Hello all,
I’m looking for resources on speeches, specifically, what people think are the best speeches. Unfortunately, most of what I’ve found on the net so far seems to be centered around American Presidents… I figure that surely some other people have made contributions to this field.
Anyways, does anyone have any suggestions of great speeches? So far on my list is “I Have A Dream” by MLK Jr. Any other contributions are greatly appreciated.
Thanks
–Chorus
Well…stretch your definition of greatness…
Some of Churchill’s war speeches are considered great. The “blood,toil,tears and sweat” speech after he became Prime Minister. The “finest hour” speech during the Battle of Britain. His speech to the US Congress a few weeks after the US entered the war.
This is a useful link for Churchill speeches btw:
http://www.churchill-society-london.org.uk/SpchIndx.html
I’m not sure if this is exactly what you’re looking for, so it’s just a suggestion: why not check out commencement addresses. They seem to be readily available on the internet and the more controversial ones are usually reported on with people’s reactions.
The speech might not always be credited to the correct speaker, so you probably want to double check if the speech isn’t taken from an official site, like that of a university.
Whatever you may feel about the war in Iraq. Tim Collins gave a fine battlefield speech.
No link as I had it stored on my comp.
I remember Earl Spencer’s speech at Di’s funeral being very good. Don’t know if it stands up without all the emotion of the day but you can read it here (http://members.aol.com/mustang064/spencer.html )
Oh it’s Lieutenant Colonel Tim Collins of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish in the British Army BTW
Head to either your library or your bookstore. I’m always in Borders hanging around the reference section, between the dictionaries and the “Robert’s Rules of Order” is the speeches section. I have an excellent volume of collected speeched, but darned if I can remember the title of it right now.
Go research Sojourner Truth…it’ll be fascinating what you shall learn! …working on a similar assignment, ironic you should ask.
Go get a copy of William Safire’s Lend Me Your Ears. It’s a compendium of great speeches- from ancient classics to modern marvels- and includes a small treatise by Safire (a former speechwriter) on what makes a speech good.
Great recommendation, John. Here are a few others:
PBS keep an outstanding online archive–“80 years of American oratory”–featuring the best, most notable American speeches of the past 80 years. Great stuff.
Also, check out the website: Vital Speeches of the Day. If you’re super interested, you can subscribe to this weekly publication, which publishes the best recent speeches nationwide. You might also find this publication at a large public library system, or through your library’s online database.
That said, don’t scoff at presidential speeches, as they are written by the best. Also consider checking the websites of the nation’s Fortune 100 corporations. Under the “Media” or “Press Room” tabs, you will probably find reprints of recent VIP speeches.
That said, the PBS source might be the best, along with Safire’s book.
Sojourner Truth’s speech is in Lend Me Your Ears. When she speaks of “Ain’t I Woman?”, this is no little task for the only females recognized as “women” were the dainty ladies for birthing the breed. Although illiterate, she had infinite wisdom in her heart! And later, when accused of being a man for her muscular appearance from hard labor, 6-ft skinny frame, and modest dress, she exposed her breasts to prove the point she WAS a woman, and how she was exploited to nurse many a White baby - like many of these “non-women”, as seen by others.
Lustful, unthinkable sins of the White men were carried out with the Black females, considered unpure and outcast, anyhow. They were not considered “women”. Perhaps this is why we still speak of gender and sex?
I am not a Black not a Woman. I am for equality, of course. And, the background leading to this famous speech will give you a real window into society’s views in the 1850’s. School gave you half the story…for she was once a slave in New York State! Yes, the North had slaves up until the late 1830’s, IIRC!
She moved heaven and earth to help as many as she could! Amazing woman who got an audience with Pres. Lincoln and Pres. Grant! Wow!
CORRECTION:
I would consider the link below the best free, online source I can find. The History Channel lists hundreds of great speeches throughout (starting with Hank Aaron 
) and provides the needed links.
Nothing like free, one-stop shopping!
Stokely Carmichael was an amazing speaker.