Speaking of Gill: Insights into Public Speaking

By James F. Gill

Speaking of Gill is a primer which sets forth the basics and fundamentals of public speaking.
It is intended for those who engage in public speaking as well as for those who have an interest in the subject matter.

It sets forth the excerpts from many of the great speeches of the last five decades; as well as excerpts from speeches delivered by the author to illustrate the elements of public speaking.

It is also humorous, brief and to the point.

It is a very easy 60-page read which is not only helpful but enjoyable.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 31, 2007
• ISBN: 9781469104362

James F. Gill

ABOUT THE AUTHOR The author, James F. Gill was born in Waterbury, Connecticut and is a graduate of Holy Cross College and Fordham Law School. Upon graduation from Law School he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps and served as a legal officer at marine Corps Schools in Quantico, Virginia where he prosecuted and defended general courts marshal. Upon leaving the Marine Corps, Mr. Gill was appointed as an assistant district attorney of New York County by the legendary Frank S. Hogan, the long time District Attorney of New York County. During his term with Mr. Hogan, Gill became one of Hogans most outstanding trial assistants. In 1964 Mr. Gill joined the law firm of Robinson, Silverman and Pearce where he became a partner and managing partner. He has been with that firm, (since merged into the law firm of Bryan Cave) for more than 42 years. Mr. Gill has held many governmental positions pro bono. Mayor Edward I. Koch appointed him as Chairman of the joint Commission on Integrity in the New York City Public Schools form 1988 to 1991. that Commission investigated crime and wrongdoing in the New York City, Public Schools System and became known as The Gill Commission. In the early part of his first term in 1995, Governor George E. Pataki appointed Mr. Gill as the Director of the Governors Office of Employee Relations and the Chairman of the Long Island Power Authority. By appointment of Governor Pataki he currently serves as the Chairman of the Battery Park City Authority and Chairman of the Governors Judicial Screening Panel for the First Judicial Department. He was the founding Chairman of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and now serves as the Chairman of its Property Committee. He has been Chairman of the Group Health Incorporated(GHI) since 1990 and the general counsel for the Board of Trustees of St. Patricks Cathedral since 1992. he was the close friend and confidant of the late John Cardinal OConnor and currently serves Edward Cardinal Egan. Mr. Gill is a well known and popular public speaker in the New York Metropolitan area and the author of numerous speeches delivered by public figures. He is the father of three children, Patrick, Rose and Dennis and is the author of a book entitled For James and Gillian which he wrote for his grandchildren. He lives in Rockville Centre, New York with his wife, Jackie.

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Copyright © 2007 by James F. Gill.

Library of Congress Control Number:         2006905953

ISBN:                     Hardcover                     978-1-4257-2398-9

                              Softcover                        978-1-4257-2397-2

                              eBook                            978-1-4691-0436-2

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Contents

FORWARD

PART 1

CHAPTER I

CHAPTER II

CHAPTER III

CHAPTER IV

PART 2

CHAPTER V

CHAPTER VI

CHAPTER VII

CHAPTER VIII

CHAPTER IX

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

FORWARD

In December 2002 I published my first book entitled For James and Gillian, dedicated to my grandchildren. I wanted them to know my history, what I believed in, how I conducted my life, and I wanted them to get it directly from me. It was a joy to write and it did much better than I had expected; so I decided to write another.

I have always been intrigued by the art of public speaking: the ability to convince an audience of the righteousness of a cause or the validity of a view point, to cause people to laugh or cry, to anger them, frighten them or inspire them, to stir them up or calm them down, to infuse them with pride, joy, regret or sorrow. I have done some public speaking and occasionally have offered suggestions to others such as former U.S. Senators Al D’Amato and Bob Dole, former New York Governor George Pataki, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and former F.B.I. Director Louis J. Freeh.

Speaking in public is a fine art and a rare gift. Winston Churchill, the master, described it in these words: Of all the talents bestowed upon men, none is so precious as the gift of oratory. He who enjoys it wields a power more durable than that of a king.

Many have used that gift to better mankind while others, such as Hitler, have misused it to inflict untolled and irreparable human misery. Oratorical ability is difficult to acquire but can be attained to a considerable degree, if certain fundamentals are applied. That is the subject matter of this book.

PART 1

Basic Principles

CHAPTER I

Be Not Afraid

Most people are frightened by the thought of addressing an audience. There is no need for such fear if you do your homework.

1)       Know your audience. Take time out to learn about the organization you are addressing. What is its over-all mission; what are its interim goals; who are the leaders; who are the people in the audience; what do they favor; what do they oppose; who do they like; who do they dislike; what is the nature and purpose of the event?

      If you know your audience, you will avoid embarrassment and get an edge. If you don’t, even the best have every reason to be fearful. Consider the experience of the late distinguished senator from New York, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, when he addressed the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in 1977. It was a disaster because he hadn’t assessed his audience beforehand.

      The Friendly Sons dinner is a black tie affair held on St. Patrick’s Day. It is the largest dinner of the year, attended by approximately 3,000 men, mostly successful Irishmen. The Cardinal Archbishop of New York is the host and the speaker is introduced at about 9:30 p.m. at which time the audience expects to be entertained, not lectured.

      At the outset, Moynihan referred to Beyond The Melting Pot, a very serious treatise he had co-authored with Nathan Glazer, about the various ethnic groups of New York City, including of course, the Irish. After gratuitously criticizing The American Irish Historical Society (a sister organization to the