In reference to your editorial about Larry Speakes and his attribution of quotes to President Reagan: The public seems to readily accept the existence of professional speechwriters and ”image consultants” who not only put words into the mouths of presidential candidates and other public officials, but also tell them what to wear and how to move when they`re talking. This same public then expresses moral outrage when the President`s press secretary does the same thing.
Do we know for sure that Roosevelt`s ”We have nothing to fear but fear itself” line and John F. Kennedy`s ”Ask not what your country can do for you . . .” speech were their own wonderful expressions and not the eloquence of gifted speechwriters behind the scenes? Isn`t that what politicians hire professional writers for, to make them look and sound good?
