Confessions of a Presidential Speechwriter

Smith shares with readers an exceptionally candid, instructive, and fascinating memoir about experiences associated with his being a presidential speechwriter. . . . His thoughts are joyful, always insightful, at times quite humbling, and certainly courageous. The narrative he weaves makes for an awesome read. Bravo!
—Michael J. Hyde, University Distinguished Professor of Communication Ethics, Wake Forest University

In addition to augmenting the corpus of works on professional speechwriting, this fast-paced book is simultaneously a work of history, rhetorical criticism, autobiography, and political refl ection. The cast of characters includes Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, George H. W. Bush, Lee Iacocca, Robert Packwood, even Frank Sinatra. The settings range from corporate boardrooms to the corridors of power to the sinuous world of academic politics. There is much here to interest a broad spectrum of readers.
—Stephen E. Lucas, Evjue-Bascom Professor in the Humanities, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Like the proverbial cat, Craig Smith has had at least nine lives—university professor, administrator, presidential speechwriter, newsroom writer, campaign manager, legislative aide, state board member, corporate speechwriter, and editorial columnist. And, by the way, he did all this while being a closeted gay man in the Republican Party. If that isn’t plot enough, then the meetings with Robert Kennedy, Richard Nixon, George H. W. Bush, Lee Iacocca, Walter Cronkite, and a cast of thousands ought to be. Smith provides a fascinating look behind the scenes of Republican Party power and intrigue. Having known Craig R. Smith for over 30 years, I can truthfully say that I learned more from this book than any of his previous 16 books. Smith’s autobiography provides a fascinating look at how the personal and professional intersect in strange and powerful ways.
—Martin J. Medhurst, Distinguished Professor of Rhetoric and Communication, Baylor University