Judson Churchill Welliver (August 13, 1870 – April 14, 1943)[note 1] was a "literary clerk" to President Warren G. Harding and is usually credited as being the first presidential speechwriter.

[3] He worked variously at the Fort Dodge Messenger, the Sioux City Journal, and the Des Moines Leader before becoming the editor of the Sioux City Tribune, a position which he held until 1904.

[3] That year, Wellington joined the staff of the Washington Times, where he was noted for his support of the Progressives.

[4][6] After he resigned from the American Petroleum job in 1927, Welliver went on to become editor of the Washington Herald in 1928.

[7] The Judson Welliver Society, a bipartisan social club composed of former presidential speechwriters, is named in his honor.