A pain in the ass speech to write

Mar 06, 2024

By Lauren Egan, Eli Stokols and Ben Johansen

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To a person, a West Wing speechwriter will say that the State of the Union address is the worst speech they will write in any given year. It’s a painful process, involving numerous stakeholders each invested in making sure their specific issue of interest gets attention. And then, when it’s all done, the president himself will edit the hell out of it, sending you back to the drawing board.

To get a sense of this particular form of hell, we called up DAN CLUCHEY, a speechwriter on the 2020 Biden campaign and a senior presidential speechwriter in the first two years of President JOE BIDEN’s White House.

The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

What makes this speech so difficult?

When you think of the most memorable speeches in history, are any of them State of the Union addresses? Probably not. Most high-profile speeches are blank slates — they don’t carry pre-existing obligations, you can let the rhetoric soar, you can take it where you want it to go.

The State of the Union, by contrast, has a million errands to run. There’s a legislative agenda to set, there are departments to mention. Plus, it’s time-boxed. It’s supposed to be about the next year ahead, so it doesn’t have its eyes on the horizon the way that another speech can. For the writing process, that can make it harder to get off the ground.

The flip side of that: How many chances does any president have to speak unfiltered at length to the American people? People still tune in, they still watch it and it’s a chance for you to communicate directly with people without it being chopped down into six-second bites.

What is the actual writing process like?

Everything starts with Joe Biden. He is the architect in terms of what the priorities are. Which is great because it starts with a vision that is authentic to him.

As you get into the actual writing of it, that’s where you fill in the details and start putting the stories together. And that’s a group effort among a number of folks including the speechwriting team.

For a speech like that, he will often take some time and really sit with it, make sure that it is a reflection of what he really wants to say and the values he wants to communicate.

What makes Biden’s style distinct?

He’s someone who has a really keen understanding of the power that a president holds in the time that they have to make a positive difference in people’s lives. That gives him a real skill for cutting through the clutter and getting to the core of ‘I want to speak plainly to people about the things that keep them up at night.’

And if it doesn’t reflect that, you’re going to be rewriting it.

Unlike us with our West Wing Playbook copy, did you ever get a draft sent back to you?

The short answer is yes, yes, a thousand times yes.

He is someone who is deeply engaged with the speechwriting process. Down to the line, down to the word. He wants it to be, as he should, a reflection of him and exactly what he wants to say. And that means a lot of writing and rewriting and doing your best to anticipate.

What’s the rehearsal process like leading up to the State of the Union?

For these big, high-profile speeches, he will take time to sit with it because he knows that it’s an important moment.

The State of the Union is also an odd format and an odd venue. It comes with all these applause breaks and all this pomp and circumstance that probably no other speech really has. So that’s something that all of us consider, including him, when they think about what the delivery is going to look like.

What’s the most memorable Biden speech that you worked on?

Memphis, October 2018. I think it was my first trip with him. After the speech — which I think went pretty well — we flew back to Dulles. It was close to 1 a.m. We landed and he asked just me to stay on the plane with him and I was like, ‘Oh no, is he upset with me?’

He wanted to talk through why he says the things he says. He had made a bunch of changes before the speech and he was like, ‘I just want you to know why this stuff really matters, why this makes a difference.’

And it just really stuck with me.

What did you think of last year’s State of the Union? Especially that moment with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).

It was a reminder that people are constantly underestimating Joe Biden. He thrives in those situations. As a speechwriter this is sacrilegious for me to say, but he’s so good when he’s just off book, speaking from the heart in situations where he can be conversational. He excels at that.

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POTUS PUZZLER

Who is the only president to have met the standards for operating a submarine?

(Answer at bottom.)

The Oval

GUNS TO ONE SIDE, FOOD DROPS TO THE OTHER: The United States has privately approved and delivered over 100 foreign military sales to Israel since its war with Gaza began on Oct. 7, WaPo’s JOHN HUDSON reports. The sales include thousands of precision-guided munitions, small diameter bombs and other military aid being sent to Israel in a war that has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians. Two other military sales to Israel had previously been made public, one was $106 million worth of tank munitions and the other, $147.5 million of components needed to make 155 mm shells.

“That’s an extraordinary number of sales over the course of a pretty short amount of time, which really strongly suggests that the Israeli campaign would not be sustainable without this level of U.S. support,” said JEREMY KONYNDYK, a former senior Biden administration official and current president of Refugees International.

