Public Speaking Handbook

ceremonial Speaking 18.2 423

qualities of the admittedly controversial candidate that he thought would
appeal to the audience:

Whether in commerce or finance, in business or industry, in private or

public service, there is such a thing as Competence.... Barry Goldwater

has demonstrated it over and over in his every activity. As Chief of

Staff of his state National Guard, he brought about its desegregation

shortly after World War II and long before civil rights became a burn-

ing issue. He brought integration to his own retail enterprises. For his

own employees he established the five-day week and a health and life

insurance plan. All this was done without fanfare or the marching of

bands.^11

And Dirksen ended his speech with the nomination itself:

I nominate my friend and colleague, Barry Goldwater of Arizona, to be

the Republican candidate for President of the United States.

Acceptances

Anyone who receives an award or nomination usually responds with a brief
acceptance speech. Acceptance speeches have received something of a bad name
because of the lengthy, emotional, rambling, and generally boring speeches
delivered annually on prime-time TV by the winners of the film industry’s
Oscars. As the late humorist Erma Bombeck once wryly noted,

People exchange wedding vows in under thirty seconds.... You only get

thirty seconds to come up with the final “Jeopardy” answer. My kids can

demolish a pizza in thirty seconds.

So how long does it take to say, “Thank you?”^12

The same audience that may resent a long oration will readily appreci-
ate a brief, heartfelt expression of thanks. In fact, brief acceptance speeches
can actually be quite insightful, even inspiring, and can leave the audience
feeling no doubt that the right person won the award. Two months before he
died in 1979, John Wayne accepted an honorary Oscar with these touching
words:

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Your applause is just about the

only medicine a fella would ever need. I’m mighty pleased I can am-

ble here tonight. Oscar and I have something in common. Oscar first

came on the Hollywood scene in 1928. So did I. We’re both a little

weatherbeaten, but we’re still here and plan to be around a whole lot

longer.^13

If you ever have to give an acceptance speech, it may be an impromptu
speech, because you may not know that you have won until the award is pre-
sented. The formula in the How To should help you compose a good acceptance
speech on the spur of the moment.