Monday   

Please Note: Osher Online courses may run later than the OLLI at UConn semester end-date. 

Osher Online courses are not recorded.

Have you ever wondered who writes presidential speeches? This course traces the evolution of speechwriting from George Washington’s administration to today. Yes, Hamilton helped draft Washington’s Farewell Address, but no, Lincoln did not scribble the Gettysburg Address on an envelope. We will study the writing process presidents used and examine drafts from FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Carter, and George H.W. Bush. We will view clips from speeches and from former White House speechwriters describing the process.

Here is an introductory video by the course instructor: https://vimeo.com/1114279947

The deadline to register for this course is March 16, 2026!

Personal photos, famous paintings, nature photos or clips in a magazine...writers will take their inspiration from a variety of images. Gabriella Brand will guide the process and encourage students to discover their preferred genre. This course is open to writers of all experience levels.

Online Registration Notice:

Please note that the deadline to register for an online course is 48 hours before the start date for that individual course. This deadline allows us to get the Zoom link to you. Students who miss the cut-off date can submit a request for late registration to osher@uconn.edu with the understanding that there is no guarantee they will be able to register.

Thank you for your understanding!