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David Kusnet

David Kusnet was President Bill Clinton's chief speechwriter from 1992 through 1994 and was a speechwriter for Democratic presidential nominees Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis. He is the senior writer at the Podesta Group, a government-relations and public-relations firm.

Recent Articles

Be Like Bill

David KusnetOct 03, 2012
(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

When President Obama and Mitt Romney stride onto the stage at the University of Denver tonight, there will be a dramatic contrast between the former law school professor and the former private-equity executive.

Whichever candidate is best prepared to play the hero in this drama will win tonight and, most likely, on Election Night. Whoever merely memorizes zingers or crams for a quiz show may as well start drafting a concession speech.

Debate-prep is stagecraft. Bill Clinton understood this, and as a campaign speechwriter, I saw him perform masterfully. Of the other two nominees I worked for, Michael Dukakis prepared for policy seminars—not debates—with predictable results, while Walter Mondale rehearsed, stealthily but skillfully, for the one memorable moment when he upstaged the Gipper. 

Talking American

David KusnetAug 18, 2003

Now that Democrats desperately want a presidential candidate who speaks passionately, speaks to the point, and speaks like a normal person and not a politician, one contender answers their prayers.

Too bad his target is his own party.

Former Gov. Howard Dean (D-Vt.) begins his speeches by asking, "What I want to know is why the Democratic leadership supported the president's unilateral attack on Iraq?" Continuing his "What I want to know" litany, Dean demands, "Why are the Democratic leaders supporting tax cuts?" and why are congressional Democrats "voting with the president 85 percent of the time"?

Family Style

David KusnetJul 24, 2003

In his new book, In Praise of Nepotism, Adam Bellow, an executive editor at Doubleday and the son of novelist Saul Bellow, argues that there's good reason to hire the sons and daughters of distinguished people: They know the family business, they have a legacy to live up to and the ease of their ascent should encourage "a certain humility."

He might have added that their family heirlooms can include certain sentences.

Consider the ubiquitous William Kristol, editor of the neoconservative Weekly Standard and son of the neoconservatives' founding father, Irving Kristol.

Seriously Now

David KusnetJun 24, 2003

Howard Dean has been well-served by the rusty ritual of presidential contenders pausing from their campaign travels to go home and formally declare their candidacies.

Subtly but effectively, in yesterday's "announcement speech," Dean recast his candidacy from a protest campaign targeting his fellow Democrats at least as much as President Bush to a populist movement "to take our country back."

For Dean, it's his third political incarnation. During 10 years as governor of Vermont, Dean was seen as a centrist, frequently balancing the budget at the expense of social services. When Washington-based Democrats mostly declined to debate military action against Iraq, Dean emerged as the first vehemently anti-war contender.

First Blood

David KusnetMay 28, 2003

When the Democratic presidential contenders face off in their first nationally televised debate Saturday night in South Carolina, look for the peace primary to end and the populist primary to begin.

The peace primary's winner was Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.). A decorated Vietnam veteran, he enjoys instant credibility on national security and has the potential to counterpunch any Republican foolish enough to question his patriotism.

The runner-up in the run-up to the real race for the nomination was former Gov. Howard Dean (D-Vt.), whose opposition to the war clinched his claim to be the Democrats' truth teller and crowd pleaser.

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