Speech had polish of pro writer

President Trump’s inaugural address has been received alternately with adulation and shock and dismay from the predictable sources.

The question remains, however, who wrote it?

Having done limited work as a speech writer, I can tell you that Trump’s inaugural address had the earmarks of a professionally written speech.

Consider this excerpt:

“Their victories have not been your victories. Their triumphs have not been your triumphs. And while they celebrated in our nation’s capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.”

Note the repetitions: “victories … victories. ... triumphs .. triumphs ... celebrated… celebrate.”

Three sets of repetitions of powerful, simple words in three consecutive sentences. That is a classic speechwriter’s ploy.

Now try reading it aloud. Notice how easy it is to put the emphasis on the repeated words. There is a cadence and rhythm to the words that denote polished writing for the ear.

These are marks of a pro.

I see no shame in a president’s use of speechwriters who know them well. They help presidents sound like themselves.

Peggy Noonan comes to mind. She memorably penned the phrases “a thousand points of light” and “Read my lips. No new taxes” for Bush the elder. Those phrases were defining for Bush I, and were repeated and parodied often in his single term.

Several respectable online news outlets now say Trump advisers Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller penned our new president’s address, but others insist Trump wrote these words himself.

I think he made good use of master wordsmiths. Bannon and Miller are both close Trump advisers and both show a flair with language. Miller wrote many of Trump’s campaign speeches. Bannon is the former editor of Breitbart, the “alt-right” news website. I didn’t like much of what Bannon had to say there, but I liked the way he said it.

The key to good speech writing is knowing the person who is going to deliver the remarks well enough to make the deliverer sound more like himself or herself than he or she can. Miller and Bannon definitely know Donald Trump and know enough about our new president to write a speech for him that sounds just like Donald Trump, but just a little easier on the ears.

Steve Hansen writes about our life and times from his perspective of a retired Tucumcari journalist. Contact him at: [email protected]