According to an anecdote published in 1918 Woodrow Wilson was
asked about the amount of time he spent preparing speeches, and his
response was illuminating:
"That depends on the length of the speech," answered the
President. "If it is a ten-minute speech it takes me all of two
weeks to prepare it; if it is a half-hour speech it takes me a week;
if I can talk as long as I want to it requires no preparation at
all. I am ready now."