How Gordon Brown paid West Wing Writers $40,000 for 'tailoring' speechThe Guardian, Wednesday 4 November 2009
Gordon Brown's speech to the US Congress in March earned no fewer than 19 standing ovations, a congratulatory call from President Obama and plaudits for its command of global economics and rousing call to action.
What American politicians did not know at the time was that at least some of it was the work of a Washington-based speechwriting company called West Wing Writers – which charged the prime minister $7,000 (£4,300) for its services.
Today it emerged that Brown has paid more than $40,000 to the company to help him tailor speeches to US audiences while chancellor of the exchequer and prime minister. Staffed by former aides to Bill Clinton, West Wing Writers will doubtless have sounded reassuring to New Labour aficionados of Aaron Sorkin's rendering of life at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/04/gordon-brown-speeches-west-wing-writersGordon Brown paid Bill Clinton's former speechwriter $40,000 to 'tailor' U.S. speecheshttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1225113/Gordon-Brown-paid-Bill-Clintons-speechwriter-40-000-tailor-US-address.htmlGordon Brown named UK’s Most Boring Public SpeakerMarch 12th, 2009
LONDON - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is the most boring public speaker in the UK, says a survey of 1,000 adults.
The Brit leader has pipped footballer David Beckham into second place to land the first spot, reports The Scotsman.
According to the study, one in five believe that Brown is the worst public speaker, followed by Beckham, the actress Kate Winslet, Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles and the Prince of Wales.
Actor Stephen Fry was the most popular public speaker, beating even Barack Obama, the survey stated.
One in six of those polled said public speaking was their “worst nightmare”.
http://blog.taragana.com/n/gordon-brown-named-uks-most-boring-public-speaker-16551/