The Great Speeches

Great oratory is more than just words- it is music for the soul. Like a symphony that builds from a quiet opening to a soaring crescendo, a great speech moves its audience, stirs their emotions, and compels them to action. The rhythm, pacing, and tone of a masterful speaker can lift spirits, awaken courage, and inspire people to reach heights they never imagined possible. History has been shaped by the voices of those who, through sheer force of language, have led nations, sparked revolutions, and called humanity to its better self. Listen to these great speeches- not just with your ears, but with your heart- and feel what they do to your soul. If you can capture even a drop of this power, a single note of this music, and carry it into your LD debates, victory will follow.

Political and Inspirational Speeches

Winston Churchill – "We Shall Fight on the Beaches" (1940)

• Description: Delivered during World War II, Churchill's speech rallied British resolve against Nazi aggression.

• Audio Link: We Shall Fight on the Beaches

John F. Kennedy – "Inaugural Address" (1961)

• Description: Known for the iconic line, "Ask not what your country can do for you- ask what you can do for your country."

• Audio Link: JFK's Inaugural Address

Franklin D. Roosevelt – "First Inaugural Address" (1933)

• Description: Introduced the famous phrase, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," during the Great Depression.

• Audio Link: FDR's First Inaugural Address

Barack Obama – "A More Perfect Union" (2008)

• Description: Addressed racial divisions in America with a call for unity and understanding. A phenomenal delivery.

• Audio Link: A More Perfect Union

Ronald Reagan – "Address on the Challenger Disaster" (1986)

• Description: Provided comfort to a grieving nation after the Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy.

• Audio Link: Challenger Disaster Address

Civil Rights and Social Justice

Martin Luther King Jr. – "I Have a Dream" (1963)

• Description: A defining moment in the Civil Rights Movement, envisioning a future of racial equality.

• Audio Link: I Have a Dream

Malcolm X – "The Ballot or the Bullet" (1964)

• Description: Advocated for Black empowerment and voting rights, emphasizing self-determination.

• Audio Link: The Ballot or the Bullet

Robert F. Kennedy – "On the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr." (1968)

• Description: Delivered impromptu, calling for peace and compassion amidst national turmoil.

• Audio Link: RFK on MLK's Assassination

Nelson Mandela – "I Am Prepared to Die" (1964)

• Description: Mandela's statement during his trial, expressing his commitment to ending apartheid.

• Audio Link: I Am Prepared to Die

Eleanor Roosevelt – "The Declaration of Human Rights" (1948)

• Description: Roosevelt addressed the United Nations, advocating for the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, emphasizing the need for dignity, equality, and freedom for all people.

• Audio Link: The Declaration of Human Rights

War and Sacrifice

Douglas MacArthur – "Duty, Honor, Country" (1962)

• Description: A farewell address at West Point, reflecting on military service and values.

• Audio Link: Duty, Honor, Country

George S. Patton – "Speech to the Third Army" (1944)

• Description: A candid and motivating address to troops before D-Day.

• Audio Link: Patton's Speech to the Third Army

Philosophy and Science

Carl Sagan – "Pale Blue Dot" (1994)

• Description: Reflects on humanity's place in the universe, inspired by a photograph of Earth from space. Powerful and moving.

• Audio Link: Pale Blue Dot

Legal and Judicial Oratory

Frederick Douglass – "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" (1852, Read by James Earl Jones)

• Description: A powerful critique of slavery and hypocrisy in American values. Originally written before audio recordings, but this brilliant rendition captures its impact.

• Audio Link: What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?