Ghostwriting and the cult of leadership

Ghostbusting: Exorcising the great man spirit from the speechwriting debate

“…This leader as symbol of the larger social entity is entirely consistent with Haiman's (1984) myth. The leader/rhetor is expected to behave in ways consistent with an illusion of personal causation, control, and direction of the larger social entity symbolically represented.…”

“…The speech has ramifications beyond the speaker to the larger position or organization he or she is representing. This redirection of ethical evaluations has been alluded to by Auer (1984) and Haiman (1984) in moving toward the reality and practice of ghostwriting.…”

“…Quintilian's criteria of intellectual fortification and strong moral character are applied to the group, rather than the individual level. Haiman's (1984) thesis has moved even further from the classical model by proposing that both speaker and audience be held responsible for ethics. Haiman (1984) notes that the traditional defense of ghostwriting is that the "great man" is too busy being leader to prepare his/her own speeches.…”

“…Haiman's (1984) thesis has moved even further from the classical model by proposing that both speaker and audience be held responsible for ethics. Haiman (1984) notes that the traditional defense of ghostwriting is that the "great man" is too busy being leader to prepare his/her own speeches. He argues that if this were the case, then the giving of speeches would also be delegated.…”

“…While Haiman (1984) and Auer (1984) have moved away from the individuality of the speaker in the ghostwriting debate^ they do not fully articulate the degree to which rhetoric is institutionally bound. The locus is still essentially with the speaker, though the speechwriters and audience myths interact.…”