Mike Long

Michael (Mike) Long is an author, essayist, editorialist, script-writer and speechwriter. He has written for film, government, business, and the non-profit world. In 2008, he began teaching at Georgetown University in the graduate school of professional studies, teaching classes to graduate students on writing and speech writing.^[1]

As a Director of the White House Writers Group in Washington, D.C. He has written for many professionals, including candidates for office, cabinet members, and Fortune 10 CEOs.

Mr. Long also leads speechwriting seminars around the country for Ragan Communications.^[2]

Biography

Mr. Long grew up in rural Missouri as the son of a preacher.^[3] He received a scholarship to go to Murray State University in Kentucky, where he studied physics. Mr. Long finished at the top of his class, and then went on to graduate study in physics at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. After working in physics for almost a decade, Mike transitioned into comedy writing and began writing and performing stand-up comedy. He currently lives in Burke, Virginia with his wife and children.

Political

In 1996, Mike Long was selected by Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson to come to Capitol Hill as his sole speechwriter. During his tenure, Mr. Long also wrote Senator Thompson's daily radio debate Face Off against Senator Ted Kennedy, and he directed preparation for the Senator's mock presidential debates against Senator Bob Dole.

As a director of the White House Writers Group, a communications firm specializing in business and public policy, Mike Long has authored and ghost-authored speeches, op-eds and white papers for Washington politicos, including former President George W. Bush,^[4] Steve Forbes, Senator Robert (Bob) Dole, Representative Richard (Dick) Armey, and Missouri Senator Christopher Bond.

Long was a regular contributor to The Jewish World Review from 2001-2005.^[5]

Mr. Long makes regular TV appearances to discuss political matters and speechwriting. In 2008, he was interviewed by CBC News ^[6]

Comedy

Ben Stein commissioned Mike Long to write a pilot TV script based on one of his ideas. Ben Stein described Mr. Long in this way: "... a poet. I don't see anyone out there under the age of 50 writing better short pieces than he is right now."

In 2002, Mr. Long wrote the liner notes for the DVD of the documentary Comedian about Jerry Seinfeld's return to stand-up comedy after leaving his famous TV show.^[3]

He has also contributed to Saturday Night Live.

Film

Mr. Long writes film reviews for a number of sources, including the National Review Online,^[7] and Big Hollywood.^{[citation needed]}

Novels and Short Stories

Long completed his first novel Killing in 2001.^[8]

References