Lyndon Johnson’s Unsung Role in Sending Americans to the Moon

It was John F. Kennedy, of course, who issued the call, but no one did more than L.B.J. to commit the U.S. to landing men on the moon and returning them safely to earth.

Essay for The New Yorker

Orations Worth Ovations: Caps and Gowns Behind Barbed Wire

Former West Wing Writers intern Ezra Stoller writes about Marion Konishi’s high school commencement speech — which she delivered while incarcerated at Granada Relocation Center in 1943.

Essay on Medium

What Securing a Book Deal Taught Me About Rejection

I learned the value of a “no” even when it hurt.

Essay on Blavity

West Wing Writers’ Guide to Speech Formatting

We often get asked about the best way to format a speech to make it easy to read and deliver. So, before you hit print, check out our guide — full of small suggestions that can make a big difference when you get to the podium.

Orations Worth Ovations: A Fun House Look at Speechwriting with ‘Long Shot’

The best on-screen look at speechwriting since Sam Seaborn and Toby Ziegler had writers’ block on The West Wing.

Essay on Medium