Confidant, Advisor and Speech Writer to Pres. Reagan, Ken Khachigian
Ken Khachigian served as a trusted speechwriter, confidant, and strategist to presidential giants Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. Whether in the Oval Office, on Air Force One, at Camp David or the Western White House, Khachigian was an eyewitness and insider to the 20th century’s greatest historical moments.
Widely regarded as the President’s favorite speechwriter, the remarks Khachigian crafted for Reagan’s delivery in 1985 at Bergen Belsen’s former concentration camp was described as the “best speech of his career.” Khachigian quickly mastered Reagan’s speaking style and gained his con-fidence after joining the candidate’s struggling 1980 presidential campaign – earning the distinction from political writer Anthony York as “an architect of Ronald Reagan’s 1980 White House victory.”
Appointed Special Consultant to the President and senior White House staff member, they formed a unique personal relationship, beginning with Reagan’s acclaimed First Inaugural Address. Khachigian collaborated to craft language shaping the historic economic recovery plan that marked the fiscal revolution for America’s turnaround and renewed the national spirit.
His close partnership with Reagan continued through major speeches, including State of the Union addresses, foreign policy remarks, and Reagan’s 1988 Farewell Address to the Republican National Convention.
An active participant in state and national civic affairs, Khachigian has served on the Boards of the Hoover Institution, the Richard Nixon Foundation, the California Chamber of Commerce, the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance, the Armenian Assembly of America as well as serving on the Board of Trustees of the UCSB Foundation, the Board of Regents of the Orange County Council of Boy Scouts, and the Advisory Board of the Armenian Eyecare Project.
*Attendees at the meeting will receive an autographed copy of Mr. Khachigian’s book “Behind Closed Doors”.
This hard copy book, valued at $35 offers a rare, insider’s perspective on the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. This compelling narrative reveals the untold history of Reagan’s presidency, including his close partnership with Nancy Reagan, his strategic preparation for meeting with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, and private exchanges with Nixon.