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Famous speech writers reflect on their importance and impact

Miniature of politcal figure giving speech [shutterstock / Dontree_M]
Miniature of politcal figure giving speech [shutterstock / Dontree_M]

Speeches have the power to educate, incite, and inspire.

But for almost every delivered speech, there exists an undelivered opposite. These “second speeches” provide a tantalizing, sometimes terrifying window into what could have been if not for changes of heart or momentous turns of events.

Today, we hear from Jeff Nussbaum, who most recently served as a special assistant and senior speechwriter to President Biden.

Prior to his role at the White House, Nussbaum was a partner at West Wing Writers, the premier strategy and speechwriting shop in DC.

We also chat with Terry Edmunds, who was the first African American Chief Speechwriter in a presidential administration. He will address the importance of WHO writes speeches for politicians, and why those perspectives and voices matter.

- Terry Edmunds, Political Speechwriter

- Jeffrey Nussbaum , Author; and Former Senior Speechwriter for President Joe Biden

Drew Maziasz is a coordinating producer for the "Sound of Ideas" and also serves as the show’s technical producer.