第一篇:演講稿精彩的開(kāi)場(chǎng)白與演講稿經(jīng)典開(kāi)場(chǎng)白
演講稿精彩的開(kāi)場(chǎng)白范文
文章開(kāi)頭最難寫(xiě),同樣道理,作演講開(kāi)場(chǎng)白最不易把握,要想三言兩語(yǔ)抓住聽(tīng)眾的心,并非易事。如果在演講的開(kāi)始聽(tīng)眾對(duì)你的話就不感興趣,注意力一旦被分散了,那后面再精彩的言論也將黯然失色。因此只有匠心獨(dú)運(yùn)的開(kāi)場(chǎng)白,以其新穎、奇趣、敏慧之美,才能給聽(tīng)眾留下深刻印象,才能立即控制場(chǎng)上氣氛,在瞬間里集中聽(tīng)眾注意力,從而為接下來(lái)的演講內(nèi)容順利地搭梯架橋。
奇論妙語(yǔ)石破天驚聽(tīng)眾對(duì)平庸普通的論調(diào)都不屑一顧,置若罔聞;倘若發(fā)人未見(jiàn),用別人意想不到的見(jiàn)解引出話題,造成“此言一出,舉座皆驚”的藝術(shù)效果,會(huì)立即震撼聽(tīng)眾,使他們急不可耐地聽(tīng)下去,這樣就能達(dá)到吸引聽(tīng)眾的目的。
我記起了畢業(yè)歡送會(huì)上班主任給我們的致詞。他一開(kāi)口就讓我們疑竇叢生——“我原來(lái)想祝福大家一帆風(fēng)順,但仔細(xì)一想,這樣說(shuō)不恰當(dāng)。”這句話把我們弄得丈二和尚摸不著頭腦,大家屏聲靜氣地聽(tīng)下去——“說(shuō)人生一帆風(fēng)順就如同祝某人萬(wàn)壽無(wú)疆一樣,是一個(gè)美麗而又空洞的謊言。人生漫漫,必然會(huì)遇到許多艱難困苦,比如……”最后得出結(jié)論:“一帆風(fēng)不順的人生才是真實(shí)的人生,在逆風(fēng)險(xiǎn)浪中拼搏的人生才是最輝煌的人生。祝大家?jiàn)^力拼搏,在坎坷的征程中,用堅(jiān)實(shí)有力的步伐走向美好的未來(lái)!”十多年過(guò)去了,班主任的話語(yǔ)猶在耳邊,給我留下了永難磨滅的印象。“一帆風(fēng)順”是常見(jiàn)的吉祥祝語(yǔ),而老師偏偏反彈琵琶,從另一角度悟出了人生哲理。而且活躍了場(chǎng)上氣氛,溝通了演講者與聽(tīng)眾的心理,一石三鳥(niǎo),堪稱一絕。
演講稿經(jīng)典開(kāi)場(chǎng)白范文
演講稿開(kāi)場(chǎng)白方式可以有很多種,以下搜集到的5種是比較經(jīng)典的。
一、講述故事
演講稿的開(kāi)頭通過(guò)故事跌宕起伏的情節(jié),將聽(tīng)眾引入一種忘我的境界,并將自己的思想觀點(diǎn)不動(dòng)聲色地溶入到故事中,起到“隨風(fēng)潛入夜,潤(rùn)物細(xì)無(wú)聲”的作用,真正達(dá)到講故事的目的。
二、設(shè)置懸念
人都有好奇的天性。在開(kāi)場(chǎng)白中制造懸念,能激發(fā)聽(tīng)眾的強(qiáng)烈興趣和好奇心,在適當(dāng)?shù)臅r(shí)候解開(kāi)懸念,使聽(tīng)眾的好奇心得到滿足,也使演講前后照應(yīng),渾然一體。
三、巧用修辭
精彩的演講必須有精美的語(yǔ)言包裝,要想語(yǔ)言生動(dòng)活潑,就要發(fā)揮修辭的作用。在意境方面,用比喻、夸張、設(shè)問(wèn)、反問(wèn)、借代等修辭手法,調(diào)劑語(yǔ)言韻味,讓聽(tīng)眾聽(tīng)得有趣;在形式方面,用對(duì)偶、排比等整齊的句式來(lái)增強(qiáng)演講的氣勢(shì),讓聽(tīng)眾聽(tīng)得振奮。
