Aram Bakshian

Aram Bakshian Jr. (born 1944 ) is a native of Washington, DC. His heritage is Armenian. He has been a lifelong “wordsmith” plying his trade initially as an aide to Congressman William “Bill” Brock (1966-70), then as a special assistant and speechwriter for Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Senator Bob Dole (1971). His work at the RNC caught the eye of many within the White House. He joined the speechwriting staff of President Richard Nixon and, later, of President Ford (1972-75). He then became a senior consultant to Treasury Secretary William E. Simon (1976-77). Following his government service Aram went on the lecture circuit as well as becoming a senior fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard before being brought back for White House service.

President Ronald Reagan brought Aram on during his first term initially in the Office of Public Liaison as a Special Assistant to the President (Arts, Humanities, Education/Academia, and International Affairs), (1981) before moving over to become the Director of the White House Office of Speechwriting (1981-83). In 1987, President Reagan nominated him to a term on the National Council on the Humanities (1987-92). Following his years in public service Mr. Bakshian began his tenure as the Editor-in-Chief of the periodic journal the American Speaker (1992 until his retirement in 2009). Since 2014 he as been a contributing editor to The National Interest magazine.

Mr. Bakshian continues to lend his vast knowledge of history and love of politics by continuing to lecture and write for a variety of periodicals. Additionally, he has written or edited several books on historical and political subjects and is a sought after guest for numerous national television and radio shows. Mr. Bakshian is a member of the National Press Club and Cosmos Club in Washington, DC.