The NPC and the Art of the (Short) Speech

FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, who retired this week, had just surpassed the 3,850th word of her speech at the National Press Club March 27 when she decided to change course.

She had been reminded on a small white note card placed in front of her at the podium that her talk was running long. She needed to leave time in the one-hour program for reporter questions.

"Though I’ve got lots more I had wanted to talk about," Hamburg said at the luncheon, "I've gotten the indication that I ought to be winding down."

Such are the mini-machinations that accompany the most famous of Press Club endeavors, the newsmaker luncheon.

The National Press Club remains the best place in town to give a speech, and it has been that way for eight decades. We just want people to keep those speeches to 20 minutes or less.

After Dr. Hamburg's appearance, I thought how unusual it must have been for her to have that little white card placed in front of her. She is a person of great stature, as she led a government agency vital to consumers and the economy. The FDA, among other things, regulates prescription drugs, food, medical devices, cosmetics, vaccines and tobacco. Most places where she spoke during her tenure undoubtedly enabled her to speak as long as she wanted, without getting the hook -- regardless of how polite that hook would be.

Of course, in fairness to Dr. Hamburg, she had a lot to say. This was the final speech of her nearly six years as one of the longest serving FDA commissioners in history. She was summing up her accomplishments. She received a standing ovation.

As long as her 4,251-word speech was, there have been longer. In 2006, actor Richard Dreyfuss gave a filibuster-worthy speech of 6,615 words! There was time for only one question. He hasn't been invited back.

These polite reminders that speeches are running long, if needed, come from the chairman of the Speakers Committee, Jerry Zremski, bureau chief of the Buffalo News; or Vice Chair Donna Leinwand Leger, breaking news reporter for USA Today. One of them sits to the audience's immediate left of the podium at every lunch. As former National Press Club presidents, each has great experience at and around that podium.

According to Jerry, the only person to ignore his white-card reminder to wrap up an overly-long speech was Donald Trump. No surprise!

What makes National Press Club lunches special is that they aren't controlled by the speaker, his or her allies or any boosters. While the Club allows ample time for a speaker to get his or her message out in a speech, there must be time for journalistic questions from the president.

Some of the questions Dr. Hamburg faced:


  • What percentage of the time does FDA get it right in approving products?

  • What is FDA doing to ensure truth in labeling?

  • Has the medical device approval process become too lax?

  • Have FDA leaders become too cozy with the industry it regulates?

Dr. Hamburg, an accomplished public servant, answered all the questions. On March 31, IRS Commissioner John Koskinen took his turn at the microphone. Next week, author Ayaan Hirsi Ali will come forward. On April 16, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon will appear. On it goes.

There are few journalistic traditions in Washington as grand as the National Press Club luncheon. Kudos to all public servants and other leaders who come forward to engage in this journalistic give-and-take.

The Club is proud to carry on this activity so vital to our democracy.

Just remember -- don't talk too long. Or you'll get the little white note card.