This paper deals with subjective qualities and acoustic-prosodic features contributing to the impression of a good speaker. Subjects rated a variety of samples of political speech on a number of subjective qualities and acoustic features were extracted from the speech samples. A perceptual evaluation was also conducted with manipulations of F0 dynamics, fluency and speech rate with the sample of the lowest rated speaker as a basis. Subjects' ranking revealed a clear preference for modified versions over the original with F0 dynamics - a wider range - being the most powerful cue.