Ted Sorenson and Barack Obama

John F. Kennedy's famous speech writer and advisor, Theodore Sorenson, recognizes in Barack Obama many of the same qualities that Kennedy had. As he approaches the age of eighty his eyesight is failing but his political instincts and vision for the future are as positive as ever.

Younger readers who may not appreciate this man should know that as an advisor to and speechwriter for JFK it may have been Sorenson who penned the words "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." He may also have been the ghostwriter of Kennedy's book Profiles in Courage. When pressed about these questions he is coy. But there is no doubt that what he has to say carries a lot of weight.

This is about twenty-five minutes long. If time is limited, drag the time tab forward to twenty minutes and listen to the last five minutes of this program.

LINK to the Charlie Rose site.

LINK to the speech that Sorenson wrote in response to a request by Washington Monthly.