OSHER ONLINE: Ghosts in the White House: The People Behind Presidential Speeches
| Dates: | March 30 - May 4, 2026 |
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| Meets: | M from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM |
| Location: | Online - Zoom |
| Cost: | $60.00 |
There are still openings remaining at this time.
Please note: this course requires membership in courses that are currently unavailable
Have you ever wondered who writes presidential speeches? This course traces the evolution of speechwriting from George Washington’s administration to today. Yes, Hamilton helped draft Washington’s Farewell Address, but no, Lincoln did not scribble the Gettysburg Address on an envelope. We will study the writing process presidents used and examine drafts from FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Carter, and George H.W. Bush. We will view clips from speeches and from former White House speechwriters describing the process.
| Fee: | $60.00 |
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Online - Zoom
ZoomDiana Carlin
Diana Carlin, PhD is Professor Emerita of communication at Saint Louis University. She teaches courses on and written about First Ladies for 30 years and is the co-author of U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies and Remember the First Ladies: America's History-Making Women. Carlin has also published articles and book chapters on a variety of First Ladies and researches and writes on the topics of women in politics, presidential communication, and political debate.
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