Evaluates the relationships between modern presidents and their speechwriters and offers insight into the agendas behind some of history's most famous addresses, in an account that traces the careers of such figures as Ted Sorensen, Peggy Noonan, and William Safire.

"From FDR to George W. Bush"--Jacket.

Introduction: The coming of the "literary clerk" -- "Grace, take a law" -- "Missouri English" -- "Sometimes you sure get tired of all this clackety-clack" -- The age of Sorensen -- "Now that's what I call a news lead" -- "Concern for image must rank with concern for substance" -- "Go back and give me one speech, not two speeches" -- "Don't give any explanation. Just say I cancelled the damn speech" -- The musketeers -- "I'm not going to dance on the Berlin Wall" -- "No, no, no, this is a speech -- I just want to talk to people" -- "The Troika.".