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James C. Humes

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James Calhoun Humes
Born(1934-10-31)October 31, 1934
Williamsport, PA
DiedAugust 21, 2020(2020-08-21) (aged 85)
Philadelphia, PA
OccupationWriter, speechwriter
Alma materWilliams College (BA, 1957), George Washington University (LLB)[1]
GenreHistory, biography
SpouseDianne Stuart (m. 1957)

James C. Humes (31 October 1934 – 21 August 2020) was an author and former presidential speechwriter.[2]

Humes was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on 31 October, 1934[1] to Samuel and Elenor (née Graham) Humes.[3] At age 19 he attend the Stowe School on scholarship where he met Winston Churchill who advised him, “Young man, study history. In history lie all the secrets of statecraft.”[4] After graduation from Williams College he attended law school at George Washington University.[1] While still in law school he wrote speeches for then-President Dwight Eisenhower.[4] He served one term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives 1963-1965 representing Lycoming county.[1]

Humes, along with William Safire and Pat Buchanan, is credited for authoring the text on the Apollo 11 lunar plaque.[5][6] Humes has written many books sharing his extensive knowledge of the modern history and political landscape.[4]

Selected works

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External videos
video icon Booknotes interview with Humes on Confessions of a White House Ghostwriter, June 22, 1997, C-SPAN
  • The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln: A Book of Quotations, 2005
  • Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln: 21 Powerful Secrets of History's Greatest Speakers, 2002
  • The Wit & Wisdom of Ronald Reagan, 2007
  • The Wit & Wisdom of Benjamin Franklin, 2001
  • The Wit & Wisdom of Winston Churchill: A Treasury of More Than 1,000 Quotations and Anecdotes, 1994
  • The Sir Winston Method: The Five Secrets of Speaking the Language of Leadership, 1991
  • Confessions of a White House Ghostwriter: Five presidents and Other Political Adventures, 1997
  • Eisenhower and Churchill: The Partnership That Saved the World, 2001
  • How to Get Invited to the White House ... and Over One Hundred Impressive Gambits, Foxy Face-Savers, and Clever Maneuvers, 1977
  • Instant Eloquence; A Lazy Man's Guide to Public Speaking, 1985
  • Nixon's Ten Commandments of Statecraft: His Guiding Principles of Leadership and Negotiation, 1997 (Simon & Schuster)
  • Churchill: The Prophetic Statesman, 2012 (Regnery Publishing)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "James C. Humes 1934-2020". Historical Biographies. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  2. ^ James C. Humes from HarperCollins Publishers Archived May 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Langworth, Richard M. (August 26, 2020). "James Humes 1934-2020: Irrepressible Admirer of Old Excellence". Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Mestas, Anthony A. (August 25, 2020). "Former presidential speechwriter, CSU Pueblo emeritus prof, dies at 85". The Pueblo Chieftain. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  5. ^ A candid interview with a presidential speechwriter | Colorado Springs Business Journal | Find Articles at BNET.com
  6. ^ NY Times
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