There's a different account of Obama's speechwriting process at
 http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1837368,00.html :
 
"Obama takes an unusually hands-on approach to his speech writing, more so than most politicians. His best writing time comes late at night when he's all alone, scribbling on yellow legal pads. He then logs these thoughts into his laptop, editing as he goes along....These late-night sessions produced long, meandering texts that were then circulated to a close group of advisers, including Axelrod and Obama's speechwriter Jon Favreau-a 27-year-old wunderkind wordsmith." 
 
The difference between the two accounts may be mostly semantic. The NY Times article says Obama "offers input and Mr. Favreau actually writes [the speeches]"--but where is the line between offering an input and writing a rough or partial draft? It would be an interesting question for students to think about--since so many students are still used to the idea of writing as a solitary enterprise--and the Obama example might be useful for sparking discussion.
Brian 
________________________________

From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar on behalf of Brad Johnston
Sent: Thu 11/27/2008 11:03 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Obama: the most articulate American?

This just in.
 
~~~~
 
Yes, Obama is a good teleprompter reader. He also uses one in the middle, when it's there. As for his speech-writing, there's this from a recent NY Times:

      "Mr. Jon Favreau, 27, has had a hand in practically every speech that Mr. Obama has delivered in the last four years. While many believe that Mr. Obama writes his own speeches longhand on a legal pad, a better historical account will show that he offers input and Mr. Favreau actually writes them."
 
In fact, Jon Favreau is to Obama what Ted Sorensen was to JFK.
 
~~~~
 
Get that turkey in the oven.
 
.brad.27nov08. 

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