Oxford-educated David Ogilvy (1911-1999) was a giant in 20th Century advertising. The founder of Ogilvy & Mather, one of the world’s leading advertising, marketing and PR firms, he pioneered the concept of “branding” and was noted for his classy promotions. It was Ogilvy who invented The Man in the Hathaway Shirt, for example, and persuaded Commander Whitehead to be the spokesman for his own Schweppes Tonic.

Ogilvy was the successful author of Confessions of an Advertising Man and Ogilvy on Advertising. A fine writer himself, he appreciated the importance of speechwriting.

He once put is this way:

“Most of the great leaders I have known have had the ability to inspire people with their speeches. If you cannot write inspiring speeches yourself, use ghostwriters – but use good ones. [Franklin] Roosevelt used Archibald MacLeish, Robert Sherwood and Judge Rosenman. That is why his speeches were more inspiring than those of any of the Presidents we have had since.”