Nixon Foundation Gathers White House Speechwriters for Historic Forum in D.C.

Panel will discuss writing speeches that communicated the visionary policies of Richard Nixon

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

Event: "Writing For 37: White House Speechwriters Remember Writing For Richard Nixon"

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Where: Jack Morton Auditorium, George Washington University,

805 21st Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20052

When: Monday, April 18, 2011, 2pm

The Nixon Foundation will present an historic reunion of distinguished White House speechwriters for a candid discussion about how they crafted and communicated the messages and vision of America's 37th President. This will be the 11th Nixon Legacy Forum.

President Nixon assembled some of the most brilliant speechwriters and wordsmiths in the history of the West Wing. Crafted by seasoned pros like Bill Safire and tyros like Ben Stein, the prose style of the Nixon White House distinctly - and eloquently - reflected the mind and style of the president.

President Nixon himself was a very articulate writer and, perhaps, an even better editor. The collaborative process produced speeches and messages that, four decades later, remain eminently readable and many of which are still very relevant. These formative speeches – which participants will highlight in the forum – include his 1968 acceptance of the Republican nomination, the First Inaugural address, State of the Union messages, and his appeal to the "Silent Majority."

The discussion will feature five well-known Nixon White House speechwriters:

LEE W. HUEBNER will serve as moderator. The Deputy Director of the Nixon White House research and writing staff later served as President of the American University of Paris and American Chamber of Commerce in France, and Publisher and CEO of the International Herald Tribune. Dr. Huebner is now a professor at the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs.

PATRICK J. BUCHANAN joined Richard Nixon at his law office in New York City after working for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, campaigned with him in 1966, and worked as a senior adviser on the 1968 campaign. He joined the administration as a speechwriter and assistant to President Nixon, and later served as Communications Director to President Reagan. Mr. Buchanan is also a bestselling author, commentator for MSNBC, and a three-time Presidential Candidate, running in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 campaigns.

WILLIAM F. GAVIN was a political speechwriter for almost thirty years. He began his career writing for candidate and then President Nixon. He then wrote speeches for Senator James L. Buckley of New York, House Minority Leader Robert H. Michael of Illinois, and presidential candidate Ronald Reagan. He is the author of Speechwright: An Insiders Take on Political Rhetoric.

KENNETH L. KHACHIGIAN served on the White House speechwriting staff, and worked on RN's Memoirs in San Clemente. He has served as a senior adviser, strategist and campaign manager for several gubernatorial, senate and presidential campaigns. In 1981, President Reagan brought Mr. Khachigian back to the White House as his chief speechwriter.

RAYMOND K. PRICE was chief speechwriter to President Nixon. He worked on everything from the seminal 1967 article "Asia After Vietnam" and the memorable First Inaugural Address, to the resignation speech of August 8, 1974. He was editorial page editor at the New York Herald Tribune before he began working for Richard Nixon, and he was later President of the Economic Club of New York for 19 years. He is the author of With Nixon.

Though the event is free, reservations are requested; contact Anne Brown at (714) 364-1161 or log on to nixonfoundation.org to reserve a seat.

FOR COVERAGE OPPORTUNITIES: Contact Jonathan Movroydis by email at [email protected]

The Richard Nixon Foundation is a not-for-profit organization at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, Ca 92886. Open daily 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sundays 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more information about events or exhibits, please call (714) 993-5075 or visit the Foundation online at www.nixonfoundation.org

SOURCE Richard Nixon Foundation