From a former federal speechwriter, a speech to calm a crisis

Jim Moore

Mar 14, 2020·9 min read

This is a sample 20-minute speech that any president should be giving at this time of crisis. I wrote it Friday morning — after the Oval Office speech, but before the Rose Garden press conference — as if I’d been assigned the task by the president or any of the Members of Congress or the Cabinet I worked for when I was a government speechwriter. The draft took less than one hour to prepare, leaving plenty of time for review by a White House staff and subject-matter experts that Trump chose not to use. It is presented here in all upper case as if it was prepped for a teleprompter.

MY FELLOW AMERICANS AND OUR FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD:

THIS IS A TIME OF GREAT TRIAL NOT ONLY FOR THE UNITED STATES, BUT FOR THE FAMILIES OF THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY.

The Enemy

WE ARE BEING TESTED BY A COMMON ENEMY — THE CORONAVIRUS — WHICH HAS, SO FAR, BROUGHT IMMEASURABLE HEARTACHE AND LOSS OF LIFE TO SO MANY OF AMERICA’S OWN CITIZENS AND TO OUR NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE GLOBE.

ALREADY MANY AMERICANS ARE SPENDING THEIR SECOND WEEK IN QUARANTINES IN MILITARY BASES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I KNOW THEIR FAMILIES ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEM, AND I KNOW THAT THOSE WHO ARE BEING TREATED IN HOSPITALS ARE EAGER TO RETURN HOME AS SOON AS THEY CAN.

FOR TOO MANY FAMILIES, HERE IN THE U.S. AND AROUND THE WORLD, THE VIRUS HAS BEEN A DEADLY REMINDER THAT NATURE CAN SEND RANDOM AND SOMETIMES CRUEL DISRUPTIONS INTO OUR SOCIETIES.

Sympathy

THE FIRST LADY AND I SEND OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES, NEIGHBORS, AND COLLEAGUES TO THE VIRUS. I WILL BEND EVERY RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO ME TO BRING THIS VIRUS TO A HALT.

I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW DEEPLY I AM SADDENED BY THE IMAGES WE ALL SEE COMING FROM ITALY — AND I WANT TO TELL OUR FRIENDS IN THAT LOVELY AND HISTORICALLY RICH COUNTRY THAT THE WORLD MOURNS WITH YOU.

IN MANY WAYS, WE ARE ALL CONNECTED TO OUR ITALIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO CONTINUE TO FIGHT AGAINST THIS INTRUDER.

International partnership

I HAVE REACHED OUT TO PRIME MINISTER CONTE TO EXPRESS OUR DEEP SORROW FOR ITALY’S LOSSES. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE HAD PHONE CALLS WITH GERMANY’S CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL, FRANCE’S PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON, THE UNITED KINGDOM’S PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON, AND THE HEADS OF STATE OF CHINA AND SOUTH KOREA AMONG OTHERS.

THE NATURE OF OUR CONVERSATIONS WAS TO ENCOURAGE INFORMATION SHARING AND TO DISCUSS THE STEPS WE MUST ALL BE TAKING TO ASSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR RESPECTIVE NATIONS’ CITIZENS.

THEY AND I SHARE A COMMON MISSION TO REDUCE THE FOOTPRINT OF THE VIRUS THROUGH RESTRICTIONS ON INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL.

WHILE NO PLAN IS PERFECT, WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY, GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT TO SET UP PRACTICAL TRAVEL PROTOCOLS THAT WILL SCREEN AS MANY TRAVELERS AS POSSIBLE, AND LAY OUT PRE-TRAVEL GUIDELINES TO ENCOURAGE ANYONE PLANNING NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL TO RE-THINK AND RE-ADJUST THEIR TRIPS.

Aid and Assistance

TO OUR FRIENDS ACROSS EUROPE, ASIA, THE MIDDLE EAST, THE PACIFIC RIM, AND ALL OF THE AMERICAS WHO ARE COPING WITH THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND PERSONAL IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS, THE UNITED STATES WILL DO WHAT WE CAN TO HELP YOU.

MAYBE, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE WILL LEARN FROM YOUR SUCCESSES WHEREVER YOU HAVE ACHIEVED VICTORY OVER THE VIRUS’S ATTACK.

