He wrote for a president. What Cody Keenan ’02 can teach you about crafting a great speech
September 30, 2022
Cody Keenan graduated from Northwestern in 2002 before going on to work in the Obama administration. Now he has returned to campus as a visiting professor at the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences where he teaches a class on speechwriting.
Keenan talked to Northwestern Now about writing under pressure, the art of penning a great speech and the importance of embracing empathy to reach diverse audiences.
“The most important thing about speechwriting — besides being able to string sentences together — is having a sense of empathy. You have to understand your audience and try walking in their shoes.” – Cody Keenan
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