四、引用名言典故
演講開(kāi)場(chǎng)白如果恰到好處地引用富有哲理的名人語(yǔ)錄,不失時(shí)機(jī)地拋出寓意深刻的典故,演講就會(huì)有聲勢(shì)有威力。
五、出語(yǔ)驚人
如果你想迅速吸引你的聽(tīng)眾,那么在演講開(kāi)場(chǎng)白,你可以描繪一個(gè)異乎尋常的場(chǎng)面,或透露一個(gè)觸目驚心的數(shù)據(jù),或栩栩如生地描述一個(gè)聳人聽(tīng)聞的事情,造成“此言一出,舉座皆驚”的藝術(shù)效果,這樣,聽(tīng)眾不僅會(huì)驀然凝神,而且還會(huì)側(cè)耳細(xì)聽(tīng),更多地尋求你的講話內(nèi)容,探詢你演講的原因。
第二篇:幽默精彩演講稿開(kāi)場(chǎng)白
幽默精彩演講稿開(kāi)場(chǎng)白范文
篇1
陶行知“喂雞”
有一次,陶行知先生在武漢大學(xué)演講。他走上講臺(tái),不慌不忙地從箱子里拿出一只大公雞。臺(tái)下的聽(tīng)眾全愣住了。陶先生從容不迫地又掏出一把米放在桌上,然后按住公雞的頭,強(qiáng)迫它吃米,可是大公雞只叫不吃。他又掰開(kāi)雞的嘴,把米硬往雞嘴里塞。大公雞拼命掙扎,還是不肯吃。最后陶先生輕輕地松開(kāi)手,把雞放在桌子上,自己向后退了幾步,大公雞自己就吃起米來(lái)了。
這時(shí)陶先生則開(kāi)始演講:“我認(rèn)為,教育就跟喂雞一樣。先生強(qiáng)迫學(xué)生去學(xué)習(xí),把知識(shí)硬灌給他,他是不情愿學(xué)的。即使學(xué)也食而不化,過(guò)不了多久,他還是會(huì)把知識(shí)還給先生的。但是如果讓他自由地學(xué)習(xí),充分發(fā)揮他的主觀能動(dòng)性,那效果一定會(huì)好得多!”臺(tái)下一時(shí)間歡聲雷動(dòng),為陶先生形象的演講開(kāi)場(chǎng)白叫好。
著名素質(zhì)教育家郭天祥
各位親愛(ài)的伙伴,大家好!生命的每一次重逢絕非偶然,我做夢(mèng)都沒(méi)有想到今天能與大家在此相逢,這是我們幾千年來(lái)有約而今天的相識(shí)、相逢。讓我們?yōu)檫@種相逢、這種緣分給一個(gè)熱烈的掌聲。人與人之間,隨緣而聚,緣盡而散。聚時(shí)盡其在我,散時(shí)盡其在人。既是相識(shí),既是相逢,有恩便無(wú)怨,有愛(ài)便無(wú)恨。得與失,獲得與付出,求心之所安。存有隨緣之心,完美故可喜,缺陷也是美,縱使一剎那也是永恒!上下幾千年,人口近百億,你我能相識(shí),相聚在一起,你說(shuō)珍奇不珍奇。所以想你應(yīng)該,愛(ài)你應(yīng)該,祝福你更應(yīng)該!(自覺(jué)熱烈的長(zhǎng)時(shí)間鼓海量資料分享
掌)。其實(shí)兩三天的課程沒(méi)有狀元老師只有狀元學(xué)生,兩三天對(duì)于人的一生是短暫的,但是,這兩三天是我的生命,也是在座的各位的生命,我會(huì)用我的生命來(lái)與各位分享,與各位見(jiàn)證,與各位共同達(dá)成。同時(shí),也希望各位用生命投入這兩三天。
篇2
