America Speaks ~ September Adult Book Group

September Adult Book Group

America Speaks

Of the Moment

speeches from American History

Thursday, September 26, 2024, 4-5 pm

This month’s meeting has the extra pop of discussing a unique and lasting form of literature: the public speech.

This selection presents various viewpoints—some controversial, some widely-accepted.

All in all, they represent important advances in how and who we imagine ourselves.

Included in the packet are:

1796, George Washington – Farewell Address to Troops

1854, Chief Seattle of the Coast Salish Treaty Oration

1863, Abraham Lincoln – Gettysburg Address

1865, Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address

1872, Susan B. Anthony – After Being Convicted of Voting

1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt – Four Freedoms speech

1961, John F. Kennedy – First Inaugural Address

1963, John F. Kennedy – “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech

1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – I Have a Dream” speech

1986, Cesar Chavez, Wrath of Grapes speech (excerpts)

1984, Ronald Reagan, 40th Anniversary of D-Day Landings

1987, Ronald Reagan, “Tear down this wall” speech

2024, Kamala Harris, DNC Convention acceptance speech