By Tim Robertson
University students received a rare experience Monday, as Terry Edmonds, a speechwriter for President Bill Clinton, shared his experiences working inside the White House during Clinton’s second term.
Students and faculty completely filled the 10th floor of Axinn Library for Edmonds’ 75 minutes of dialogue.
The Morgan State University graduate became the first black man to serve as a speechwriter for a president. Edmonds eventually rose to the position of director of speechwriting, placing him on the president’s senior staff.
Following Clinton’s presidency, Edmonds wrote for presidential hopefuls Al Gore and John Kerry. After both men suffered defeats in 2000 and 2004, respectively, Edmonds said he felt disheartened and turned to the corporate world.
Edmonds, who now writes speeches for Time Warner CEO Dick Parsons, described the role of a speechwriter as a ghostwriter. He quickly dispelled what he called a myth – speechwriters are not puppet masters, nor do speakers serve as puppets. In fact, Edmonds explained, Clinton often veered off-script, changed nearly every word of his speeches and provided vast amounts of input.
Desiring to become a journalist, Edmonds said he fell into public relations and eventually speechwriting. He also worked for the AARP and the Department of Health and Human Services, before applying for the White House job.
Edmonds told students of long hours, often staying in the West Wing throughout the night to finish speeches.
Prior to fielding more than a dozen questions for the audience, Edmonds answered the most looming inquiry. No, he did not write Clinton’s address about “that woman.”
The Baltimore native called Clinton a good communicator, but left no memorable quotes – other than those about Monica Lewinsky – for people to remember him by. Edmonds said a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week news market hindered people from remembering one great line, as many do when the recall past presidents, like John F. Kennedy and, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”
Speechwriters should share political ideologies and policy views with their speakers, Edmonds said, as it makes the speechwriting process easier. Only when preparing a speech on Clinton’s welfare reform package did Edmonds’ differ with the president on opinion, he said. Edmonds, whose family benefited from the welfare program when he was a child, disagreed with the stricter reforms. Clinton acknowledged Edmonds’ concerns by telling him the bill was the best the administration would get and that the new reforms still protected women and children, the speechwriter told the audience. After speaking to the president, Edmonds said he had no more reservations about writing the speech.
When asked by an audience member whom he would rather write for, Sen. Barack Obama or Sen. Hillary Clinton, Edmonds said the latter.
“The Clintons are like family.”