When I was in the sixth grade at The Woodward School in Brooklyn, I ran for the office of School President. The two candidates had to make campaign speeches in front of an assembly of children, teachers, parents. The little boy who was my opponent, in his nervousness, began his speech by saying not "Ladies and gentlemen, I am running for the presidency of the school," but "Ladies and gentlemen, I am the president of the school."
When I went up onto the stage, I began my speech by saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, David is not yet president of the school, because I am running, too...."
When the speeches were over, Mrs. Brigolspriano, whom I worshipped, came up to me and told me that that was a cruel, mean thing to do, and a nice person would never have done it.
I guess she was right, but I'm sure her reprimand was worse for me than what I said was for David.
That story is just to show the downside of stage presence. |