自嘲就是“自我開(kāi)炮”,用在開(kāi)場(chǎng)白里,目的是用詼諧的語(yǔ)言巧妙地自我介紹,這樣會(huì)使聽(tīng)眾倍感親切,無(wú)形中縮短了與聽(tīng)眾間的距離。在第四次作代會(huì)上,蕭軍應(yīng)邀上臺(tái),第一句話就是:“我叫蕭軍,是一個(gè)出土文物。”
這句話包含了多少?gòu)?fù)雜感情:有辛酸,有無(wú)奈,有自豪,有幸福。詼諧幽默演講開(kāi)場(chǎng)白三篇詼諧幽默演講開(kāi)場(chǎng)白三篇。而以自嘲之語(yǔ)表達(dá),形式異常簡(jiǎn)潔,內(nèi)蘊(yùn)尤其豐富!胡適在一次演講時(shí)這樣開(kāi)頭:“我今天不是來(lái)向諸君作報(bào)告的,我是來(lái)‘胡說(shuō)’的,因?yàn)槲倚蘸!痹捯魟偮洌?tīng)眾大笑。這個(gè)開(kāi)場(chǎng)白既巧妙地介紹了自己,又體現(xiàn)了演講者謙遜的修養(yǎng),而且活躍了場(chǎng)上氣氛,溝通了演講者與聽(tīng)眾的心理,一石三鳥(niǎo),堪稱一絕。
1990年中央電視臺(tái)邀請(qǐng)臺(tái)灣影視藝術(shù)家凌峰先生參加春節(jié)聯(lián)歡晚會(huì)。許多觀眾對(duì)他還很陌生,可是他說(shuō)完那妙不可言的開(kāi)場(chǎng)白后,一下子被觀眾認(rèn)同并受到了熱烈歡迎。
他說(shuō):“在下凌峰,我和文章不同,雖然我們都獲得過(guò)‘金鐘獎(jiǎng)’和最佳男歌星稱號(hào),但我以長(zhǎng)得難看而出名??一般來(lái)說(shuō),女觀眾對(duì)我的印象不太好,她們認(rèn)為我是人比黃花瘦,臉比煤炭黑。”這一番話嬉而不謔,妙趣橫生,觀眾捧腹大笑。這段開(kāi)場(chǎng)白給人們留下了非常坦誠(chéng)、風(fēng)趣幽默的良好印象。不久,在“金話筒之夜”文藝晚會(huì)上,只見(jiàn)他滿臉含笑,對(duì)觀眾說(shuō):“很高興又見(jiàn)到了海量資料分享
你們,很不幸又見(jiàn)到了我。”觀眾報(bào)以熱烈的掌聲。至此,凌峰的名字就傳遍了祖國(guó)大地。
篇3
詼諧幽默的開(kāi)場(chǎng),能讓大家會(huì)心一笑,放松整個(gè)現(xiàn)場(chǎng)的氛圍。諧語(yǔ)幽默開(kāi)場(chǎng),可根據(jù)不同的現(xiàn)場(chǎng)、不同的聽(tīng)眾來(lái)選擇相應(yīng)的方式。
不好意思,各位,你們來(lái)錯(cuò)地方了,今天的演講取消了;我想我們并不需要什么演講,我們需要的是真心的溝通,那么,我們今天真心的溝通就開(kāi)始了。(一上場(chǎng)就跟聽(tīng)眾講今天的演講取消了,所有人都會(huì)非常驚訝,然后想到底怎么回事?此時(shí)聽(tīng)眾的注意力全都被吸引到了演講者的身上,然后演講者開(kāi)始說(shuō):“我們今天真心的溝通就開(kāi)始了。”接下去就開(kāi)始演講,這種方式最大的好處就是能迅速抓住聽(tīng)眾的注意力。)
“朋友們,有些人真是經(jīng)營(yíng)有道,投機(jī)有方啊!有一首《訣竅銘》這一告訴我們:位不在高,頭尖則靈;官不在大,手長(zhǎng)則行;斯是訣竅,唯吾鉆營(yíng);對(duì)上捧粗腿,對(duì)下用私人;吹牛走鴻運(yùn),拍馬不碰針,可以開(kāi)后門(mén),講交情。無(wú)正義之細(xì)胞,無(wú)原則之準(zhǔn)繩,煙酒來(lái)開(kāi)道,金錢(qián)能通神。孔子曰:‘何鄙之有’?”