WE ARE OPEN TO ALL SOLUTIONS.

Time for frankness, not fear

AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, IT WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ME TO SPEAK TO OUR CITIZENS WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN HONEST, FRANK, AND CONCERNED WORDS.

THIS IS NOT A TIME TO STOKE FEAR, ANXIETY, OR HOPELESSNESS IN THE FACE OF THIS NEW THREAT. IN TIMES OF CRISIS, I AM INSPIRED BY THOMAS PAINE’S STIRRING WORDS IN HIS 1776 AMERICAN CRISIS,

“WE HAVE THIS CONSOLATION WITH US, THAT “THE HARDER THE CONFLICT, THE MORE GLORIOUS THE TRIUMPH.”

MANY OF YOUR PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS — PERHAPS YOUR GREAT GRANDPARENTS — HEARD FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT’S FIRM REMINDER, THAT

“THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO FEAR IS FEAR ITSELF.”

I BELIEVE WE CAN COME TOGETHER TO REMOVE THIS THREAT FROM OUR SHORES AND HELP OUR NEIGHBORS AS WELL WITHOUT FEAR OF FEAR.

NOW IS A TIME TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM HEAD ON, AND TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW, AND WHAT WE PLAN TO DO OVER THE COMING DAYS, WEEKS, AND MONTHS.

The nature of the challenge

IT IS TRUE THAT THE CORONAVIRUS RESPECTS NO BORDERS. IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT IT CAN BE CONQUERED, AND CONQUER IT WE WILL — AS ONE COMMUNITY JOINED IN A SINGLE PURPOSE.

LET ME BE CLEAR. THIS IS NOT THE FLU. WE ARE DEALING WITH A NEW STRAIN OF A VIRUS THAT HAS THE ABILITY TO CROSS OCEANS AND CONTINENTS AND COMMUNITIES WITH GREAT STEALTH AND SPEED.

BUT EVERY DAY WE ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT IT; WE ARE LEARNING HOW TO UNCOVER IT…EVERYDAY WE ARE GAINING GROUND AND DEVELOPING THE TOOLS TO BEAT IT THROUGH RIGOROUS SCIENCE, MEDICAL INVESTIGATION, SOCIAL AWARENESS, AND COMMUNITY ACTIONS.

I AM BRIEFED ALMOST HOURLY BY DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, WHOSE KNOWLEDGE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES IS SECOND TO NONE, AND I ALSO RECEIVE REGULAR BRIEFINGS BY THE HEALTH EXPERTS AT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL.

Website

BECAUSE DR. FAUCI, THE CDC, AND HEALTH EXPERTS AROUND THE COUNTRY AGREE THAT THE PUBLIC MUST HAVE ACCESS TO THE BEST POSSIBLE INFORMATION IN REAL TIME, I HAVE ASKED MY TEAM HERE AT THE WHITE HOUSE TO SET UP A CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION HOTLINE AND A DESIGNATED PAGE ON OUR WHITEHOUSE-DOT-GOV WEBSITE THAT WILL POST ALL THE DETAILS OF THE BRIEFINGS I RECEIVE.

Numbers will climb

LET ME BE VERY CLEAR ON ONE POINT: IT IS ALMOST CERTAIN THAT AS WE BEGIN RAMPING UP CORONAVIRUS TESTING, THE REPORTED NUMBERS OF INFECTED INDIVIDUALS WILL CLIMB. WE WERE TOO SLOW IN OUR INITIAL RESPONSE, AND I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT DELAY.

NOW, WITH MORE ROBUST INFORMATION GATHERING IN PLACE, WE WILL BEGIN TO SEE THE FULL PICTURE OF THE VIRUS’S SPREAD, AND THAT WILL ENABLE THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS — ALONG WITH OUR PRIVATE HEALTH CARE PARTNERS — TO DEVISE STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE THE VIRUS’S IMPACT ON YOUR COMMUNITIES AND YOUR PERSONAL LIVES.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AS OF YET NO VACCINE AGAINST CORONAVIRUS.

WORK IS BEING DONE AROUND THE CLOCK TO DEVELOP A VACCINE, TEST IT RIGOROUSLY, MANUFACTURE IT, AND GET IT TO THE NATION’S HOSPITALS AND CLINICS.

