The Jimmy Carter Malaise Speech.
It was the one thing that really seemed to shake the country out of its sleepwalking into Democrat Liberalism which had dominated the 60’s and 70’s.
Hillary’s Basket of Deplorables speech. Probably kept her out of the White House.
My loving people,
We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit our selves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I assure you I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear. I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects; and therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust.
I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm; to which rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field.
I know already, for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns; and We do assure you on a word of a prince, they shall be duly paid. In the mean time, my lieutenant general shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject; not doubting but by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over these enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.
I Have a Dream, one of the greatest speeches I have ever heard.
The most recent of these 25 is the President Ronald Reagan address to the Nation following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in January, 1986. Prior most recent is the MLK “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963, less than 3 months before the assassination of JFK.
The last moon landing, inspired by JFK, was in December,1972. The Challenger disaster marked the beginning of the end of NASA under the Obummer administration.
For me, The JFK inaugural & MLK ‘I Have a Dream’ are both the most recent as well as the most influential speeches. I was alive then, but still very young, graduated HS in ‘61. Remember exactly where/what I was doing on November 22, 1963. As clearly as on 9/11 47+ years later.
JFK challenged the cabal as Trump is doing now. MLK challenged the establishment then.
What is different between then & now?
What inspires our Millennials?
Henry IV’s St. Crispin Day speech (”Band of Brothers”).
Lincoln’s 1858 “house divided”.
Teddy Roosevelt’s “Man in the arena”.
“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
I would not have called the Sermon on the Mount a speech rather than a teaching moment.
Four score and seven years ago...
Ronald Reagan’s “A Time For Choosing” had a strong effect on me personally...
This is silly. No speech changes the world. People taking action does.
Bluto Blutarsky's "Was it over...when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" speech.
Great thread. Thank you for posting.