Reviews
“Berry and Gottheimer bring their own depth of insight to an analysis of each of the speeches and the vision they embody. . . . A book to savor and return to for subsequent readings.�- Kirkus Reviews “Considering the number of books written about President Obama, you would think we’ve heard enough. Not to say that I’m the decider of these things but my vote should count for something, and I think that Power in Words dissects the rhetoric of the president in unprecedented ways. A while back I began to see this movement the president is leading as a kind of cultural transformation, and in this book the stories behind the famous addresses come to life.�-Bill Cosby “In the long sweep of history, readers will be able to refer to this work to better understand and appreciate the power of words of our forty-fourth president of the United States.�-Dana Perino, former White House press secretary “It was the late Richard Neustadt who famously wrote that ‘presidential power is the power to persuade.’ This rich and thoughtful collection of the stories behind the speeches that launched Barack Obama to the national stage and eventually the presidency demonstrates how incredible this power can be when placed in the hands of a brilliant and gifted orator. Power in Words highlights President Obama’s ability-and the abilities of his talented speechwriters and advisers-to translate the unspoken desire of the American people for a leader with humility, intelligence, and understanding into a language that all Americans could connect with and believe in.�-John Podesta, former chief of staff for President Bill Clinton and CEO of the Center for American Progress “Words matter, especially in a time of crisis. Learn how Obama’s words got him elected, and why it matters to all of us, in this engaging look at his rise to the presidency.�-Eric Schmidt, chair/CEO of Google Inc. From the Hardcover edition., "Berry and Gottheimer bring their own depth of insight to an analysis of each of the speeches and the vision they embody.... A book to savor and return to for subsequent readings."-- Kirkus Reviews "In the long sweep of history, readers will be able to refer to this work to better understand and appreciate the power of words of our forty-fourth president of the United States."--Dana Perino, former White House press secretary "It was the late Richard Neustadt who famously wrote that 'presidential power is the power to persuade.' This rich and thoughtful collection of the stories behind the speeches that launched Barack Obama to the national stage and eventually the presidency demonstrates how incredible this power can be when placed in the hands of a brilliant and gifted orator. Power in Words highlights President Obama's ability--and the abilities of his talented speechwriters and advisers--to translate the unspoken desire of the American people for a leader with humility, intelligence, and understanding into a language that all Americans could connect with and believe in."--John Podesta, former chief of staff for President Bill Clinton and CEO of the Center for American Progress "Words matter, especially in a time of crisis. Learn how Obama's words got him elected, and why it matters to all of us, in this engaging look at his rise to the presidency."--Eric Schmidt, chair/CEO of Google Inc., “Berry and Gottheimer bring their own depth of insight to an analysis of each of the speeches and the vision they embody. . . . A book to savor and return to for subsequent readings.� - Kirkus Reviews “Considering the number of books written about President Obama, you would think we’ve heard enough. Not to say that I’m the decider of these things but my vote should count for something, and I think that Power in Words dissects the rhetoric of the president in unprecedented ways. A while back I began to see this movement the president is leading as a kind of cultural transformation, and in this book the stories behind the famous addresses come to life.� -Bill Cosby “In the long sweep of history, readers will be able to refer to this work to better understand and appreciate the power of words of our forty-fourth president of the United States.� -Dana Perino, former White House press secretary “It was the late Richard Neustadt who famously wrote that ‘presidential power is the power to persuade.’ This rich and thoughtful collection of the stories behind the speeches that launched Barack Obama to the national stage and eventually the presidency demonstrates how incredible this power can be when placed in the hands of a brilliant and gifted orator. Power in Words highlights President Obama’s ability-and the abilities of his talented speechwriters and advisers-to translate the unspoken desire of the American people for a leader with humility, intelligence, and understanding into a language that all Americans could connect with and believe in.� -John Podesta, former chief of staff for President Bill Clinton and CEO of the Center for American Progress “Words matter, especially in a time of crisis. Learn how Obama’s words got him elected, and why it matters to all of us, in this engaging look at his rise to the presidency.� -Eric Schmidt, chair/CEO of Google Inc., "Berry and Gottheimer bring their own depth of insight to an analysis of each of the speeches and the vision they embody. . . . A book to savor and return to for subsequent readings."- Kirkus Reviews "Considering the number of books written about President Obama, you would think we've heard enough. Not to say that I'm the decider of these things but my vote should count for something, and I think that Power in Words dissects the rhetoric of the president in unprecedented ways. A while back I began to see this movement the president is leading as a kind of cultural transformation, and in this book the stories behind the famous addresses come to life."-Bill Cosby "In the long sweep of history, readers will be able to refer to this work to better understand and appreciate the power of words of our forty-fourth president of the United States."-Dana Perino, former White House press secretary "It was the late Richard Neustadt who famously wrote that 'presidential power is the power to persuade.' This rich and thoughtful collection of the stories behind the speeches that launched Barack Obama to the national stage and eventually the presidency demonstrates how incredible this power can be when placed in the hands of a brilliant and gifted orator. Power in Words highlights President Obama's ability-and the abilities of his talented speechwriters and advisers-to translate the unspoken desire of the American people for a leader with humility, intelligence, and understanding into a language that all Americans could connect with and believe in."