America Speaks

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, 40^th Anniversary of D-Day Landings
• 1987, Ronald Reagan, “Tear down this wall” speech
• 2024, Kamala Harris, DNC Convention acceptance speech