Shrum began his political career as a speechwriter in 1970 , first for Republican New York City Mayor John Lindsay , and then for United States Senators Edmund Muskie and Ted Kennedy . Shrum was also a speechwriter for 1972 Democratic Party presidential nominee George McGovern as well as for 1976 Democratic Party presidential nominee Jimmy Carter . Shrum worked for Governor Carter for a total of ten days , and quit the night Carter won the Pennsylvania Primary . In his resignation letter to Carter , Shrum wrote " I am not sure what you believe in , other than yourself . " Shrum later worked for Ted Kennedy and wrote the famous speech Kennedy gave at the 1980 Democratic National Convention . After Kennedy 's unsuccessful bid for the Democratic Party 's presidential nomination in 1980 , Shrum returned to work in his Senate office as his press secretary until 1984 , after which he became director of Kennedy 's Fund for a Democratic Majority Political Action Committee until 1985
1980 Democratic National Convention
1980 Democratic National Convention
Bob Shrum