-John Podesta, former chief of staff for President Bill Clinton and CEO of the Center for American Progress "Words matter, especially in a time of crisis. Learn how Obama's words got him elected, and why it matters to all of us, in this engaging look at his rise to the presidency."-Eric Schmidt, chair/CEO of Google Inc., "Berry and Gottheimer bring their own depth of insight to an analysis of each of the speeches and the vision they embody. . . . A book to savor and return to for subsequent readings."-- Kirkus Reviews "Considering the number of books written about President Obama, you would think we've heard enough. Not to say that I'm the decider of these things but my vote should count for something, and I think that Power in Words dissects the rhetoric of the president in unprecedented ways. A while back I began to see this movement the president is leading as a kind of cultural transformation, and in this book the stories behind the famous addresses come to life."--Bill Cosby "In the long sweep of history, readers will be able to refer to this work to better understand and appreciate the power of words of our forty-fourth president of the United States."--Dana Perino, former White House press secretary "It was the late Richard Neustadt who famously wrote that 'presidential power is the power to persuade.' This rich and thoughtful collection of the stories behind the speeches that launched Barack Obama to the national stage and eventually the presidency demonstrates how incredible this power can be when placed in the hands of a brilliant and gifted orator. Power in Words highlights President Obama's ability--and the abilities of his talented speechwriters and advisers--to translate the unspoken desire of the American people for a leader with humility, intelligence, and understanding into a language that all Americans could connect with and believe in."--John Podesta, former chief of staff for President Bill Clinton and CEO of the Center for American Progress "Words matter, especially in a time of crisis. Learn how Obama's words got him elected, and why it matters to all of us, in this engaging look at his rise to the presidency."--Eric Schmidt, chair/CEO of Google Inc. From the Hardcover edition., "Berry and Gottheimer bring their own depth of insight to an analysis of each of the speeches and the vision they embody. . . . A book to savor and return to for subsequent readings."- Kirkus Reviews "Considering the number of books written about President Obama, you would think we've heard enough. Not to say that I'm the decider of these things but my vote should count for something, and I think that Power in Words dissects the rhetoric of the president in unprecedented ways. A while back I began to see this movement the president is leading as a kind of cultural transformation, and in this book the stories behind the famous addresses come to life."-Bill Cosby "In the long sweep of history, readers will be able to refer to this work to better understand and appreciate the power of words of our forty-fourth president of the United States."-Dana Perino, former White House press secretary "It was the late Richard Neustadt who famously wrote that 'presidential power is the power to persuade.' This rich and thoughtful collection of the stories behind the speeches that launched Barack Obama to the national stage and eventually the presidency demonstrates how incredible this power can be when placed in the hands of a brilliant and gifted orator. Power in Words highlights President Obama's ability-and the abilities of his talented speechwriters and advisers-to translate the unspoken desire of the American people for a leader with humility, intelligence, and understanding into a language that all Americans could connect with and believe in."-John Podesta, former chief of staff for President Bill Clinton and CEO of the Center for American Progress "Words matter, especially in a time of crisis. Learn how Obama's words got him elected, and why it matters to all of us, in this engaging look at his rise to the presidency."-Eric Schmidt, chair/CEO of Google Inc. From the Hardcover edition.
Table of Content
Foreword by Ted Sorensen Introduction 1 Speech against the Iraq War Resolution October 2, 2002 l Federal Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 2 Keynote Address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention July 27, 2004 l FleetCenter, Boston, Massachusetts 3 United States Senate Victory Speech November 2, 2004 l Hyatt Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois 4 John Lewis's Sixty-fifth Birthday Gala February 21, 2005 l Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center, Atlanta, Georgia 5 Knox College Commencement Address June 4, 2005 l Galesburg, Illinois 6 Call to Renewal Keynote Address June 28, 2006 l National City Church, Washington, D.C. 7 "An Honest Government, A Hopeful Future" August 28, 2006 l University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya 8 Presidential Announcement Speech February 10, 2007 l Old State Capitol, Springfield, Illinois 9 Iowa Jefferson-Jackson Dinner November 10, 2007 l Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Des Moines, Iowa 10 Night of Iowa Caucus January 3, 2008 l Hy-Vee Hall, Des Moines, Iowa 11 Night of New Hampshire Primary January 8, 2008 l Nashua South High School, Nashua, New Hampshire 12 South Carolina Primary Victory Speech January 26, 2008 l Columbia Hotel, Columbia, South Carolina 13 Night of Super Tuesday Primaries February 5, 2008 l Hyatt Regency Hotel, Chicago, Illinois 14 "A More Perfect Union" March 18, 2008 l National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 15 Night of North Carolina and Indiana Primaries May 6, 2008 l RBC Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 16 "A World That Stands as One" July 24, 2008 l Victory Column, Tiergarten, Berlin, Germany 17 "The American Promise": Democratic National Convention August 28, 2008 l Invesco Field, Denver, Colorado 18 Election Night Victory Speech November 4, 2008 l Grant Park, Chicago, Illinois Acknowledgments Notes