Nussbaum preaches art of speech

Jeff Nussbaum gives speeches about giving speeches.

At an event Tuesday evening sponsored by the Columbia Political Union, Nussbaum addressed an audience in Alfred Lerner Hall about the essential elements of a good speech.

Having written for politicians ranging from Tom Daschle to Barack Obama, Nussbaum knows the ins and outs of writing a thorough address. He currently works for a private D.C. based firm called West Wing Writers.

CPU invited Nussbaum to speak as an attempt to expose students to an intriguing and often hidden field. “I think that speech writing is a thing that a lot of people are interested in but not many people understand,” said Emily Tamkin, CC ‘12, events coordinator for the Columbia Political Union, and Spectator’s deputy editorial page editor.

“The most important piece of a speech,” Nussbaum explained to the audience of aspiring writers, “is the arch, the structure.” Nussbaum emphasized that speeches should not read like essays nor frame their arguments in the a lifeless five paragraph format. Nussbaum sees speech writing as a harmonious and often artful presentation of information. “A speech,” he said, “is like sheet music, and the best speechwriters feel the music.”

Nussbaum said that the best speeches grab an audience’s attention immediately and then lead gracefully into their central message. In today’s climate of three second TV sound-bites, he believes it is essential to format information in a concise and interesting way.

Though speech writing is often a thankless career, Nussbaum said he enjoys his job as a liaison between policy makers and the American public. “I see myself as a translator,” he said, explaining his task of transforming political jargon into a more digestible message.

He emphasized that speech writing is more than just turning particulars into prose, and that speeches can carry serious consequences. In the public sector, a well composed address can augment election results. In the private sector, speeches can trigger changes in stock prices. On a lighter note, Nussbaum noted that he is reminded of the importance of good speech writing every time he hears a long—winded wedding toast from a overly “beer-ed” groomsman.

Nussbaum expressed concern about the growing disconnect between speechwriters and policy makers, but praised president Obama for his exemplary oratory skills. “He is a writer himself ... he’s willing to be introspective,” said Nussbaum, in explanation of why Obama has been such a successful public speaker.

When asked to give pointers to aspiring speechwriters, Nussbaum said that writing, in almost any form, is the best practice. Though most speechwriters enter the field indirectly through careers in law or journalism, experience in writing is the most necessary skill. Nussbaum also noted that it is often helpful to pursue interests in other fields such as history or poetry to make speeches rich.

For her part, Sinéad Redmond, BC ’12, welcomed all pointers. “I recently decided on a political science major but I’m not sure what I want to peruse after that, so I’m just trying to learn all I can about various career options,” she said.