Being a press secretary is like learning to type: You're hunting and pecking for a while and then you find yourself doing the touch system and don't realize it. You're speaking for the president without ever having to go to him.

Speakes was born in Cleveland Mississippi. After briefly serving as President Ford's personal press secretary in 1977 Speakes ventured into the private sector as vice president of the international public relations firm of Hill and Knowlton until 1981. In this capacity he worked as spokesman for the U.

Speakes is married to Laura Crawford with whom he has three children. Speakes (born September 13 1939) is a former acting spokesman for the White House under President Ronald Reagan having held the position from 1981 to 1987. Speakes was born in Cleveland Mississippi.