Vaccine not yet ready

I AM TOLD THAT THAT PROCESS MAY TAKE UP TO A YEAR, THOUGH WE ALL HOPE FOR A SOONER-RATHER-THAN LATER TIME FRAME.

WHILE THAT VACCINE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS PROCEEDS, THERE ARE STEPS THAT I AM RECOMMENDING TO MY CABINET AND TO THE CONGRESS THAT WILL ADDRESS THE MOST URGENT NEEDS OF ALL AMERICANS FACING SOME LEVEL OF DISRUPTION DUE TO THE VIRUS.

Six initial steps we will take

Economic assistance

FIRST AND FOREMOST IS ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE TO ALL WORKERS WHO CAN NO LONGER GO TO THEIR OFFICES, THEIR PART-TIME JOBS, THEIR SMALL BUSINESSES, OR WHO ARE OTHERWISE RESTRICTED FROM RECEIVING A PAYCHECK.

THIS INCLUDES THE PARENTS OF CHILDREN WHOSE SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED OR WHOSE DAYCARE PROVIDERS ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO OPERATE.

AMONG THOSE HARDEST HIT WILL BE THE NATION’S TEACHERS, SCHOOL STAFFS, AND DAY-CARE PROVIDERS. WE WILL DO ALL WE CAN TO HELP THEM MEET THEIR FINANCIAL NEEDS, AND I HAVE ALREADY INSTRUCTED MY STAFF TO REACH OUT TO EVERY ONE OF OUR GOVERNORS TO FORM FEDERAL-STATE-AND LOCAL EDUCATOR-RELIEF PROGRAMS.

IN ADDITION, MILLIONS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE BEING AFFECTED BY CLOSED SCHOOLS OR LIMITED CLASSES. THERE ARE GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANT COSTS DUE TO THESE NECESSARY CLOSURES, AND I DON’T WANT OUR STUDENTS TO BE UNDULY BURDENED BY UPCOMING SEMESTER TUITION BILLS FROM THEIR SCHOOLS FINANCIAL OFFICES.

WHILE I DON’T HAVE A FULL ANSWER YET HOW BEST WE CAN HELP YOU OFFSET YOUR FEES, YOU HAVE MY WORD THAT YOU WILL NOT BE PENALIZED BY YOUR SCHOOLS OR LOAN COMPANIES.
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Needed supplies must be available

SECOND, AND I WANT TO BE VERY DIRECT IN THIS: MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF SANITIZING PRODUCTS — WIPES, GELS, GLOVES, ETC. — THAT AMERICANS NEED FOR THE BEST POSSIBLE HYGIENE MUST EXPAND THEIR PRODUCTION AND MUST NOT RAISE PRICES ON THOSE PRODUCTS.

I WILL ALSO DIRECT THIS TO THOSE ONLINE POINTS OF SALE OF SUCH PRODUCTS: IF YOU ENGAGE IN PRICE-GOUGING, YOU WILL BE BROUGHT TO ACCOUNT AND BE FINED OR CLOSED DOWN.

Travel and hospitality losses to mitigate

THIRD, THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY SECTOR IS GOING TO TAKE A BIG FINANCIAL HIT OVER THE COMING MONTHS — PERHAPS EXTENDING INTO THE NEXT YEAR.

I WILL DO ALL I CAN, WORKING WITH THE CONGRESS, TO HELP THOSE BUSINESSES MITIGATE THEIR LOSSES THROUGH FEDERAL NO-INTEREST LOANS SUFFICIENT TO KEEP THOSE COMPANIES SOLVENT THROUGH THE CRISES.

Supply chain assistance

FOURTH, INDUSTRIES THAT RELY ON EXTENSIVE SUPPLY CHAINS WHICH WILL MOST CERTAINLY BE DISRUPTED DURING THE VIRUS’S RUN WILL RECEIVE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE WHEREVER POSSIBLE.

IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN FULL PRODUCTION OF SOME PRODUCTS, SO I HAVE INSTRUCTED MY COMMERCE SECRETARY AND THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY TO WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR KEY INDUSTRIES TO IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES WHO MAY BE UNABLE TO SERVICE THEIR MAJOR CONTRACTS.

