White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters

Veteran Washington reporter Robert Schlesinger opens a fresh and revealing window on the modern presidency from FDR to George W. Bush—examining the crucial and often hidden role of the speechwriter—the men and women who help presidents find the words that define their places in history.

Drawing on scores of interviews with White House scribes and on extensive archival research, Schlesinger weaves intimate, amusing, compelling stories that provide surprising insights into the personalities, q...