The script returns to its central place in governance as Biden’s speeches are written by committee. But is he speaking through the committee or vice versa? Is it Milli Vanilli or Cyrano de Bergerac?
Biden has grown comfortable with chief speech writer Vinay Reddy and senior adviser Mike Donilon, who have helped him thread his narratives in a simple, grounded way. The president-elect has also leaned on Tony Blinken, his secretary of state designate, to help with the speech writing process. Incoming chief of staff Ron Klain is in the mix as well….
For his speeches, Biden receives advice — solicited and unsolicited — from a wide cast of luminaries, which in the past has included historian Jon Meacham. It was not entirely clear among aides if Meacham contributed to the drafting of the inauguration speech, though a source familiar with the process said he had consulted on the process.
On some speechwriter’s tomb the words may be inscribed. “How obvious it is now–the gift you gave him. All those letters, they were you… All those beautiful powerful words, they were you!.. The voice from the shadows, that was you…” Roxanne”
Cyrano’s ‘to be your own man speech’.