PunditWire
Encyclopedia
PunditWire is a news commentary site featuring contributors from across the political spectrum who are all current or former political speechwriters
. Launched on September 13, 2010, the content on PunditWire varies in scope - from foreign policy to campaigns and elections to civil rights and political rhetoric. The website is sponsored by American University
in Washington, D.C.
and was conceived by American University Professor Leonard Steinhorn
, a former political speechwriter and strategist, and Robert Lehrman
, adjunct professor in the School of Communication at American University and former speechwriter for Al Gore
.
. PunditWire is a forum for these speechwriters to post their own commentary on current affairs.
PunditWire articles feature insider perspectives from the people who normally write for politicians. The goal of the website is to provide commentary that gives readers special insight into the language of politics.
Speechwriters
Speechwriters may refer to:*Speechwriter, a speech composer*Speechwriters LLC, band from California...
. Launched on September 13, 2010, the content on PunditWire varies in scope - from foreign policy to campaigns and elections to civil rights and political rhetoric. The website is sponsored by American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and was conceived by American University Professor Leonard Steinhorn
Leonard Steinhorn
Leonard Steinhorn is an American author, specialist in American politics and culture, and professor of communication at American University....
, a former political speechwriter and strategist, and Robert Lehrman
Robert Lehrman
Robert A. Lehrman is an American novelist, commentator, speechwriter, Democratic aide, and teacher.Former White House Chief Speechwriter for Vice President Al Gore , Lehrman has written six books including several award-winning novels, and thousands of speeches for Democratic politicians,...
, adjunct professor in the School of Communication at American University and former speechwriter for Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
.
Content and Coverage
Every contributor to PunditWire is or has been a political speechwriter. These contributers have worked on political campaigns, Capitol Hill, and in the White HouseWhite House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
. PunditWire is a forum for these speechwriters to post their own commentary on current affairs.
PunditWire articles feature insider perspectives from the people who normally write for politicians. The goal of the website is to provide commentary that gives readers special insight into the language of politics.
Contributors
- Dan Conley - Professional speechwriter and frequent op-ed contributor to major national publications
- Hal Gordon - Professional speechwriter; was a speechwriter in the ReaganRonald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
White House - Dave Helfert - Political and governmental communicator; Professor of political communication at American University and Johns HopkinsJohns HopkinsJohns Hopkins was a wealthy American entrepreneur, philanthropist and abolitionist of 19th-century Baltimore, Maryland, now most noted for his philanthropic creation of the institutions that bear his name, namely the Johns Hopkins Hospital, and the Johns Hopkins University and its associated...
- Jim Jaffe - Currently a freelancer who blogs on health issues at Centeredpolitics.com, and the Huffington PostThe Huffington PostThe Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
- David Kusnet - Author and speechwriter; Chief Speechwriter for former President Bill ClintonBill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
from 1992 through 1994 - Robert LehrmanRobert LehrmanRobert A. Lehrman is an American novelist, commentator, speechwriter, Democratic aide, and teacher.Former White House Chief Speechwriter for Vice President Al Gore , Lehrman has written six books including several award-winning novels, and thousands of speeches for Democratic politicians,...
- Author, speechwriter, and professor of communication at American University - Paul Liben - Speechwriter; Op-eds contributor for more than 100 publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, Washington Times - Mike Long - Author, essayist, and speechwriter; Adjunct professor at Georgetown UniversityGeorgetown UniversityGeorgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
- Lissa MuscatineLissa MuscatineLissa Muscatine is Senior Adviser and Chief of Speechwriting at the U.S. State Department. Muscatine was a speechwriter for Senator Clinton's 2008 Presidential campaign. She also served as a speechwriter and the communications director when Clinton was First Lady. As one of Secretary Clinton's...
- Senior Adviser and Director of Speechwriting at the U.S. State Department - Bob Neuman - Author and communication consultant; president of Neuman and Company
- Noam Neusner - Founding principal of 30 Point Strategies, which focuses on strategic communications, speechwriting, media relations, and policy-specific writing
- Eric Schnure - Speechwriter; Co-founder of the Humor Cabinet; Principal at the Dewey Square GroupDewey Square GroupThe Dewey Square Group is a Washington, DC and Boston consulting firm that works for both political and corporate clients as lobbyists and campaign strategists. It was founded by Chuck Campion, Michael Whouley, and Charlie Baker, who are currently principals of the firm.-External links:* * *...
; Adjunct professor at American University - Leonard SteinhornLeonard SteinhornLeonard Steinhorn is an American author, specialist in American politics and culture, and professor of communication at American University....
- Former speechwriter; Professor of communication at American University - Carol Whitney - Author; Political strategist with expertise in message development
- Ted Widmer -Former speechwriter and advisor for President Bill Clinton; Director and Librarian of the John Carter Brown LibraryJohn Carter Brown LibraryThe John Carter Brown Library is an independently funded research library of history and the humanities located on the campus of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island...
at Brown UniversityBrown UniversityBrown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,... - Antonio (Tony) Williams - Speechwriter; Director of Government Affairs for Comcast Cable
- Chriss Winston - Speechwriter for President George H.W. Bush; Communication consultant; teaching Fellow at Harvard University’sHarvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
Institute of Politics