Full List

Busse Library provides this website as a resource for students and faculty seeking the locations of famous American speeches.

The Full Listing offers the ranked results of the project with websites providing audio, video, full-text display, and photos of the speaker or the event. Traditional print locations for Busse Library are also noted.

This project is based upon the 1999 "Top 100 American Speeches of the 20th Century," a project of the communications departments of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Texas A&M University.

A full ranking of all the speeches and their texts can be found as the "Top 100 Speeches" at AmericanRhetoric.com

The Speeches, By Ranking:

The Top 10 Speeches

• Martin Luther King, Jr. "I Have a Dream."
• John F. Kennedy. Inaugural Address.
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt. First Inaugural Address.
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The War Message. ("A Date Which Will Live in Infamy")
• Barbara Jordan. Keynote Speech to the 1976 Democratic National Convention.
• Richard M. Nixon. "My Side of the Story." ("Checkers")
• Malcolm X. "The Ballot or the Bullet."
• Ronald Reagan. Address to the Nation on the Challenger Disaster.
• John F. Kennedy. Speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association.
• Lyndon B. Johnson. Address to Congress on the Voting Rights Act. ("We Shall Overcome")

Speeches 11-20

• Mario Cuomo. Keynote speech to the 1984 Democratic National Convention. ("A Tale of Two Cities")
• Jesse Jackson. Speech at the 1984 Democratic National Convention. ("The Rainbow Coalition")
• Barbara Jordan. Statement on the Articles of Impeachment.
• Douglas MacArthur. Farewell Address to Congress. ("Old Soldiers Never Die")
• Martin Luther King, Jr. "I've Been to the Mountaintop."
• Theodore Roosevelt. "The Man with the Muckrake."
• Robert F. Kennedy. Statement on the Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Dwight D. Eisenhower. Farewell Address.
• Woodrow Wilson. The War Message. ("The World Must be Made Safe for Democracy")
• Douglas MacArthur. Farewell Address at the U.S. Military Academy. ("Duty, Honor, Country")

Speeches 21-30

• Richard M. Nixon. Address to the Nation on the War in Vietnam. ("The Great Silent Majority")
• John F. Kennedy. "Ich bin ein Berliner."
• Clarence Darrow. Plea for Mercy at the Trial of Leopold and Loeb.
• Russell Conwell. "Acres of Diamonds."
• Ronald Reagan. Televised Speech on Behalf of Barry Goldwater. ("A Time of Choosing")
• Huey P. Long. "Every Man a King."
• Anna Howard Shaw. "The Fundamental Principle of a Republic."
• Franklin D. Roosevelt. "The Arsenal of Democracy."
• Ronald Reagan. Speech to the National Association of Evangelicals. ("The Evil Empire")
• Ronald Reagan. First Inaugural Address.

Speeches 31-40

• Franklin D. Roosevelt. First Fireside Chat. ("The Banking Crisis")
• Harry S. Truman. Address to Congress on Greece and Turkey. ("The Truman Doctrine")
• William Faulkner. Speech Accepting the Nobel Prize in Literature.
• Eugene V. Debs. Statement to the Court.
• Hillary Rodham Clinton. Address to the U.N Fourth World Conference on Women. ("Women's Rights are Human Rights")
• Dwight D. Eisenhower. "Atoms for Peace."
• John F. Kennedy. American University Speech.
• Ann Richards. Keynote Speech to the 1988 Democratic National Convention.
• Richard M. Nixon. Address to the Nation Resigning the Presidency.
• Woodrow Wilson. "The Fourteen Points."

Speeches 41-50

• Margaret Chase Smith. "Declaration of Conscience."
• Franklin D. Roosevelt. "The Four Freedoms."
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Speech at Riverside Church. ("A Time to Break Silence")
• Mary Church Terrell. "What it Means to be Colored in the Capital of the United States."
• William Jennings Bryan. Speech Accepting the 1900 Democratic Presidential Nomination.
• Margaret Sanger. "A Moral Necessity for Birth Control."
• Barbara Bush. Commencement Speech at Wellesley College. ("Choices and Change")
• John F. Kennedy. Address to the Nation on Civil Rights. ("A Moral Issue")
• John F. Kennedy. Address to the Nation on the Cuban Missile Crisis.
• Spiro Agnew. "Television News Coverage."

