Title: Words of a century : the top 100 American speeches, 1900-1999 /
Authors: Lucas, Stephen, 1946-; Medhurst, Martin J.
Publisher: Oxford University Press,
Year: 2009
Subjects: Speeches, addresses, etc., American.; Oratory United States History; United States History Sources.; United States Politics and government Sources.
Abstract: From the Publisher: Boldly breaking the mold of previous anthologies, Words of a Century: The Top 100 American Speeches, 1900-1999 contains the complete-and authentic-texts of the best American speeches of the twentieth century as delivered to their immediate audiences. It features a remarkable array of speakers, from Woodrow Wilson, Clarence Darrow, and Carrie Chapman Catt to Martin Luther King, Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy, and Barbara Jordan. As diverse in type as they are in subject matter, the speeches open a unique window on the twentieth century, and many continue to resonate in our own time. Each is preceded by a headnote with background on the speaker, the occasion, and the impact of the speech. More than 2,000 annotations identify people, events, and textual references that help bring the speeches to life for today's readers. This exceptional anthology is ideal for courses in rhetoric, political communication, and twentieth century American history, as well as for anyone interested in the artistry and impact of the spoken word.
Contents: Alternate table of contents: Speeches by rank -- Introduction -- The century begins. Acres of diamonds / Russell Conwell ; Against imperialism / William Jennings Bryan ; The man with the Muckrake / Theodore Roosevelt ; The issue / Eugene V. Debs ; First inaugural address / Woodrow Wilson -- World War I, dissent, and woman suffrage. The fundamental principle of a republic / Anna Howard Shaw ; The crisis / Carrie Chapman Catt ; War message / Woodrow Wilson ; Address to the jury / Emma Goldman ; Free speech in wartime / Robert M. La Follette ; Address to the Congress of the United States / Carrie Chapman Catt ; The Fourteen points / Woodrow Wilson ; Statement to the court / Eugene V. Debs ; For the League of Nations / Woodrow Wilson ; Final address for the League of Nations / Woodrow Wilson ; Now we can begin / Crystal Eastman --^