Confidence (and The Speech)

by Susan Lambert Hatem

Confidence (and The Speech) is a not-exactly-true perspective of a very true story. Yeah, it's that President Carter play where Carter is played by a woman and it seems like it's about a moment in history, but it's really about everything that is happening now.

On July 4, 1979, President Carter canceled an important energy policy speech he was scheduled to give the next day and disappeared to Camp David. Ten...

Confidence (and The Speech) is a not-exactly-true perspective of a very true story. Yeah, it's that President Carter play where Carter is played by a woman and it seems like it's about a moment in history, but it's really about everything that is happening now.

On July 4, 1979, President Carter canceled an important energy policy speech he was scheduled to give the next day and disappeared to Camp David. Ten days later, he emerged from his impromptu domestic summit and gave a new speech, the Crisis of Confidence speech, which became known as the “malaise” speech. The speech garnered overwhelmingly positive responses at first and many now view the speech as unprecedented and insightful. Others think it may have ultimately cost him the White House.

Forty years later, college professor Cynthia Cooper is approached by a stranger, a young man, and asked to recall her time with the Carter Administration during the days before the now-infamous Crisis of Confidence speech. If she is going to tell her story of that time - the story told from her perspective - she is going to play the President. And the young man who wants to know her story? Well, he is going to play her. This unique cross-gender play explores the confidence of a president, a nation in chaos and women in politics.

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Confidence (and The Speech)

Recommended by

  • Rachel Bublitz: Confidence (and The Speech)

    For me a good history play does two things, it focuses on action instead of only teaching the audience, and the event(s) depicted say something about the present time. Susan Lambert Hatem does both in "Confidence (and the Speech)" which never becomes merely a history lesson. It also offers a bit of hope in a time when hope is hard to come by. I think this play would do particularly well in college productions.

    For me a good history play does two things, it focuses on action instead of only teaching the audience, and the event(s) depicted say something about the present time. Susan Lambert Hatem does both in "Confidence (and the Speech)" which never becomes merely a history lesson. It also offers a bit of hope in a time when hope is hard to come by. I think this play would do particularly well in college productions.

Character Information

3 women, 6 men
  • PROFESSOR CYNTHIA COOPER
    Professor of History, Baynard University. Accomplished professor and historian. A little beaten down. Sharp wit. Insightful. Also plays PRESIDENT CARTER, the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. Charismatic and intelligent. Southern. A full partner to his wife.
    Character Age
    60
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • JONATHAN ROLLINS
    Recent UT graduate. An ambitious young man, with a sincere streak and a curious nature. Also plays YOUNG CYNTHIA COOPER, a passionate, but shy White House intern.
    Character Age
    21
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    misipace
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • ROSALYNN CARTER
    First Lady from Plains. The President’s closest advisor and champion of women’s rights, human rights and mental health awareness. A full partner to her husband.
    Character Age
    52
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • PAT CADDELL
    Carter’s pollster. Young and super ambitious. Likes to be right. Disheveled and sloppy. Sets his watch 15 minutes ahead and is still late. Also plays TODD, a charming student.
    Character Age
    29
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • JODY POWELL
    White House Press Secretary, Part of Carter’s “Georgia Mafia.” Charming. Cool and not cool. Mooches cigarettes. Also plays GOVERNOR (off-stage voice).
    Character Age
    36
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • HAMILTON JORDAN
    Key advisor to the President and political strategist, GA Mafia. Funny and clever. Committed to Jimmy Carter and to doing a good job.
    Character Age
    34
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • HENDRICK HERTZBERG
    Speech writer. A New Yorker.
    Character Age
    35
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • VICE-PRESIDENT WALTER MONDALE
    A good guy. True confidant to the President. Also is REPORTER, off-stage voice.
    Character Age
    51
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • SARAH WEDDINGTON
    Assistant to the President. Lawyer who argued Roe V Wade. Efficient. Confident. Good sense of humor. Also plays MELISSA, an eager student.
    Character Age
    34
    Character Gender Identity
    Female

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Boston Court, Year 2019
  • Type Reading, Organization Charlotte's Off-Broadway, Year 2018
  • Type Workshop, Organization Charlotte's Off-Broadway, Year 2018
  • Type Reading, Organization Boston Court, Year 2017
  • Type Reading, Organization Son of Semele Theatre, Year 2017

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Lion Theatre at Theatre Row, Year 2020
  • Type Professional, Organization Charlotte's Off-Broadway, Year 2018

Awards

  • Ready to Publish
    SETC
    Finalist
    2021
  • Second Rounder for Austin Film Festival Playwriting Competition
    Austin Film Festival
    2017