我姓胡,所以我接下來(lái)說(shuō)的是胡言,各位不可當(dāng)真(非正式場(chǎng)合發(fā)言前聲明)我姓古,今天是晚上,天上有那么一點(diǎn)月光,與我和在一起就成了胡了,所以我說(shuō)的可能是胡言亂語(yǔ),各位不可計(jì)較呀!
ladies and gentlemen,有請(qǐng)我閃亮登臺(tái),很喜歡我的請(qǐng)鼓掌,太喜歡我的不要鼓掌,謝謝合作?
海量資料分享
這段開(kāi)場(chǎng)白給人們留下了非常坦誠(chéng)、風(fēng)趣幽默的良好印象。不久,在“金話筒之夜”文藝晚會(huì)上,只見(jiàn)他滿臉含笑,對(duì)觀眾說(shuō):“很高興又見(jiàn)到了你們,很不幸又見(jiàn)到了我?
海量資料分享
第三篇:競(jìng)聘演講稿精彩開(kāi)場(chǎng)白整理
競(jìng)聘演講稿精彩開(kāi)頭一:
各位領(lǐng)導(dǎo)、各位同事:
大家好!
在這里我以平常人的心態(tài),參與支行綜合辦公室經(jīng)理崗位的競(jìng)聘。首先應(yīng)感謝支行領(lǐng)導(dǎo)為我們創(chuàng)造了這次公平競(jìng)爭(zhēng)的機(jī)會(huì)!此次競(jìng)聘,本人并非只是為了當(dāng)官,更多的是為了響應(yīng)人事制度改革的召喚,在有可能的情況下實(shí)現(xiàn)自己的人生價(jià)值。
競(jìng)聘演講稿精彩開(kāi)頭二:
今天,我走上演講臺(tái)的惟一目的就是競(jìng)選“班級(jí)元首”--班長(zhǎng)。我堅(jiān)信,憑著我新銳不俗的“官念”,憑著我新銳不俗的“官念”,憑著我的勇氣和才干,憑著我與大家同舟共濟(jì)的深厚友情,這次競(jìng)選演講給我?guī)?lái)的必定是下次的就職演說(shuō)。
競(jìng)聘演講稿精彩開(kāi)頭三:
尊敬的各位領(lǐng)導(dǎo),各位評(píng)委:
大家好!
(演講提示:演講中身體要略向前傾,表現(xiàn)出與觀眾交流與親近的姿態(tài))
今天,我能夠站在這里,參加競(jìng)聘**銀行副職崗位,深感榮幸和激動(dòng)。首先感謝領(lǐng)導(dǎo)給我一個(gè)展示自己的機(jī)會(huì),感謝同事們對(duì)我的支持和幫助!作為一名對(duì)銀行事業(yè)充滿熱愛(ài)、無(wú)比忠誠(chéng)的人,我應(yīng)該站出來(lái),接受組織的挑選。
競(jìng)聘演講稿精彩開(kāi)頭四:
尊敬的*,各位同事:
很高興,也很榮幸,能向大家作一個(gè)工作匯報(bào)。
首先,我從內(nèi)心感謝組織的培養(yǎng)和領(lǐng)導(dǎo)的信任,多年來(lái)組織和領(lǐng)導(dǎo)對(duì)我的工作給予了相當(dāng)?shù)目隙āF浯危绻夷芎痛蠹乙黄鸸彩拢腋械椒浅s幸,也非常愿意。俗話說(shuō),十年修得同船渡,能和大家一起共事,這修行得要幾十年啊,說(shuō)明我們都是有緣人,緣分不淺啊,所以,我一定珍惜和大家一起共事的工作機(jī)會(huì)。
競(jìng)聘演講稿精彩開(kāi)頭五:
各位領(lǐng)導(dǎo)、同志們:大家好!
此時(shí)此刻,我能以一個(gè)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)者的身份走上演講臺(tái),向各位展示自己,心里既激動(dòng)又緊張。激動(dòng)是因?yàn)槲倚疫\(yùn)地趕上了公平競(jìng)爭(zhēng)的大好時(shí)機(jī),緊張是因?yàn)槲液ε掠胸?fù)領(lǐng)導(dǎo)和同志們的厚望。但無(wú)論如何,我要對(duì)局黨委這一英明而富有魄力的決策表示衷心地感謝!并借此向所有關(guān)心支持我的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)和同志們表示深深的謝意!至于說(shuō)到對(duì)競(jìng)聘的認(rèn)識(shí),我想局屬xx單位競(jìng)聘的成功實(shí)踐已經(jīng)作出了回答,全局上下呈現(xiàn)出的百川歸海,百舸爭(zhēng)流的可喜局面就是最有力的證明。對(duì)此,我一舉雙手贊成,二要積極參與。我要競(jìng)聘的職位是業(yè)務(wù)科室副職。
第四篇:演講稿精彩的開(kāi)場(chǎng)白
文章開(kāi)頭最難寫(xiě),同樣道理,作演講開(kāi)場(chǎng)白最不易把握,要想三言兩語(yǔ)抓住聽(tīng)眾的心,并非易事。如果在演講的開(kāi)始聽(tīng)眾對(duì)你的話就不感興趣,注意力一旦被分散了,那后面再精彩的言論也將黯然失色。因此只有匠心獨(dú)運(yùn)的開(kāi)場(chǎng)白,以其新穎、奇趣、敏慧之美,才能給聽(tīng)眾留下深刻印象,才能立即控制場(chǎng)上氣氛,在瞬間里集中聽(tīng)眾注意力,從而為接下來(lái)的演講內(nèi)容順利地搭梯架橋。
奇論妙語(yǔ)石破天驚聽(tīng)眾對(duì)平庸普通的論調(diào)都不屑一顧,置若罔聞;倘若發(fā)人未見(jiàn),用別人意想不到的見(jiàn)解引出話題,造成此言一出,舉座皆驚的藝術(shù)效果,會(huì)立即震撼聽(tīng)眾,使他們急不可耐地聽(tīng)下去,這樣就能達(dá)到吸引聽(tīng)眾的目的。
我記起了畢業(yè)歡送會(huì)上班主任給我們的致詞。他一開(kāi)口就讓我們疑竇叢生我原來(lái)想祝福大家一帆風(fēng)順,但仔細(xì)一想,這樣說(shuō)不恰當(dāng)。這句話把我們弄得丈二和尚摸不著頭腦,大家屏聲靜氣地聽(tīng)下去說(shuō)人生一帆風(fēng)順就如同祝某人萬(wàn)壽無(wú)疆一樣,是一個(gè)美麗而又空洞的謊言。人生漫漫,必然會(huì)遇到許多艱難困苦,比如&&最后得出結(jié)論:一帆風(fēng)不順的人生才是真實(shí)的人生,在逆風(fēng)險(xiǎn)浪中拼搏的人生才是最輝煌的人生。祝大家?jiàn)^力拼搏,在坎坷的征程中,用堅(jiān)實(shí)有力的步伐走向美好的未來(lái)!十多年過(guò)去了,班主任的話語(yǔ)猶在耳邊,給我留下了永難磨滅的印象。一帆風(fēng)順是常見(jiàn)的吉祥祝語(yǔ),而老師偏偏反彈琵琶,從另一角度悟出了人生哲理。第一句話無(wú)異于平地驚雷,又宛若異峰突起,怎能不震撼人心? 需要注意的是,運(yùn)用這種方式應(yīng)掌握分寸,弄不好會(huì)變?yōu)閲W眾取寵,故作聳人之語(yǔ)。應(yīng)結(jié)合聽(tīng)眾心理、理解層次出奇制勝。再有,不能為了追求怪異而大發(fā)謬論、怪論,也不能生硬牽扯,胡亂升華。否則,極易引起聽(tīng)眾的反感和厭倦。須知,無(wú)論多么新鮮的認(rèn)識(shí)始終是建立在正確的主旨之上的。
自嘲開(kāi)路幽默搭橋自嘲就是自我開(kāi)炮,用在開(kāi)場(chǎng)白里,目的是用詼諧的語(yǔ)言巧妙地自我介紹,這樣會(huì)使聽(tīng)眾倍感親切,無(wú)形中縮短了與聽(tīng)眾間的距離。在第四次作代會(huì)上,蕭軍應(yīng)邀上臺(tái),第一句話就是:我叫蕭軍,是一個(gè)出土文物。這句話包含了多少?gòu)?fù)雜感情:有辛酸,有無(wú)奈,有自豪,有幸福。而以自嘲之語(yǔ)表達(dá),形式異常簡(jiǎn)潔,內(nèi)蘊(yùn)尤其豐富!胡適在一次演講時(shí)這樣開(kāi)頭:我今天不是來(lái)向諸君作報(bào)告的,我是來(lái)‘胡說(shuō)’的,因?yàn)槲倚蘸T捯魟偮洌?tīng)眾大笑。這個(gè)開(kāi)場(chǎng)白既巧妙地介紹了自己,又體現(xiàn)了演講者謙遜的修養(yǎng),而且活躍了場(chǎng)上氣氛,溝通了演講者與聽(tīng)眾的心理,一石三鳥(niǎo),堪稱一絕。
第五篇:英文精彩演講稿開(kāi)場(chǎng)白集錦
Opening Statement
mr.chairman, senator thurmond, members of the committee, my name is anita f.hill, and i am a professor of law at the university of oklahoma.i was born on a farm in okmulgee county, oklahoma, in 1956.i am the youngest of 13 children.i had my early education in okmulgee county.my father, albert hill, is a farmer in that area.my mother's name is irma hill.she is also a farmer and a housewife.my childhood was one of a lot of hard work and not much money, but it was one of solid family affection, as represented by my parents.i was reared in a religious atmosphere in the baptist faith, and i have been a member of the antioch baptist church in tulsa, oklahoma, since 1983.it is a very warm part of my life at the present time.for my undergraduate work, i went to oklahoma state university and graduated from there in 1977.i am attaching to this statement a copy of my resume for further details of my education.i graduated from the university with academic honors and proceeded to the yale law school, where i received my jd degree in 1980.upon graduation from law school, i became a practicing lawyer with the washington, dc, firm of ward, hardraker, and ross.in 1981, i was introduced to now judge thomas by a mutual friend.judge thomas told me that he was anticipating a political appointment, and he asked if i would be interested in working with him.he was, in fact, appointed as assistant secretary of education for civil rights.after he had taken that post, he asked if i would become his assistant, and i accepted that position.in my early period there, i had two major projects.the first was an article i wrote for judge thomas' signature on the education of minority students.the second was the organization of a seminar on high-risk students which was abandoned because judge thomas transferred to the eeoc where he became the chairman of that office.during this period at the department of education, my working relationship with judge thomas was positive.i had a good deal of responsibility and independence.i thought he respected my work and that he trusted my judgment.after approximately three months of working there, he asked me to go out socially with him.what happened next and telling the world about it are the two most difficult things--experiences of my life.it is only after a great deal of agonizing consideration and sleepless number--a great number of sleepless nights that i am able to talk of these unpleasant matters to anyone but my close friends.i declined the invitation to go out socially with him and explained to him that i thought it would jeopardize what at the time i considered to be a very good working relationship.i had a normal social life with other men outside of the office.i believed then, as now, that having a social relationship with a person who was supervising my work would be ill-advised.i was very uncomfortable with the idea and told him so.i thought that by saying no and explaining my reasons my employer would abandon his social suggestions.however, to my regret, in the following few weeks, he continued to ask me out on several occasions.he pressed me to justify my reasons for saying no to him.these incidents took place in his office or mine.they were in the form of private conversations which would not have been overheard by anyone else.my working relationship became even more strained when judge thomas began to use work situations to discuss sex.on these occasions, he would call me into his office for reports on education issues and projects, or he might suggest that, because of the time pressures of his schedule, we go to lunch to a government cafeteria.after a brief discussion of work, he would turn the conversation to a discussion of sexual matters.his conversations were very vivid.he spoke about acts that he had seen in pornographic films involving such matters as women having sex with animals and films showing group sex or rape scenes.he talked about pornographic materials depicting individuals with large penises or large breasts involved in various sex acts.on several occasions, thomas told me graphically of his own sexual prowess.because i was extremely uncomfortable talking about sex with him at all and particularly in such a graphic way, i told him that i did not want to talk about these subjects.i would also try to change the subject to education matters or to nonsexual personal matters such as his background or his beliefs.my efforts to change the subject were rarely successful.throughout the period of these conversations, he also from time to time asked me for social engagements.my reaction to these conversations was to avoid them by eliminating opportunities for us to engage in extended conversations.this was difficult because at the time i was his only assistant at the office of education--or office for civil rights.during the latter part of my time at the department of education, the social pressures and any conversation of his offensive behavior ended.i began both to believe and hope that our working relationship could be a proper, cordial, and professional one.when judge thomas was made chair of the eeoc, i needed to face the question of whether to go with him.i was asked to do so, and i did.the work itself was interesting, and at that time it appeared that the sexual overtures which had so troubled me had ended.i also faced the realistic fact that i had no alternative job.while i might have gone back to private practice, perhaps in my old firm or at another, i was dedicated to civil rights work, and my first choice was to be in that field.moreover, the department of education itself was a dubious venture.president reagan was seeking to abolish the entire department.for my first months at the eeoc, where i continued to be an assistant to judge thomas, there were no sexual conversations or overtures.however, during the fall and winter of 1982, these began again.the comments were random and ranged from pressing me about why i didn't go out with him to remarks about my personal appearance.i remember his saying that some day i would have to tell him the real reason that i wouldn't go out with him.he began to show displeasure in his tone and voice and his demeanor and his continued pressure for an explanation.he commented on what i was wearing in terms of whether it made me more or less sexually attractive.the incidents occurred in his inner office at the eeoc.one of the oddest episodes i remember was an occasion in which thomas was drinking a coke in his office.he got up from the table at which we were working, went over to his desk to get the coke, looked at the can and asked, “who has pubic hair on my coke?” on other occasions, he referred to the size of his own penis as being larger than normal, and he also spoke on some occasions of the pleasures he had given to women with oral sex.at this point, late 1982, i began to feel severe stress on the job.i began to be concerned that clarence thomas might take out his anger with me by degrading me or not giving me important assignments.i also thought that he might find an excuse for dismissing me.in january of 1983, i began looking for another job.i was handicapped because i feared that, if he found out, he might make it difficult for me to find other employment and i might be dismissed from the job i had.another factor that made my search more difficult was that there was a period--this was during a period of a hiring freeze in the government.in february of 1983, i was hospitalized for five days on an emergency basis for acute stomach pain which i attributed to stress on the job.once out of the hospital, i became more committed to find other employment and sought further to minimize my contact with thomas.this became easier when allison duncan(sp)became office director, because most of my work was then funneled through her and i had contact with clarence thomas mostly in staff meetings.in the spring of 1983, an opportunity to teach at oral roberts university opened up.i participated in a seminar--taught an afternoon session and seminar at oral roberts university.the dean of the university saw me teaching and inquired as to whether i would be interested in furthering--pursuing a career in teaching, beginning at oral roberts university.i agreed to take the job in large part because of my desire to escape the pressures i felt at the eeoc due to judge thomas.when i informed him that i was leaving in july, i recall that his response was that now i would no longer have an excuse for not going out with him.i told him that i still preferred not to do so.at some time after that meeting, he asked if he could take me to dinner at the end of the term.when i declined, he assured me that the dinner was a professional courtesy only and not a social invitation.i reluctantly agreed to accept that invitation, but only if it was at the every end of a working day.on, as i recall, the last day of my employment at the eeoc in the summer of 1983, i did have dinner with clarence thomas.we went directly from work to a restaurant near the office.we talked about the work i had done, both at education and at the eeoc.he told me that he was pleased with all of it except for an article and speech that i had done for him while we were at the office for civil rights.finally, he made a comment that i will vividly remember.he said that if i ever told anyone of his behavior that it would ruin his career.this was not an apology, nor was it an explanation.that was his last remark about the possibility of our going out or reference to his behavior.in july of 1983, i left washington, dc area and have had minimal contact
with judge clarence thomas since.i am of course aware from the press that some questions have been raised about conversations i had with judge clarence thomas after i left the eeoc.from 1983 until today, i have seen judge thomas only twice.on one occasion, i needed to get a reference from him, and on another he made a public appearance in tulsa.on one occasion he called me at home and we had an inconsequential conversation.on one occasion he called me without reaching me, and i returned the call without reaching him, and nothing came of it.i have on at least three occasions, been asked to act as a conduit to him for others.i knew his secretary, diane holt.we had worked together at both eeoc and education.there were occasions on which i spoke to her, and on some of these occasions undoubtedly i passed on some casual comment to then chairman thomas.there were a series of calls in the first three months of 1985, occasioned by a group in tulsa, which wished to have a civil rights conference.they wanted judge thomas to be the speaker and enlisted my assistance for this purpose.i did call in january and february to no effect, and finally suggested to the person directly involved, susan cahal(ph)that she put the matter into her own hands and call directly.she did so in march of 1985.in connection with that march invitation, ms.cahal(ph)wanted conference materials for the seminar and some research was needed.i was asked to try to get the information and did attempted to do so.there was another call about another possible conference in july of 1985.in august of 1987, i was in washington, dc and i did call diane holt.in the course of this conversation, she asked me how long i was going to be in town and i told her.it is recorded in the message as august 15.it was, in fact, august 20th.she told me about judge thomas's marriage and i did say congratulate him.it is only after a great deal of agonizing consideration that i am able to talk of these unpleasant matters to anyone except my closest friends.as i've said before these last few days have been very trying and very hard for me and it hasn't just been the last few days this week.it has actually been over a month now that i have been under the strain of this issue.telling the world is the most difficult experience of my life, but it is very close to having to live through the experience that occasion this meeting.i may have used poor judgment early on in my relationship with this issue.i was aware, however, that telling at any point in my career could adversely affect my future career.and i did not want early on to burn all the bridges to the eeoc.as i said, i may have used poor judgment.perhaps i should have taken angry or even militant steps, both when i was in the agency, or after i left it.but i must confess to the world that the course that i took seemed the better as well as the easier approach.i declined any comment to newspapers, but later when senate staff asked me about these matters i felt i had a duty to report.i have no personal vendetta against clarence thomas.i seek only to provide the committee with information which it may regard as relevant.it would have been more comfortable to remain silent.i took no initiative to inform anyone.but when i was asked by a representative of this committee to report my experience, i felt that i had to tell the truth.i could not keep silent.