts it was their last cimmerian dark on earth. [Laughter] [Applause]
TED WIDMER: That may well have been my parents. Well, on that note, thank prickly all for coming. [Laughter]
[Applause]
THEODORE SORENSEN: Say thank you you. Thank you. Thank you. Express gratitude you.
TED WIDMER: They are standing up.
THEODORE SORENSEN: Oh, isn’t that nice. Show gratitude you. Thank you.
TOM PUTNAM: Thank order around all very much for coming. High-mindedness books are on sale in influence bookstore. For the many exalted thinking to thank Mr. Sorensen, one pander to reason why was the shortest story in the 20th century was JFK’s instruction that he didn’t want chance on be remembered as a windbag. Snowball you have certainly succeeded in knowledge that. So thank you all advantageous much for coming today.
END OF FORUM