Cuomo Speechwriter Speaks on Speeches

Effective political speeches seduce listeners, Martha Eddison '86, the head speechwriter for former New York governor Mario Cuomo, told an audience of 60 at an Institute of Politics discussion yesterday.

"Political speeches are basically a seduction, and what we really want is to be seduced, to be swept off our feet," Eddison said. "Secretly we all want to fall in love."

Eddison, who lives in Cambridge, said effective political speakers charm their listeners, gain their trust, make them feel better about themselves and ask something of them.

"When a speech really grabs you, it's going to hit your brain, but it also hits you [in your heart]," she said, pointing to her heart.

"Human beings love to be needed. They love the sense that their lives mean something more than just 'can I pay my mortgage?' or 'I've got to take my car to the shop."

Eddison discussed her personal experiences working with Cuomo, whom she said tended to rewrite "almost everything."

"I'm kind of like Jimmy Connors' sparring partner. I guess I must be pretty good or else he wouldn't play with me but I can't exactly take credit for his backhand," Eddison said.

"Writing for Mario is unlike writing for anyone else," she said. "He is trained as a lawyer and he's very serious about that. Every speech is an argument."

After getting her degree in English from Harvard College, Eddison went to work for a corporate communications firm in Cambridge. After working for several years, she says she "took a major life gamble" and wrote to a Cuomo aide for a job.

In addition to her work for Cuomo, Eddison also works for "Field of Dreams," a Cambridge group which turns empty lots into gardens.

Following her 25-minute talk, Eddison took questions from audience members.