Bob Hawke was the 23rd prime minister of Australia and the most electorally successful Labor politician in Australian history. He delivered a speech on 9th June 1989, five days after the tanks and 27th Army rolled into Tienanmen Square and massacred  students gathered there.

Hawke delivered this speech in the Great Hall of Parliament House in Canberra, which was largely written by speechwriter Stephen Mills who is our guest for this episode.

In the middle of the prepared remarks, Hawke also read from a diplomatic cable that contained graphic descriptions of what went on in the Square. He wept as he read from the cable, and it became one of the iconic moments of his prime ministership.

It's recently been revealed in an ABC podcast, China if You're Listening, hosted by Matt Bevan that the contents of the cable was not accurate in terms of the scale of atrocities or the number of deaths in the square.

Listen to full episode of China if You're Listening with Matt Bevan.

Listen and watch 730 Report story about the diplomatic cable.

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Please subscribe to the podcast, visit Speakola, and share any great speeches that are special to you, famous or otherwise. I just need transcript & photo /video embed. Speakola also has Twitter and Facebook feeds.

 

Bob Hawke was the 23rd prime minister of Australia and the most electorally successful Labor politician in Australian history. He delivered a speech on 9th June 1989, five days after the tanks and 27th Army rolled into Tienanmen Square and massacred&nbsp; students gathered there.
Hawke delivered <a href="https://speakola.com/political/bob-hawke-tiananmen-square-massacre-memorial-1989">this speech </a>in the Great Hall of Parliament House in Canberra, which was largely written by speechwriter Stephen Mills who is our guest for this episode.
In the middle of the prepared remarks, Hawke also read from a diplomatic cable that contained graphic descriptions of what went on in the Square. He wept as he read from the cable, and it became one of the iconic moments of his prime ministership.
It's recently been revealed in an ABC podcast, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/china-if-youre-listening/bob-hawke-mysterious-tiananmen-cable/13383528">China if You're Listening,</a> hosted by Matt Bevan that the contents of the cable was not accurate in terms of the scale of atrocities or the number of deaths in the square.
<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/china-if-youre-listening/bob-hawke-mysterious-tiananmen-cable/13383528">Listen </a>to full episode of China if You're Listening with Matt Bevan.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZLTfN3yeVw">Listen and watch</a> 730 Report story about the diplomatic cable.
Speakola now has a <a href="https://www.patreon.com/speakola">Patreon page</a> which you can join If you want to offer regular support for as little as $3 per month. If it's easier, we also <a href="https://speakola.com/donate">welcome donations</a> in any format and any size, recurring or one off.
<a href="https://speakola.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=47c3d7d7251b07730b7f177e1&amp;id=31b03304d9">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme.
Episode supported by GreenSkin&trade; and PurpleSkin&trade; avocados at <a href="https://greenskinavocados.com.au/">https://greenskinavocados.com.au/.</a>
Tony's books are available at <a href="https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/">https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/</a>
Please <a href="https://podfollow.com/1510533157">subscribe</a> to the podcast, visit <a href="https://speakola.com/">Speakola</a>, and <a href="https://speakola.com/submit">share</a> any great speeches that are special to you, famous or otherwise. I just need transcript &amp; photo /video embed. Speakola also has <a href="https://twitter.com/speakola_">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/speakola/">Facebook </a>feeds.
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Speakola is the home for great speeches on the web. 

Tony Wilson is the founder and curator of Speakola, which now hosts more than 2000 speeches, some famous – think Churchill, Obama, Gandhi - some not so well known. 

In each episode, Tony interviews someone who has written, delivered or studied a great speech to reveal the stories behind the scenes, to provide context to the historical moment, or in the case of eulogies, birthdays and other common events, to inspire people to hit new creative highs.

Tony will also play a ‘speech of the week’ to honour great words by great orators. Released fortnightly.

Speakola, for all speeches great and small.

Speakola is the home for great speeches on the web. 
Tony Wilson is the founder and curator of Speakola, which now hosts more than 2000 speeches, some famous &ndash; think Churchill, Obama, Gandhi - some not so well known.&nbsp;
In each episode, Tony interviews someone who has written, delivered or studied a great speech to reveal the stories behind the scenes, to provide context to the historical moment, or in the case of eulogies, birthdays and other common events, to inspire people to hit new creative highs.
Tony will also play a &lsquo;speech of the week&rsquo; to honour great words by great orators. Released fortnightly.
<a href="http://www.speakola.com">Speakola</a>, for all speeches great and small.

Speakola, for all speeches great and small.

Speakola

<a href="http://www.speakola.com">Speakola</a> is the home for great speeches on the web. 
Tony Wilson is the founder and curator of Speakola, which now hosts more than 2000 speeches, some famous &ndash; think Churchill, Obama, Gandhi - some not so well known.&nbsp;
In each episode, Tony interviews someone who has written, delivered or studied a great speech to reveal the stories behind the scenes, to provide context to the historical moment, or in the case of eulogies, birthdays and other common events, to inspire people to hit new creative highs.
Tony will also play a &lsquo;speech of the week&rsquo; to honour great words by great orators. Released fortnightly.
<a href="http://www.speakola.com">Speakola</a>, for all speeches great and small.

Speechwriter Stephen Mills talks about Austrlalian Prime Minister Bob Hawke's famous speech to commemorate Tiananmen Square massacre

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