Former Mark Sanford speechwriter talks new book

[gtxvideo vid=”WAaqb8Xx” playlist=”” pid=”rkijshg2″ thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/WAaqb8Xx.jpg” vtitle=”The Speechwriter”]

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — Former speechwriter for S.C. Governor Mark Sanford, Barton Swaim, discussed his new book, “The Speechwriter,” at Richland Library Main Thursday night. Swaim says he knew he would write a book about the office almost as soon as he started working there. There was just one problem — he had a string of bizarre stories to tell, with no climax. “And then this crazy thing happened.” Swaim is referring to June of 2009, when Sanford went missing, came back, and admitted to having an affair with an Argentinian woman. If you’re wondering, Swaim did not write the infamous speech in which Sanford addressed his transgressions, but he did fill that roll for the two and a half years prior. “A speechwriter is somebody who is a writer, but close to political power, which sounds romantic, but is torture.” At first, Swaim, who has an English degree, struggled with the task of creating talking points and narratives. “You’re actually just thinking of cute things to say at the opening of a ketchup factory.” Writing them how his boss would say it was a whole different story. “In the office, it was called Sanford-izing things.” “The Speechwriter” is full of strange incidents and habits Swaim observed during his three-years with Sanford. One such example, Swaim mentioned in his talk, involved staffers and travel. “You stop at a McDonald’s, he’s gonna ask you to pay,” Swaim says. “And he says he’ll pay you back, but he’ll only pay you back if you harass him about it.” Working for Sanford was challenging. When the scandal broke, Swaim’s job description quickly shifted. “Your job was to defend a scandal ridden politician who’s political career, it seemed, was over, and that was really sad,” he says. “I didn’t want to do that.” But he did, and says writing the book was a sort of therapy for him. “I found myself laughing while writing it, because I can’t believe this actually happened. It’s hilarious.”

Categories: Calhoun, Local News, News

Former Mark Sanford speechwriter talks new book

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — Former speechwriter for S.C. Governor Mark Sanford, Barton Swaim, discussed his new book, “The Speechwriter,” at Richland Library Main Thursday night. Swaim says he knew he would write a book about the office almost as soon as he started working there. There was just one problem — he had a string of bizarre stories to tell, with no climax. “And then this crazy thing happened.” Swaim is referring to June of 2009, when Sanford went missing, came back, and admitted to having an affair with an Argentinian woman. If you’re wondering, Swaim did not write the infamous speech in which Sanford addressed his transgressions, but he did fill that roll for the two and a half years prior. “A speechwriter is somebody who is a writer, but close to political power, which sounds romantic, but is torture.” At first, Swaim, who has an English degree, struggled with the task of creating talking points and narratives. “You’re actually just thinking of cute things to say at the opening of a ketchup factory.” Writing them how his boss would say it was a whole different story. “In the office, it was called Sanford-izing things.” “The Speechwriter” is full of strange incidents and habits Swaim observed during his three-years with Sanford. One such example, Swaim mentioned in his talk, involved staffers and travel. “You stop at a McDonald’s, he’s gonna ask you to pay,” Swaim says. “And he says he’ll pay you back, but he’ll only pay you back if you harass him about it.” Working for Sanford was challenging. When the scandal broke, Swaim’s job description quickly shifted. “Your job was to defend a scandal ridden politician who’s political career, it seemed, was over, and that was really sad,” he says. “I didn’t want to do that.” But he did, and says writing the book was a sort of therapy for him. “I found myself laughing while writing it, because I can’t believe this actually happened. It’s hilarious.”

Categories: Calhoun, Local News, News