In fact...Ronald Reagan did not write the "tear down this wall" speech let alone deliver it "from the heart." Here is the story...

http://www.historynet.com/president-...-this-wall.htm

It certainly represented Reagan's views and beliefs - but not his words.

Presidents - all of them in this day and age - use speech writers to some extent. A good speech writer writes a speech that sounds like the president thinks.

Speeches are theater - that's one reason Reagan was so good. Not many people can ad lib a speech without sounding like they are ad libbing. And think of the potential "foot in mouth" that could set off a war some place if the President of the US did??

Press conferences are when presidents speak "off the cuff" - usually after giving some prepared statements.