Seeking: drafts of speeches etc in case of failure

June 18, 2019 3:58 PM

I'm looking for more examples of drafts of speeches or letters or press releases prepared in advance of some operation/event, in case of failure.

Eg the D-day and moon landing drafts described in this article

posted by Cozybee to Writing & Language (4 answers total)

Best answer: There was an intro segment on This American Life maybe ten years ago that talked about the sealed letters to commanders of British nuclear submarines to be opened in case of war. I remember it because the person telling the story was Ron Rosenbaum, who's a writer I like.
posted by kevinbelt at 4:50 PM on June 18, 2019

Best answer: Link^
posted by j_curiouser at 5:05 PM on June 18, 2019

Best answer: 6 Terrifying Real Speeches That Were Thankfully Never Given (Kennedy's alternate speech re: Cuban missile crisis, Nixon's non-resignation, etc.) (Cracked.com, 11/23/2011)
posted by Iris Gambol at 5:33 PM on June 18, 2019 [1 favorite]

Best answer: There was an intro segment on This American Life maybe ten years ago that talked about the sealed letters to commanders of British nuclear submarines to be opened in case of war. I remember it because the person telling the story was Ron Rosenbaum, who's a writer I like.

Letters of Last Resort
posted by EndsOfInvention at 1:32 AM on June 19, 2019