United States Speeches

From the Palmer Raids to the Patriot Act traces the fight for free speech from the turn of the 19th century through the War on Terror. Christopher Finan has given us a vital history of our most fundamental, and most vulnerable, constitutional right.

"I have a dream." When those words were spoken on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, the crowd stood, electrified, as Martin Luther King, Jr. brought the plight of African Americans to the public consciousness and firmly established himself as one of the greatest orators of all time. Behind the Dream: The Making of the Speech that Transformed a Nationis a thrilling, behind-the-scenes account of the weeks leading up to the great event, as told by Clarence Jones, co-writer of the speech and close confidant to King.

It all started with some businessmen bankrolling Richard Nixon to become a "salesman against socialization". But in this precursor to current campaign finance scandals, Nixon had some explaining to do to keep his place on Eisenhower’s Republican ticket, so he took to the airwaves. In making his speech, Nixon left behind lines about a "Republican cloth coat" and a black-and-white cocker spaniel named Checkers. The speech saved and bolstered Nixon’s political career and set the tone for the 1952 campaign. Just Plain Dick is political history and more.

How does the First Amendment really work? Is it a principle or a value? What is hate speech and should it always be banned? Are we free to declare our religious beliefs in the public square? What role, if any, should companies like Facebook play in policing the exchange of thoughts, ideas, and opinions? With clarity and power, Stanley Fish explores these complex questions in The First.

Edited by filmmaker Sean Conant and with contributions from some of the country's leading scholars including Sean Wilentz, Craig L. Symonds, and Harold Holzer, this volume explores how in the century and a half since it was delivered, the Gettysburg Address has proven a seemingly inexhaustible source of somber reflection and soaring hope, and why its language continues to resonate with so many people seeking meaning for their own struggles and sacrifices.

Every four years on January 20, the President of the United States is sworn into office. Most often following a hard-fought campaign season, the voters determine the number of electoral votes each candidate is awarded and the winner takes the oath of office given by the chief justice of the United States. The Inaugurations is a compilation of every inauguration speech given by the newly sworn-in president, from Franklin Delano Roosevelt through Donald J. Trump.

Step back in time and witness the power of oratory with 'Historic Speeches from the 1930s to 1980s,' a captivating collection that spans pivotal moments in history and showcases the voices of some of the most influential figures of the 20th century. From trailblazing aviators to legendary athletes, political leaders, civil rights activists, and cultural icons, this anthology offers a window into the past through the words of those who shaped it.

In Lincoln's Last Speech, renowned historian and author Louis P. Masur offers insight into this critical address and its vision of a reconstructed United States. Coming two days after Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox and a week after the fall of Richmond, Lincoln's speech was expected to be a victory oration. Instead he looked to the future, discussing how best to restore the seceded states to the national government and even endorsing limited black suffrage.

Republican Party spokespeople include presidents, advisors, and candidates. Speeches are given by Barry Goldwater, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Donald Trump, and others. Words that support the party line and are meant to win elections.

In The Free Speech Century, two of America's leading First Amendment scholars, Lee C. Bollinger and Geoffrey R. Stone, have gathered a group of the nation's leading constitutional scholars to evaluate the evolution of free speech doctrine since Schenk and to assess where it might be headed in the future. The Free Speech Century will serve as an essential resource for anyone interested in how our understanding of the First Amendment transformed over time and why it is so critical both for the United States and for the world today.

This collection contains authentic re-enactments of all of George Washington's (1732-1799) major speeches during his two presidential term of office as America's first president after victory in the War for Independence. It includes his farewell address in full, regarded as a fine example of his political beliefs, as well as eight annual messages to Congress and two inaugural addresses.

This book includes key speeches from President Eisenhower during his Presidency (1953-1961) including key speeches on the post-war peace process and his speech on the so-called 'Eisenhower doctrine'. His inaugural address and farewell speeches are also included as well as his address to the Republican National convention in 1956. This collection provides an informative, first-hand account of the Eisenhower Presidency and the 1950s in America.

To live the best life, we need to advance liberation and justice. In order to make sure we are advancing liberation and justice, we need to clearly define what liberation and justice mean. So if you want to learn how to better advance liberation and justice, listen to this audiobook.