Convocation: John McConnell '86

John McConnell (Carleton Class of 1986) served as a speechwriter for President George W. Bush and as the chief speechwriter for Vice President Dick Cheney from the start of the administration. He was with the vice president on that tragic morning of September 11, 2001, and was a member of the speechwriting team that composed the president's memorable National Cathedral address to the nation in the wake of that disaster. A graduate of Yale Law School, McConnell's ten years on the White House staff is matched by only one other person in the last sixty years. McConnell also served as campaign speechwriter for Bob Dole in 1996, George W. Bush in 2000, and as a speechwriter for Vice President Dan Quayle during the first Bush administration. Brilliant, warm, funny and loyal, McConnell has earned widespread respect for his skills as a wordsmith. The title of his presentation was "Notes on Eight Years in the White House."