10 Examples of Terrible Speech Writing

There are those unforgettable speeches that people talk about for decades. Then there are also the worst ones in history. And speech writers are all to blame for the blunders. While speech writing depends on the speakers for delivery, the overall composition of the speech somehow determines how people will perceive it. This makes speechwriters’ jobs even more difficult. 

As they include the most important components of speech writing, they also have to consider the finer details such as the speaker’s personality, beliefs, audience, and more. All these are vital to creating the most unforgettable speech people will remember. 

If you’re mastering how to write a speech, learn from these 10 worst speech writing examples and how to correct them.

1. William Henry Harrison’s Inaugural Address 

In 1841, William Henry Harrison delivered a speech that failed to get commendations from its audience. To start with, it comprised of 8,445 words! And not once did it engage. It was dubbed as the “longest inaugural speech” in history.

Tip: Narrow down your ideas

When writing a speech, ensure that you’re sensitive to your audience. Don’t write a litany of invaluable information. Even if you have a pile of topics to discuss, people will not remember them all. Stick to a couple of main ideas and keep it concise. 

2. Phil Davidson’s Political Speech for the Treasurer Position

Phil Davidson from the Stark County Republican Party presented his speech to around 100 people in 2014. In his speech, it’s evident that it hasn’t been proofread to maximum quality. There are far too many recurring sentences and redundancies that make the speech disappointing. 

For example:

“If nominated tonight, I promise each and every person in this room, I will hit the ground running, coming out swinging, and end up winning!”

“Let’s send a message tonight to the people of Stark County and to the people of the Stark County Democratic Party! We’re tired of business as usual! Drastic times require what? Drastic measures! Yes! Who said that? Thank you! Drastic times require drastic measures!”

Tip: Organize and proofread your piece

First of all, these sentences/paragraphs can be edited to make them shorter. The use of idioms is acceptable as long as they sit well with your audience. However, when giving political or formal speeches, keep colloquial phrases to a minimum. 

Secondly, the next paragraph intends to engage but contains no value whatsoever. Knowing your audience is crucial in speech writing. This is to craft pieces that resonate with your audience. In this case, there is no need for repetitive talk as listeners are probably astute enough to understand the speaker. And don’t even get me started on the exclamation point, listeners will probably cringe at Davidson’s delivery as well. 

3. Enoch Powell’s Speech on “Rivers of Blood”

“As I look ahead, I am filled with foreboding. Like the Roman, I seem to see the River Tiber foaming with much blood…” 

This was one of Enoch Powell’s lines from his speech “Rivers of Blood” in 1968. Although the esteemed British politician is well-known for his classical references, he mistakenly quoted this line from Aeneas.

Tip: Add and double-check facts, statistics, references, etc. 

Erroneously referencing someone might be the straw that’ll break the camel’s back. Additionally, stating wrong information will make you lose authority in your niche. Make sure to double-check data and details so your speech is credible.

4. Donald Trump’s Impeachment Victory Speech

After the trial, Trump was finally acquitted from impeachment. However, his speech after the decision seemed like an attack on those who voted against him. It was a long tirade of complete and utter nonsense. 

Tip: Aim to influence, not attack 

Speech writing should aim to inform and influence. It’s an avenue where one expresses ideas and shares beliefs. Enrapture your audience on the first few lines of your speech positively. Make sure that they are riveted to their seats from start to finish through proper organization and smooth and relevant transitions.

5. VP Andrew Johnson’s Inauguration Address 

Andrew Johnson’s drunk speech delivery will go down in history as one of the most embarrassing ones. Not only were the slurred speeches incoherent, but the gist of his speech was, for the most part, unsuited to the audience. He talked about how he ostracized the “rebel aristocracy” even though rebel aristocrats were predominantly his audience.

Tip: Know your audience 

Aside from not presenting a speech drunk, know your audience before writing a speech. You have to be able to connect with your audience and not push them away. This element will make or break your presentation.  

6. Melania Trump’s Copied Speech  

People remember this speech as one of the most unoriginal speeches in U.S. politics. Melania Trump had been accused of copying some lines on her Republic National Convention speech from Michelle Obama’s.

Tip: Be creative, put your personality into it 

A keynote speech is one that stands out. It’s where people walk out of the room and remember all the impactful and substantive phrases from the speech. Be creative and add your twist to the speech even though you’re inspired by someone else’s.

7. Ronald Reagan’s Iran-Contra Speech

The Iran-Contra speech from the 40th President of the United States Ronald Reagan was a cringing disappointment. It was full of inaccuracies. 

Tip: Don’t rush your speech

Never rush your speech to avoid inaccurate information. This will make you lose credibility, especially if you’re holding a prominent position. Prepare the speech a few weeks before delivery and fact-check. Try to consult advisors so they can give necessary adjustments and suggestions.

8. Chancellor Trevor Manuel Graduation Speech

Trevor Manuel’s speech for the graduation and awards ceremony in 2015 could be improved. The intro is a bit of a drab and could have a more upbeat tone or content to it. 

Tip: Write a compelling introduction

The introduction is crucial in speech writing as it wills listeners to lend their ears until the end. Make sure you create a compelling introduction by putting a bit of storytelling, stating statistics, quotes, and whatnot.

9. Gerald Ratner’s Business Speech

Gerald Ratner had put his jewelry chain business in jeopardy through a jaw-dropping speech he made in 1991. The business tycoon didn’t put too much thinking into its speech writing as everything about it seemed wrong. 

Here’s one line from his speech that cost the business’s shares to plummet by 80 percent: 

“We also do cut-glass sherry decanters complete with six glasses on a silver-plated tray that your butler can serve you drinks on, all for £4.95. People say, ‘How can you sell this for such a low price?’ I say because it’s total crap.”

Tip: Write for the ears

Remember to write for the ears. Impart something that your audience can take and soak in positively. If you include negativity in your speech, this will boomerang on you in the long run. 

10. Dr. Fisher-Kat’s Spoof Presentation 

Although this is a spoof speech at the Science Communication Workshop Presentation, the fictional character Dr. Fisher-Kat did the entire speech wrong. She uses too much jargon for a general audience as shown in the video. 

Tip: Use simple words 

Even if you determine your target audience, it’s still recommended to use simple words throughout your speech. Readers and listeners alike should enjoy the entire process and not go through it without understanding most of the points discussed.