Talk About the Speaker-Not About His Home

Rarely does his home place bear any relationship to his subject. The author’s introduction of Maine’s conservative U.S. Senator Owen Brewster is one of those exceptions that prove the rule:

Maine men are known conservatives-even a “mite contrary” about changing their ways. Maine was an original colony, but stayed an understudy of Massachusetts until it joined the Union in 1820. The sun first hits the States in this region of high tides and low times-a fortunate circumstance since this rugged area needs all the sun it can get. Its weather is rough and so is its coast, where inlets and reaches, rocks and beaches extend 250 miles of coast into 2400 miles of shore.

Generations of fishermen have worked this “Down East” edge of the Atlantic in fog and gale. Although radar now sees in the dark, these Old Salts want none of that newfangled stuff… they still steer by a sailor’s sixth sense. Our guest’s subject “Be Not the First to do What’s New,” fits a Maine man like a claw on a lobster. A rare instance wherein the nature of a State fits both the man and the subject.

In introducing a speaker on a controversial matter, it’s best not to boast about an open mind lest you be judged as having holes in your head. It’s important to be polite- but not stiff as starch. Offering advice to a speaker on how to handle his audience is as foolish as slamming a swinging door. If he isn’t capable of coping with it, why was he asked to attend? Remember Socrates? He ran around Greece giving free advice and by way of thanks, he was poisoned by his countrymen. The introducer’s taboos may be further summarized this way:

1. Be brief. Don’t be deluded into thinking that the introduction is the main speech.
2. Don’t “ham.” Don’t hog the show and try to make the principal speaker’s speech for him.
3. Don’t turn a simple introduction into a meandering marathon. Keep it simple and sincere.
4. Be sprite! Don’t be trite.

Tags: public speaking

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