Public Speaking Tips: British Political Rhetoric, 1924

International Communication, Public Speaking, Speechwriting

I’m ploughing through an excellent book on Britain in the 1950’s. Having It So Goodby Peter Hennessy chronicles the decade I arrived on the scene in the UK. There’s wonderfully detailed stories about coal fires; the Suez Crisis; early television and more. A unique cast of characters parade across the pages with names like Mountstuart Elphinstone; Home Secretary Sir David Maxwell Fyfe (known to the Welsh as Dai Bananas); Meta Strachan; Glubb Pasha; Walter Monckton and, last but not least, Supermac - the British Prime Minister Sir Harold Macmillan.

Lloyd George Macmillan attributed his superior public speaking skills to decades of practice in the House of Commons and acknowledges the role of a particular mentor. David Lloyd George had been Prime Minister during the First World War. In 1924 he came to Macmillan and congratulated him on his first speech in Parliament, but advised him ‘you have no idea how to make a speech’. The great orator offered the following advice:

Never say more than one thing. Yours was an essay, a good essay, but with a large number of separate points. Just say one thing; when you are a Minister two things, and when you a Prime Minister winding up a debate perhaps three…Of course you wrap it up in different ways. You say it over and over again with different emphasis and different illustrations. You say it forcefully, regretfully, even perhaps threateningly; but it is a single clear point…there must be continual variation; slow solemn phrases, quick, witty amusing passages…Finally, don’t forget the value of the pause.

Having It So Good p. 567

posted by Ian on 05.22.07 @ 10:09 pm |

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Oh for the days when Politicians could speak. Unfortunately today we are severly lacking in Political leaders that can speak well in public. Just look at George W. Bush.

In Australia we now have 2 leaders (1 in govt, the other in oppostition) that can both speak well in public. I think that the election later this year will be a close one (hopefully there will be a change, but that is another point!). The last couple of elections have had a whinger and a bully at the head of the opposition, and hence there has been no real debate.

Cheers

By Australia's Public Speaking Coach on 06.10.07 12:12 am

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