To crush the spirit and body of youth — Stephen Mills on Bob Hawke's Tienanmen Square commemoration speech, 1989

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. Speakola now has a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer regular support for as little as $3 per month. If it's easier, we also welcome donations in any format and any size, recurring or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Episode supported by GreenSkin™ and PurpleSkin™ avocados at https://greenskinavocados.com.au/. Tony's books are available at https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/ 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.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.