It wasn't until very recently that I learned that my late mother once advised presidential candidate George Romney on his speeches, when she worked as a copywriter at an advertising agency in Detroit—for my father, the creative director—in the 1960s.

Before Romney self-destructed on a remark about having been brainwashed by military people on Vietnam, the head of Campbell Ewald adveritising agency prevailed on my dad, and my dad prevailed on my mom, to help George with his speeches—their writing and their delivery.

My dad remembers that she was a little "rough" on the important former chairman of American Motors Corp., delivering advice in her not-so-diplomatic style—her general philosophy of diplomacy was, "fuck them if they can't take a joke"—and making everyone at the agency a little nervous.

How did she like the experience? "How do you think she liked working for a Republican?" said my dad, the Republican who pressed her into service.

So I think it's a little odd that today, when George's son Mitt suspended his campaign for president, Carol Murray's son has a video on the Web advising Romney and the other candidates how they could do a better job of connecting with Americans.

Maybe the next generations of Romneys will listen to the next generation of Murrays and President Romney, a Democrat, and her inspirational speechwriter Scout Carol Murray will be remembered for great leadership and great communication .....