Students know Professor Mary Kate Cary from her ‘Election 2020’ and ‘Political Speechwriting’ courses, but she is now adding to her long list of UVa contributions as the founder of the upcoming oratory competition. In this interview, Professor Cary speaks to us about the Inaugural Oratory Competition coming to UVa in the spring of 2022. The Politics Department’s Inaugural Oratory Competition will be sponsored by the Jefferson Literary Debating Society, University Democrats, and the College Republicans.

While studying government at UVa, I have learned about the power of words and delivery in the world of politics. I have been a student in three of Professor Cary’s classes: ‘Election 2020’, ‘Political Speechwriting,’ and now ‘Democracy Out Loud.’ I am planning on going into the political communications field following graduation and assisting in an event that would allow students to understand the ‘power of words’ was an item to mark off my bucket list during my final semester at UVa. I am a member of the Oratory Competition Committee, which is a group of undergraduate students “...committed to the idea of excellence in political oratory.” 

Link to the oratory competition page: https://politics.virginia.edu/oratory-competition 

Submission link: https://virginia.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bNNu4Q8QN3aAQF8 

Note: responses have been edited for length and clarity 

Would you be able to briefly state your background in political speechwriting? 

I am a former White House speechwriter for President George H.W. Bush. I first joined the Bush-Quayle presidential campaign in 1988 as Senior Writer for Communications (not as a speechwriter). After the election, I became a speechwriter for the president, specializing in domestic policy speeches and political speeches in the 1990 midterm elections. In the final year of the Bush 41 administration, I moved over to the Department of Justice and oversaw the speechwriting office there. For the next two decades, I wrote speeches for a variety of business and political leaders. 

How did you come up with the idea for the oratory competition?

My friend Stephen Krupin, a former Obama speechwriter, and I got the idea after we were guests at the annual oratory competition at Dartmouth College a few years ago. They were onto something good and we thought we could do something even better! Once we floated the idea, the Politics Department enthusiastically agreed to sponsor the event, and the Jefferson Literary Debating Society, the University Democrats, and the College Republicans became partners with us as well.

Can you describe the oratory competition? 

The competition is open to all undergraduate and graduate students but will be limited to the first 100 entrants. Contestants will submit 6-minute speeches on video that they have written and delivered, answering the prompt, “What is the most important value to our American democracy, and why?” Some students might focus on freedom of speech or the rule of law; others might choose equality of opportunity, religious liberty, or any number of other founding values of our nation—then build their case with stories, quotes, data, or other persuasive evidence to win over their audience.

A panel of judges composed of former Cabinet and White House speechwriters will choose the ten best speeches, and the ten finalists will deliver their speeches in person before a live audience at a competition in the Dome Room of the Rotunda on Monday, March 28 at 7 p.m. The winner will receive a $500 cash prize. We’re hoping to make this an annual event, and perhaps grow it into a competition against other universities.  

What is the importance of speechwriting and public speaking in politics?

I often say that when asked to speak, most speakers start with the question, “What do I want to say?” Really, the more important question is, “What does this audience need to hear?” And it’s the speechwriter’s job to answer the question, “How am I going to get them to listen?” That’s where using rhetorical devices, building a strong structure, demonstrating shared values, and presenting persuasive evidence all come into play. In a dictatorship, leaders can force people to do what they want through the threat of violence. In a democracy, we can’t do that. So we rely on persuasive oratory and public speaking to convince others that we share their democratic values and common goals for the public good—the “ends” upon which we all agree—and then convince them that our “means” to those ends are the best way forward. That’s what I call a speechwriter’s idea of a good time!

How can the UVA community assist students in having strong oratory skills?

More than almost any other university I can think of, UVA has a proud tradition of student-run literary and debating societies. We also have a robust community of radio programming, multiple newspapers, and several policy review magazines, all full of students making great arguments for and against a variety of ideas. I hope students continue to join these organizations and support their mission for many years to come. The recent free speech committee’s statement on Free Expression and Free Inquiry will ensure that students are free to express their opinions, whether political or not, in all sorts of public and private forums for many generations to come. My secret dream is to turn UVA into the home of political speechwriting in America, with many more classes beyond just the one I teach. In fact, when I was an undergrad, there was a Department of Rhetoric and Communications Studies—something I’d love to see a return to Grounds. The fact that three presidents, all of whom were spectacularly good at persuasive writing and oratory, were involved in our founding makes this idea particularly appealing.

There’s a great sense here of the American experiment relying on Jefferson’s notion of an “educated citizenry” for its success, and learning the art of public speaking is a big part of that. Being able to stand on your own two feet and make your case is a big part of being a success in life, no matter what you do for a living. UVA has tremendous potential for really helping its students to excel at oratory and public speaking.

How can students get involved? 
I’d encourage everyone reading this to submit a 6-minute speech on which American value you value most, and why. We’d love to hear from a wide variety of students, from all walks of life, on all kinds of different values. We’re also hoping that students will attend the final competition—it’s much more fun to give a speech, and listen to a speech, in person rather than over Zoom. We’ll need student volunteers to help with the event on March 28th, so feel free to contact me, mkc7m@virginia.edu,  if you are interested in helping. Going forward, we’d love help on our student committee as we grow this annually, and expand to competing against other universities. There are lots of opportunities to get involved, and we’d love to hear from interested students.

The University of Virginia is a great institution where students can explore their interests and field of interest, but sometimes that can allow students to lose skills including writing and speaking if their field doesn’t allow for elective classes. The oratory competition is a great opportunity because it helps students develop strong literacy skills which can be valuable for any profession.

Several former students and I have all worked alongside Professor Cary and the Department of Politics to ensure that the Oratory Competition is established at the university. I am thrilled to see the finished product and have students come together in March for a demonstration of excellence in speechwriting and public speaking.