What was it like to write speeches for Clinton about Americorps?
I wrote for Americorps itself. I co-wrote the oath of service, that Clinton actually delivered, you know, “Raise your right hand …” And it is very exciting to be in a part of government that is actually trying to do something different. They are my words, but they are said by someone else. Writing speeches is not nearly as exciting as writing a novel, as taking a character, watching them develop, grow, make mistakes and learn. Everyone says, “Why doesn’t Clinton write his own stuff? He is the president, he should.” He does. He speaks off the cuff. For the big flowing speeches, you want something good. Getting the facts right also takes a lot of research. Sometimes that fact-gathering is just as important as the big, flowing grand stuff. It is just not as sexy.
