On Thursday, February 22, 2018, Sam Lyman, chief speechwriter for Senator Orrin Hatch, spoke about his experience working on Capitol Hill as another installment for the Public Affairs Lecture Series.
Sam first gave a brief overview of what Capitol Hill, colloquially known as “the hill,” is; the beating heart of D.C. He shared the organization of congressional staffers: principal, chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, communications director, speechwriters, scheduler, and assistant to staff. He explained that there are three different tracks to working on Capitol Hill: communications, legislative, and administrative. Sam then went on to give details of the various career paths that a congressional staffer can take.
He then explained his personal interests in politics and what led him to his job today. Sam credited his interest in politics to his many family members (who have been involved in political careers), participating in grade school student government, and his favorite television show, The West Wing. Sam said that these things helped him learn that it was possible to have a job in politics without acting as a politician.
Sam first worked in Washington D.C. as an intern in 2013, and became hooked on speechwriting when Senator Hatch read one of his lines during a speech in Congress. After graduation from Brigham Young University, he was hired on as assistant to the chief of staff for Hatch’s office. Sam knew that to get the kind of job he wanted, he was going to have to be more entrepreneurial. He started building up his reputation as a writer in the office and increasingly offered input until he was given the opportunity to write speeches and record statements. As the chief speechwriter, Sam’s responsibilities include drafting and/or editing speeches, op-eds, letters, press releases and newsletters, as well as coordinating the media strategy.
At the close of his lecture, he shared some of his life lessons learned with students. He encouraged students to be entrepreneurial by asking for opportunities to do what they want. He also explained that image matters in the professional world, so it is important to take time to cultivate and invest in your professional image. Sam advised students to know when to say no, because “sometimes we are defined just as much by the opportunities we turn down as those we take.” He also encouraged students to know their principles and stick to them, understand the necessary balance between professional advancement and personal progress, and to always follow the spirit.
Thank you, Sam Lyman, for sharing your advice with us.
Sam’s recommended media is linked below:
Books to read:
The Speechwriter: A Brief Education in Politics
Words Like Loaded Pistols: Rhetoric From Aristotle to Obama
Films to watch: