He bought the heady outside world into our house —James Button's eulogy for his father John Button, State Memorial Service, Melbourne, April 2008

Speakola

Author James Button's 2008 eulogy for his politician father John Button was one of the first speeches ever added to Speakola. It's a beautiful speech, full of stories about one of Australia's most significant Labor politicians. It's also a eulogy that has an honesty to it, it talks about John Button's moodiness, his taciturn nature, his absences. But it also demonstrates his intelligence, wit and charisma. There's a sadness in Senator Button's past that James didn't bring up in the eulogy, which he now regrets, as he discusses in the interview. it's a brilliant speech and episode.

James Button's books include Speechless A Year in My Father's Business and Comeback: the Fall and Rise of Geelong.

Tony's footy books include 1989 The Great Grand Final.

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