MORE MONEY FOR WEAPONS: The U.S. is weighing whether it can tap around $200 million in Army funding to provide Ukraine with immediate support, Bloomberg’s ALBERTO NARDELLI and JENNIFER JACOBS report. It comes as the president’s $61 billion foreign aid bill remains stalled in Congress. The funding would be used to provide Ukraine with weapons and other critical equipment it needs to fight Russia amid an artillery shortage.

LOOSENING THE LEASH: Here’s a NYT story on Biden’s age his team might not hate: KATIE ROGERS and LISA LERER report that the president’s team is “letting Joe be Joe” in recent weeks, an effort to head off voters’ age concerns by letting them see the president more often, and in relaxed situations. The president, they report, is also becoming an avid TikTok-er, which produced an insta-classic ROB FLAHERTY quote about how one particular video came to be.

“That came from his brain,” said Biden’s deputy campaign manager.

WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS YOU TO READ: This Plain Dealer column from Cleveland Mayor JUSTIN BIBB, who writes that Biden’s presidency has been “transformative” for the area. The funding received from the American Rescue Plan was not only monumental in helping avert a recession for Cleveland, but provided the city a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to help its underinvested urban cores.

Communications director BEN LABOLT and deputy communications directors HERBIE ZISKEND and JENNIFER MOLINA shared the piece on X.

WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE DOESN’T WANT YOU TO READ: And here’s a story on Biden’s age his team will definitely hate. The Atlantic’s MARK LEIBOVICH writes that the president’s decision to stay in the race, despite major concerns over his age and mental acuity, could be catastrophic. “Biden could be engaging in one of the most selfish, hubristic and potentially destructive acts ever undertaken by an American president,” he writes. Leibo. What do you really think?

ANYONE WANT TO BE JILL BIDEN'S GUEST? ANYONE? Ukraine first lady OLENA ZELENSKA declined President Biden’s invitation to attend the State of the Union in the first lady's box, our VERONIKA MELKOZEROVA reports. It comes days after YULIA NAVALNAYA, the widow of Russian opposition leader ALEXEI NAVALNY, also declined the president’s invitation. Although Zelenska cited a scheduling conflict, WaPo’s John Hudson and TYLER PAGER reported late Tuesday that the White House intended for her to sit next to Navalnaya, whose “potential presence caused discomfort for the Ukrainians.”

A message from American Chemistry Council – Chemistry Creates America Competes:

President Biden: American chemistry is the backbone of innovation. It's time to address the regulatory overload stifling American chemistry. Chemistry powers our semiconductors, medical devices, and clean energy initiatives. But your administration’s avalanche of regulations is hampering America’s progress and competitiveness. American chemistry is more than an industry; it's our future. The Biden Administration must commit to smarter, growth-oriented regulations before it’s too late - because when chemistry is enabled to create, America competes.

CAMPAIGN HQ

MAKING A PLAY: Former South Carolina Governor NIKKI HALEY suspended her presidential campaign Wednesday morning — prompting a quick response from Biden, who praised her effort and invited her supporters to join his campaign. “Donald Trump made it clear he doesn’t want Nikki Haley’s supporters,” Biden said. “I want to be clear: There is a place for them in my campaign… I hope and believe we can find a common ground.”

It’s quite the stark contrast from DONALD TRUMP’s pitch to Haley supporters, who wrote in a Truth Social post that “much of her money came from Radical Left Democrats, as did many of her voters,” before adding that he invites Haley supporters to join the “greatest movement in the history of our Nation.”

Our ELENA SCHNEIDER and MERIDITH MCGRAW report tonight that Biden's campaign finance team is reaching out to Haley donors.

MONEY TREES: Following a Super Tuesday that all but guaranteed a 2020 rematch between the president and his predecessor, the Biden campaign is looking to bury its GOP rival with cash, Schneider also reports. An estimated $2.7 billion will likely be spent in advertising across the presidential campaign this cycle. Pro-Biden super PACs Future Forward and American Bridge have committed to an ad blitz, spending $250 million and $200 million respectively. And in a memo released this morning, the campaign said allied groups have committed to over $700 million in spending.

The president and Democratic National Committee have a $41 million cash advantage over Trump, who is drowning in legal bills, and the Republican National Committee. “This is going to be a war until November,” said BRADLEY BEYCHOK, co-founder of American Bridge.

