MOMENTS after Sarah Palin had finished her barnstorming acceptance speech to the Republican Convention, the media spinning began: Sure, she can use a teleprompter or read a speech written by a gifted speechwriter like Matthew Scully. Big deal. So could anybody.
Two facts make me uniquely qualified to comment on these claims.
First, I used to be a speechwriter for Margaret Thatcher. Second, as editor of National Review, I hired Matt Scully to be an assistant editor and introduced him to the world of conservative opinion journalism.
But the truth about speechwriting is strictly bipartisan.
There are cases of politicians simply reading a speech written by someone else – a senator once even read out the attached press release, including the line “the senator was repeatedly interrupted by applause in the course of his remarks.” But no major politician does that. Those who do, soon cease to be major politicians.
Mrs. Thatcher went over every line, comma and paragraph break in her speeches. They sometimes went through five drafts. Speechwriting sessions could last days.
But Mrs. T did everything we did – and ran the country, too.
So, when asked, I always say truthfully: No one writes speeches for Margaret Thatcher; they write speeches with Margaret Thatcher. I am told that Gov. Palin was similarly involved.
She would have been foolish not to be. Speakers have to make speeches their own – they have to feel the sentiments and know the facts. After all, if they get something wrong, it will be quoted against them for years – these days on YouTube.
Even then the most sincere speaker may lack the skills to put across a good speech well. Matt Scully is a superb speechwriter, but his best work was sometimes awkwardly delivered.
Not this time.
I devised a small test while watching.
Matt has a slightly aggressive sense of mischief. How would Mrs. Palin deliver his more mischievous thrusts, like that line about hauling Obama’s “Styrofoam Greek columns back to some studio lot”?
I decided to check out the governor’s expression.
Sure enough, whenever there was a hint of mischief in Matt’s words, there was a glint of mischief in Sarah Palin’s eyes. Invariably.
Matt, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
John O’Sullivan is a Hudson Institute senior fellow and a former Post editorial-page editor.