President Soekarno Wrote His Own State Address, Refusing to Leave His Room

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - In the lead-up to the state address every 16-17 August, Indonesian presidents typically prepare various elements to deliver their message to the people. History records that one Indonesian president spent an entire day solely writing his speech. That figure was Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno. This was revealed directly by his son, Guntur Soekarnoputra. In the memoir Bung Karno: Bapakku, Kawanku, Guruku (1977), Guntur recounted that every mid-August, he always witnessed his father busy preparing the state address. For a full day, Soekarno concentrated on composing his speech. He not only wrote but also discussed it with important figures, from ministers to community leaders. Various materials were gathered as references, from books, newspapers, and magazines to news from abroad. Guntur still remembers when Soekarno asked him to fetch books by great world figures. One of them was the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson. “Tok!! Bring me the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson,” Soekarno said to Guntur, as quoted from the memoir. The request meant Guntur had to go back and forth fetching the books his father needed. Meanwhile, Soekarno remained focused on writing the speech, assisted by a special team that worked almost non-stop. Such seriousness even caused Soekarno to forget to eat. Guntur recalled one conversation with his father during the speech drafting process. “Have you eaten?” asked Bung Karno. “Not yet. Has Bapak eaten yet?” Guntur asked in return. “In a bit. Don’t eat yet. Help Bapak first,” Soekarno requested. Soekarno’s busyness in composing the speech was also witnessed by his personal aide, Bambang Widjanarko. In his memoir, Bambang described how Soekarno could spend hours alone in his room pouring his ideas into writing. “That was the only time I saw BK spend hours alone in his room, fully concentrating on pouring what was in his heart and mind into writing,” said Bambang, quoted from Sewindu dekat Bung Karno (1988). According to Bambang, Soekarno indeed wrote his own speeches, although he still received help from a special team. For Soekarno, the state address was not merely a text to be read before the people. He considered the speech a form of a president’s accountability for the policies he had made. On that basis, the drafting process was carried out seriously. Soekarno also did not always write in one place. He moved from one palace to another. When he felt bored, he occasionally left the room to play, chat, drink coffee, or watch dances. After all the materials were gathered and the ideas had been poured out, the manuscript was typed by his personal secretary and then delivered in a speech before the Indonesian people. Millions of people listened to the state address. With his fiery delivery style, Soekarno was able to ignite the people’s spirit and leave an impression that is still remembered today.