Michael Anton

Specialty: Writer; media relations

Fields most served: Financial services

Interview:

Q: How do you describe to friends what you do at WHWG?
Anton: Write speeches and op-eds for corporate CEOs, and also white papers and other communications documents for corporate clients.

Q: What is most challenging about your work for your clients?
Anton: Message development — coming up with messages that are fresh and compelling.

Q: What is most satisfying about your work for your clients?
Anton: When I hear back that a speech was enjoyed by the principal, and well received by the audience.

Q: What kinds of clients do you have and what are they looking for from you?
Anton: Most of my clients are coalitions, associations and corporations who are interested in building support for major public policy issues. I also work extensively with clients on both internal and external messaging on issues important to them.

Q: What kind of person should work at WHWG?
Anton: Good writers, good researchers, and people with good imaginations. Boring speeches are hell to sit through.

Bio:   Michael Anton has extensive experience in speechwriting, media relations, and communications at the highest levels of government and business.

Anton most recently served as chief speechwriter for News Corporation chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch. He was also deputy foreign policy advisor (under Yale professor and former career diplomat Charles Hill) to the Giuliani presidential campaign.

Prior to moving to New York, he served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Foreign Policy Speechwriting in the National Security Council, at the White House. He was the principal drafter and editor of President George W. Bush’s speeches on foreign and defense policy. He also served, until her confirmation as Secretary of State, as the chief speechwriter for National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice.

Before joining the White House speechwriting staff, Anton was Director for Communications at the National Security Council. In this capacity, he served as a principle strategic communications planner for all issues and events relating to American foreign policy. He organized and facilitated all interviews with the President by foreign media, and foreign and domestic interviews with Dr. Condoleezza Rice and Deputy National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley. He also served a White House spokesman on all foreign and defense policy issues.