“I have observed in my 30 years in Washington that when a President initiates a major policy speech on a controversial issue while Congress is in recess, it usually is because what he is advocating is indefensible and that he is seeking to minimize criticism.” YearsPresidentIssuesPolicySpeechMajorsCriticismCongressSeekingControversialAdvocatingInitiateRecessControversial Issues Author:Dana Rohrabacher
“A speech from Ernest Bevin on a major occasion had all the horrific fascination of a public execution. If the mind was left immune, eyes and ears and emotions were riveted.” IfsMindEyeLeftEmotionSpeechMajorsEarsOccasionsExecutionFascinationImmuneHorrific Author:Michael Foot
“Hitler frequently demonstrated diffidence and unease in dealings with individuals which contrasted diametrically with his self-confident mastery in exploiting the emotions of his listeners in the theatrical setting of a major speech.” SelfIndividualEmotionSpeechMajorsSettingSettingsMasteryListenersTheatricalDealingsSelf ConfidentDiffidence Book:Hitler, 1889-1936: Hubris Source: Hitler, 1889-1936: Hubris
“Someday we'll learn the whole story of why George W. Bush brushed off that intelligence briefing of Aug. 6, 2001, 'Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.' But surely a big distraction was the major speech he was readying for delivery on Aug. 9, his first prime-time address to the nation.” FirstsWholeStoriesBigsNationsSpeechMajorsDeterminedStrikesAddressesSomedayPrimeDistractionBin LadenDeliveryBriefingPrime Time Author:Frank Rich
“In a speech at the just-concluded G20 summit in London, President Obama urged Americans not to let their fears crimp their spending. It would be unwise, he argued, for Americans to let the fear of job loss, lack of savings, unpaid bills, credit card debt or student loans deter them from making major purchases. According to the president, 'we must spend now as an investment for the future'....instead of saving for the future, we must spend for the future.” Would BeJobsPresidentLossStudentsSpeechMajorsBillsInvestmentCreditDebtSpendingLondonCardsSavingPresident ObamaLoanSummitSavingsCredit CardUnwiseStudent LoanCredit Card DebtJob Loss Author:Peter Schiff
“One time I was doing a speech to a group of kids, and just before I get there, I see this little kid crying. I found out they just lost a game, and he was the losing pitcher. I went over there, put my arm around him, and said, 'What are you crying for? When major league players lose, they don't cry.'” LittlesSaidKidsFoundGamesLostLosesPlayerGroupsCryArmsSpeechMajorsLosingLeagueOne TimeLittle KidPitcherMajor League Author:Tommy Lasorda
“It was so crucial to the Civil Rights Movement that on June 23, 1963, Martin Luther King came to town, walked down Woodward Avenue with more than 100,000 people and delivered the first major public iteration of his "I Have A Dream" speech, two months before he did it in Washington.” PeopleFirstsTwoDreamRightsMovementMonthsKingsSpeechMajorsTownsCivil RightsCrucialLutherJuneAvenuesCivil Rights MovementTwo MonthsI Have A Dream Speech Author:David Maraniss
“You should protest about the views of people you disagree with over major moral issues, and argue them down, but you should not try to silence them, however repugnant you find them. That is the bitter pill free speech requires us to swallow.” PeopleShouldTryingViewsSilenceMoralIssuesSpeechMajorsArguingBitterProtestDisagreeFree SpeechPillsMoral Issues Author:Julian Baggini