November 19th marked the anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address back in 1863. This speech, in which Lincoln spoke about equality and freedom is regarded as one of the greatest and most monumental speeches in United States history. If you have never heard the iconic opening line of the speech, “Four score and seven years ago,” you should probably re-take a High School history class or two. Friday also marks the anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
There have been many Presidents throughout our history who have stepped up during difficult times and delivered brilliant speeches in order to rally the country behind freedom and democracy, and remind us of what it means to be an American. Whether or not you liked a particular President or agreed with his policies, most of them had the ability to boost morale and inspire the country during times of war and turmoil. Here are 10 of the most memorable and inspiring speeches from our history.
1. Washington’s Farewell Address, 1776
While this speech happened long before Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, no list of the best Presidential speeches would be complete without it. After completing his second term as the first President, Washington delivered the speech outlining his advice and hopes for the future of the country. The speech has been regarded by politicians since, and is the basis of many philosophies. He warned against getting caught up in party politics and foreign affairs- perhaps we should have listened to him a little better.
(You obviously can’t watch this speech, but you can read the full text here.)
2. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, 1863 (of course)
3. FDR’s First Inaugural Address, 1932
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” There may be no line from a presidential speech that is more famous than that one from FDR’s first inaugural address. At this time, Americans were deep in the throes of the Depression, and in this powerful speech, FDR introduced some of his plans for the country, and started to give hope that things would get better. You can read the full text here, but also be sure to check out this clip.
4. FDR’s Pearl Harbor Speech, 1941
President Roosevelt delivered this speech over the radio after the Japanese attack of the Pearl Harbor naval base, which was the first attack on American soil, and clearly enraged many Americans. FDR outlines the acts of the Japanese and urges Congress to declare war, while also inspiring thousands of Americans to want to get involved in the war effort, renewing the desire to participate in WWII.
5. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, 1961
Another extremely iconic presidential line is “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country,” which was spoken by JFK at his inauguration in what became one of the most famous inaugural addresses ever. The purpose of this speech was to call for national unity in the midst of the Cold War, and Kennedy urged Americans to unite around the desire to destroy the common enemies of humanity, like tyranny and war. This line is extremely inspirational and patriotic, and important for getting Americans to support Cold War policies.
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6. Kennedy’s Cuban Missile Crisis Speech, 1962
The Cuban Missile crisis was a very tense moment in Cold War history, and nuclear war briefly seemed like a very real possibility. This speech was reassuring to Americans and showed that while the government would try to avoid nuclear warfare at all costs, they would also not back down to the Soviets. Kennedy’s level head and aversion of the crisis was a major turning point.
7. Lyndon Johnson’s We Shall Overcome Speech, 1965
Lyndon Johnson, or LBJ, definitely showed a commitment to the Civil Rights Movement over the course of his Presidency. He delivered this speech to Congress after a deadly race riot in Alabama, and used the phrase “We Shall Overcome,” which was a phrase widely used by prominent civil rights leaders. This speech emphasized equality, and urged Americans to start viewing people not in terms of race, but in terms of them also being Americans.
Here is a small clip of the speech, you can hear the whole thing here.
8. Nixon’s Resignation Speech, 1974
Despite anything else that happened during his Presidency, Nixon is remembered largely for his involvement in the Watergate Scandal, and the fact that he actually resigned from being the President. This speech is important because even though it marks Nixon’s failure, he still attempts to remind Americans of the positives, so he will not be remembered solely for Watergate, he left Americans with the sentiment that this event would hopefully help to move the nation forward.
9. Ford’s Inaugural Address, 1974
This speech, also known as “Our Long National Nightmare,” was given by Ford when he was sworn into office after Nixon’s resignation. Following a major Presidential scandal, the citizens were losing faith in the integrity of the government, and in his first address, Ford had the job of trying to restore faith in the office he just began to occupy.
10. Reagan’s Berlin Wall Speech, 1987
On a visit to Germany, Reagan delivered his speech from the physical embodiment of the physical division between the East and West after the Second World War, and the separation between communism and democracy. Around this time, the influence of the Soviets was in decline, and in this speech, Reagan called for Gorbachev to “tear down this wall,” and get rid of this major symbol of communism.
Which speech inspires you most?
Featured image via ABC News