Farm, markets, and transportation

FIFTH, WE CANNOT OVERLOOK THE IMPACT CORONAVIRUS WILL HAVE — IS ALREADY HAVING — ON OUR AGRICULTURE AND TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURES. FROM WHEAT FARMERS, TO VEGETABLE AND FRUIT GROWERS, TO CATTLE RANCHERS TO THE TRUCKING AND RAIL INDUSTRIES THAT BRING OUR FOOD PRODUCTS TO MARKET.

I WANT TO ASSURE THOSE VITAL WORKERS THAT WE WILL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR FINANCIAL POWER TO KEEP YOU UP AND RUNNING. I HAVE GIVEN MY SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FULL AUTHORITY TO WORK WITH CONGRESS AND THE STATES TO ASSURE A FULL AND SAFE FOOD SUPPLY TO OUR NATION’S CITIZENS.

Care of the most vulnerable citizens

FINALLY, BUT MOST CERTAINLY NOT LAST IN OUR PRIORITIES, MUST BE THE CARE OF OUR SENIOR CITIZENS WHO ARE MOST AT RISK — THOSE WHO ARE 60 AND OLDER WITH HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT MAKE THEM MORE VULNERABLE TO THE VIRUS.

I AM WORKING WITH DR. FAUCI AND HIS BROAD NETWORK OF EXPERTS AND IN CONCERT WITH AGENCIES AND COMPANIES WHO ARE MANUFACTURING THE CORONAVIRUS TESTING KITS TO BE SURE OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS ARE TESTED FIRST AND WITH ALL DUE SPEED FOR THE RESULTS.

My own experience and test

LET ME SHARE WITH YOU A SMALL ASIDE: AS YOU KNOW, DURING A RECENT MEETING AT THE WHITE HOUSE, I AND SEVERAL MEMBERS OF MY STAFF CAME INTO CONTACT WITH A VISITOR WHO HAS SINCE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CORONAVIRUS. AS A RESULT, I HAVE BEEN TESTED — MY STAFF HAS BEEN TESTED — AND SHOULD THE TESTS COME BACK POSITIVE, I WILL DO ALL I CAN TO SELF-QUARANTINE WHILE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THIS CRISIS.

Kennedy’s crisis remarks

I AM REMINDED OF ANOTHER TIME OF EXISTENTIAL CRISES — A TIME WHEN THE WORLD HELD ITS BREATH AS TWO NATIONS FACED THE VERY REAL PROSPECT OF STARTING DOWN THE PATH LEADING TO NUCLEAR ANNIHILATION.

IN HIS ADDRESS TO AMERICANS AND THE WORLD ON OCTOBER 22, 1963, PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY SAID,

“NO ONE CAN SEE PRECISELY WHAT COURSE IT WILL TAKE OR WHAT COSTS OR CASUALTIES WILL BE INCURRED. MANY MONTHS OF SACRIFICE AND SELF-DISCIPLINE LIE AHEAD — MONTHS IN WHICH OUR PATIENCE AND OUR WILL WILL BE TESTED — MONTHS IN WHICH MANY THREATS AND DENUNCIATIONS WILL KEEP US AWARE OF OUR DANGERS. BUT THE GREATEST DANGER OF ALL WOULD BE TO DO NOTHING.”

“THE PATH WE HAVE CHOSEN FOR THE PRESENT IS FULL OF HAZARDS, AS ALL PATHS ARE — BUT IT IS THE ONE MOST CONSISTENT WITH OUR CHARACTER AND COURAGE AS A NATION AND OUR COMMITMENTS AROUND THE WORLD. THE COST OF FREEDOM IS ALWAYS HIGH — AND AMERICANS HAVE ALWAYS PAID IT. AND ONE PATH WE SHALL NEVER CHOOSE, AND THAT IS THE PATH OF SURRENDER OR SUBMISSION.”

TODAY, AMERICAN AND THE WORLD FACE A NEW CRISIS, AND WE MUST NOT BE RELUCTANT TO BE AMBITIOUS IN OUR PLANS.

WE WILL NOT SURRENDER OR SUBMIT TO THIS THREAT…WE WILL STAND FIRM, ACT WITH RESOLVE, AND ACHIEVE VICTORY IN THIS BATTLE.

THANK YOU, AND MAY GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES.