Who is Biden speechwriter Jon Meacham? Historian wrote president-elect's 'soul of America' victory speech
Historian Jon Meacham, who wrote several speeches for President-elect Joe Biden in recent months, also wrote his victorious speech on Saturday, November 7. Reports state that although Mike Donilon, Biden's advisor, has primary oversight over speechwriting, Meacham has played a significant role in developing the Democrat leader's speeches, according to the New York Times.
The historian reportedly also presented campaign notes on several of Biden's speeches, including the one in Gettysburg, Pa., earlier this year and his address during the Democratic National Convention (DNC). The President-elect's spokesperson, TJ Ducklo, in a statement to the Times, said that Biden consulted multiple people on his victory speech. "President-elect Joe Biden wrote the speech he delivered to the American people on Saturday night, which laid out his vision for uniting and healing the nation," Ducklo said. "Given the significance of the speech, he consulted a number of important, and diverse, voices as part of his writing process, as he often does."
Meacham, who has voted for members of both Democratic and Republican parties, publicly endorsed Biden in March this year through an op-ed in The Washington Post. The historian, later, also spoke at the DNC. Reports state that although there are currently no plans for Meacham to take a formal role in the Biden administration, a person familiar with the decision reportedly told the Times that he will leave his full-time role as an MSNBC and NBC News contributor. The outlet also reported that the historian will possibly return to the networks as a guest in the future. The historian had recently appeared on MSNBC after Biden's victory speech last weekend.
MSNBC’s Brian Williams, after the speech, asked Meacham: "I’m not the historian that you are, and I don’t have the Pulitzer that you do, but do you concur that is the way we are used to hearing from our presidents?" The historian responded, saying "absolutely." He, however, did not mention that he had a part in formulating the President-elect's victory speech.
Biden, in his victory speech Saturday night, reached out to the people who did not vote for him during the 2020 presidential elections. "For all those of you who voted for President Trump, I understand the disappointment tonight," Biden said. "I've lost a couple of times myself. But now, let's give each other a chance. It's time to put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature, see each other again, listen to each other again. And to make progress, we have to stop treating our opponents as our enemies. They are not our enemies. They are Americans. They are Americans," he said.
He also appealed for unity in his victory address: "And I’m humbled by the trust and confidence you have placed in me. I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but unify. Who doesn’t see red states and blue states, only sees the United States. I work with all my heart with the confidence of the whole people to win the confidence of all of you. And for that is what I believe America is about. It is about people. And that is what our administration will be all about. I sought this office to restore the soul of America, to rebuild the backbone of this nation, the middle class, and to make America respected around the world again. And to unite us here at home."