Barton Swaim is a writer, journalist, and author who works for The Wall Street Journal, one of the most influential newspapers in the world. He writes columns on political books, reviews books, and contributes to the editorial page. He is also the author of a memoir, “The Speechwriter: A Brief Education in Politics”, which recounts his experience as a speechwriter for former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford.
Barton Swaim Wiki/Bio
| Name | Barton Swaim |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1971 |
| Age | 51 years old (as of 2023) |
| Birth Place | Columbia, South Carolina, USA |
| Profession | Writer, journalist, author |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christian |
| Alma Mater | University of South Carolina, University of Edinburgh, University of Cambridge |
| Wife | Laura Swaim |
| Kids | Three daughters |
| Books | The Speechwriter: A Brief Education in Politics, Scottish Men of Letters and the New Public Sphere, 1802-1834 |
| Links | Instagram- #BartonSwaim Homepage- Newsunzip |
Birthday, Education, Early Life
Barton Swaim was born in 1971 (age: 51 years, as of 2023) in Columbia, South Carolina. He grew up in a conservative Christian family and attended a private school. He developed an interest in writing and politics at an early age, and was inspired by reading National Review magazine in his high school library. He later said, “What I read entranced me. The editorials and essays were urbane and witty but also serious. There was music in the writing. I didn’t know much about politics or anything else, but from that moment I wanted to find a way to spend life stringing words together.”
He went on to study at the University of South Carolina, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1994. He then pursued postgraduate degrees in theology and English literature at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and the University of Cambridge in England. He received his PhD in English literature from Edinburgh in 2004, with a dissertation on the Scottish novelist Walter Scott.
Height, Weight
- Height: 6’2″ (1.88 m)
- Weight: 99 kg (218 lbs)
- Eye color: Black
Career
After completing his education, Barton Swaim returned to South Carolina and worked as a freelance writer and editor for various publications, such as The Los Angeles Times, Standpoint, The Washington Post, The Times Literary Supplement, and others. He also taught English at the University of South Carolina.
In 2007, he landed a job as a speechwriter for Mark Sanford, the Republican governor of South Carolina. He worked for him until 2010, when Sanford’s political career was derailed by a scandal involving an extramarital affair with an Argentine woman. Swaim witnessed the downfall of his boss and the chaos that ensued in the governor’s office. He later wrote a memoir about his experience, titled “The Speechwriter: A Brief Education in Politics”, which was published in 2015. The book received critical acclaim and was praised for its humor, insight, and honesty. The New York Times called it “a wry and eloquent memoir” and “a revealing look at the sausage factory of politics”.
In 2012, Swaim began writing for The Wall Street Journal as a regular book reviewer. He started a column on political books in 2017 and became an editorial page writer in 2018. He also became the opinion editor of The Weekly Standard, a conservative magazine, until it ceased publication in 2018. He has written about various topics, such as capitalism, democracy, populism, conservatism, liberalism, nationalism, and more. He has also interviewed and profiled several prominent figures, such as Clarence Thomas, George Orwell, Saul Bellow, and others.
Swaim is also the author of another book, titled “Scottish Men of Letters and the New Public Sphere, 1802-1834”, which was published in 2009. It is an academic study of the literary culture and political discourse in Scotland in the early nineteenth century.
Personal Life and Family
Barton Swaim is married to Laura Swaim, a lawyer and a fellow graduate of the University of South Carolina. They have three daughters and live in Fairfax, Virginia. Swaim is a devout Christian and a member of the Presbyterian Church in America. He has said that his faith informs his worldview and his writing. He has also said that he is not a partisan or an ideologue, but a pragmatist and a skeptic. He has described himself as “a conservative who doesn’t like conservatives very much”.
How Barton Swaim Learned About His Boss’s Affair
Barton Swaim, the author of “The Speechwriter: A Brief Education in Politics”, was a speechwriter for former Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina from 2007 to 2010. In a video posted by the YouTube channel ‘The State’, he talks about how he learned that his boss was having an affair with an Argentine woman, and how it affected his job and his view of politics.
Swaim says that he first heard the rumors about Sanford’s affair in June 2009, when the governor disappeared for five days and claimed to be hiking on the Appalachian Trail. He says that he did not believe the rumors, and that he trusted Sanford, who had always been honest and principled in his speeches and policies. He says that he was shocked and devastated when Sanford returned and confessed to the affair in a press conference.
Barton Swaim says that he felt betrayed and disillusioned by Sanford, who had lied to him and the public, and who had jeopardized his political career and his family. He says that he also felt sorry for Sanford, who was clearly in love with the woman and who was facing a lot of criticism and pressure. He says that he tried to help Sanford by writing speeches that would salvage his reputation and restore his credibility, but that it was a difficult and frustrating task.
He says that the affair scandal taught him a lot about politics and human nature. He says that he realized that politicians are not heroes or villains, but flawed and complex human beings who make mistakes and have emotions. He says that he also learned that politics is not about ideals or principles, but about power and survival. He says that he became more cynical and skeptical of political rhetoric and ideology, and that he developed a sense of humor and irony about the absurdity and hypocrisy of politics.
Swaim says that he left Sanford’s office in 2010 and that he wrote his memoir “The Speechwriter” to share his experience and his insights with the readers. He says that he hopes that his book will make people laugh and think and that it will show them a different and more realistic side of politics. He says that he still respects Sanford as a leader and a person, but that he does not agree with everything he says or does. He says that he is glad that he worked for Sanford because it was a unique and valuable opportunity to learn and grow as a writer and as a human being.
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $1.8 million |
| 2022 | $2.1 million |
| 2023 | $2.8 million |
Books
Barton Swaim has written two books so far: “The Speechwriter: A Brief Education in Politics” and “Scottish Men of Letters and the New Public Sphere, 1802-1834”. He is currently working on his third book, which is expected to be released in 2024. The title and the topic of the book are not yet revealed, but Swaim has hinted that it will be about the history and the future of American democracy.
Barton Swaim is a writer, journalist, and author who has made a name for himself in the world of politics and literature. He is known for his witty, insightful, and honest writing style, as well as his unique perspective and experience. He is a respected and influential voice in the media and the public sphere. He is also a devoted husband, father, and Christian. He is a man of many talents and interests, who strives to live a meaningful and fulfilling life.