9-1-1, WE’D LIKE TO REPORT A MURDER: That most mysterious Dark Brandon Twitter account took a parting shot at DEAN PHILLIPS on Wednesday after the congressman decided to end his quixotic presidential bid, and endorse Biden. And they did not miss.

In the tweet, the account "Dark Brandon," replies to a post by Dean Phillips after he announced the end of his presidential campaign.

The real Joe Biden Twitter account was far more gracious.

A message from American Chemistry Council – Chemistry Creates America Competes:

THE BUREAUCRATS

FIRST IN WEST WING PLAYBOOK: Former Biden White House chief of staff RON KLAIN is co-hosting a March 19 fundraiser for Arizona congressional candidate ANDREI CHERNY, according to an invitation obtained by our DANIEL LIPPMAN. Cherny is a former speechwriter in the Clinton White House and co-founded the carbon credit company Aspiration, which is reportedly being investigated by the Department of Justice and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission over whether it deceived clients when it was selling them carbon emission offsets. The inquiry is part of a larger regulatory examination into the carbon credit market. LEONARDO DICAPRIO and ROBERT DOWNEY JR. were among the celebrity investors in the company, which Cherny left in 2022.

A spokesperson for the campaign said in a statement, “Cherny is not the target of an investigation and has not been accused of wrongdoing. He is cooperating as regulators review the matter.” The D.C. fundraiser has more than a dozen other co-hosts including former Biden speechwriter JEFF NUSSBAUM. “Andrei worked for me when I was [Al] Gore’s COS and he’s an honest earnest person,” Klain said in a text message when asked about the fundraiser. “He will make a great member of Congress and he’s in a critical race.” He added he knows Cherny well and is confident he would never have done anything wrong.

Agenda Setting

TAKE THAT, WALL STREET: Securities and Exchange Commission chair GARY GENSLER on Wednesday released a much anticipated 900-page rule, aimed at uncovering climate-related information from corporate America, our DECLAN HARTY reports. The SEC rule orders thousands of public companies to divulge details about their impact on climate change, including the amount of greenhouse emissions emitted. The rule had been heavily contested by business groups for two years.

Despite the concessions made on the rule, the SEC is still expected to face substantial legal and legislative challenges on the mandate.

BLACK MOLD AND UNWANTED CRITTERS: The site at the heart of Biden’s ambitious plans to oversee the development of artificial intelligence — the National Institute of Standards and Technology — is not only facing funding challenges, but the realities of being a 123-year-old building, WaPo’s CAT ZAKRZEWSKI reports. Black mold forcing some workers out of their offices, leaky ceilings and pests infiltrating the facility, has plagued the building, and prompted some employees to take drastic measures to preserve research.

A message from American Chemistry Council – Chemistry Creates America Competes:

President Biden, as you approach this week’s State of the Union address, remember that America’s priorities depend on chemistry.

American chemistry is the foundation of semiconductors, medical devices, infrastructure, defense, clean energy and more. But there's a looming threat – ballooning regulatory overload.

Over the past two decades, regulations on chemical manufacturing have doubled. This isn't just numbers, it's a reality that hampers policies like the Inflation Reduction Act, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the Chips and Science Act.

Your administration’s current approach is a direct hit to America's innovation and global standing. We need to wake up to the reality that over-regulation stifles growth and production. It's time to promote smarter, growth-oriented regulations.

American chemistry isn't just an industry -- it's our nation’s future. When Chemistry Creates, America Competes.

What We're Reading

The toughest pain points awaiting Biden at the State of the Union (POLITICO’s Gavin Bade)

Biden’s New Doomsday Option Against Israeli Settlers (The Atlantic’s Yair Rosenberg)

Jay Powell Is Good At Politics. Just Don't Call Him Political. (POLITICO’s Victoria Guida)

POTUS PUZZLER ANSWER

President JIMMY CARTER graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1946. After graduation, he signed up for submarine duty, making him the only president to qualify in submarines, according to the White House Historical Association.

To learn more about Jimmy Carter’s life and presidency, listen to The White House 1600 Sessions Podcast, “President Jimmy Carter: Faith, Family, and a Presidency.”

Thanks to the White House Historical Association for this question!

A CALL OUT! Do you think you have a harder trivia question? Send us your best one about the presidents, with a citation or sourcing, and we may feature it!

Edited by Eun Kyung Kim and Sam Stein.

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