Speeches 51-60

• Jesse Jackson. Speech to the 1988 Democratic National Convention. ("Common Ground and Common Sense")
• Mary Fisher. Speech to the 1992 Republican National Convention. ("A Whisper of AIDS")
• Lyndon B. Johnson. "The Great Society."
• George C. Marshall. "The Marshall Plan."
• Edward M. Kennedy. "Truth and Tolerance in America."
• Adlai Stevenson. Speech Accepting the 1952 Democratic Presidential Nomination. ("Let's Talk Sense to American People")
• Eleanor Roosevelt. "The Struggle for Human Rights."
• Geraldine Ferraro. Speech Accepting the 1984 Democratic Vice-Presidential Nomination.
• Robert M. La Follette. "Free Speech in Wartime."
• Ronald Reagan. Address at the U.S. Ranger Monument on the 40th Anniversary of D-Day.

Speeches 61-70

• Mario Cuomo. "Religious Belief and Public Morality."
• Edward M. Kennedy. Televised Statement. ("Chappaquiddick")
• John L. Lewis. "Labor and the Nation." ("The Rights of Labor")
• Barry Goldwater. Speech Accepting the 1964 Republican Presidential Nomination. ("Extremism in the Defense of Liberty is No Vice")
• Stokely Carmichael. "Black Power."
• Hubert H. Humphrey. Speech at the 1948 Democratic National Convention. ("The Sunshine of Human Rights")
• Emma Goldman. Address to the Jury.
• Carrie Chapman Catt. "The Crisis."
• Newton W. Minow. "Television and the Public Interest." ("A Vast Wasteland")
• Edward M. Kennedy. Eulogy to Robert Kennedy.

Speeches 71-80

• Anita Hill. Statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
• Woodrow Wilson. Final Address in Support of the League of Nations.
• Lou Gehrig. Farewell to Baseball.
• Richard M. Nixon. Address to the Nation on the Cambodian Incursion.
• Carrie Chapman Catt. Address to the United States Congress.
• Edward M. Kennedy. Speech at the 1980 Democratic National Convention. ("The Dream Shall Never Die")
• Lyndon B. Johnson. Address to the Nation on Vietnam and the Decision Not to Seek Re-Election.
• Franklin D. Roosevelt. Speech to the Commonwealth Club.
• Woodrow Wilson. First Inaugural Address.
• Mario Savio. "An End to History."

Speeches 81-90

• Elizabeth Glaser. Speech at the 1992 Democratic National Convention. ("AIDS: A Personal Story")
• Eugene V. Debs. "The Issue."
• Margaret Sanger. The Children's Era.
• Ursula Le Guin. "A Left-Handed Commencement Address."
• Crystal Eastman. "Now We Can Begin."
• Huey P. Long. Radio Broadcast. ("Share Our Wealth")
• Gerald Ford. Address on Taking the Oath of Office. ("Our Long National Nightmare is Over")
• Cesar Chavez. "Speech on Ending His Fast."
• Elizabeth Gurley Flynn. Statement at the Smith Act Trial.
• Jimmy Carter. Address to the Nation on Energy and National Crisis. ("A Crisis of Confidence")

Speeches 91-100

• Malcolm X. "Message to the Grassroots."
• Bill Clinton. Speech at the Prayer Service for Victims of the Oklahoma City Bombing.
• Shirley Chisholm. "For the Equal Rights Amendment."
• Ronald Reagan. Address at the Brandenburg Gate. ("Tear Down the Wall")
• Elie Wiesel. "The Perils of Indifference."
• Gerald Ford. Address to the Nation on Pardoning Richard M. Nixon.
• Woodrow Wilson. "For the League of Nations."
• Lyndon B. Johnson. Address to Congress after Assuming the Presidency. ("Let Us Continue")
• Joseph Welch. Defense of Fred Fisher at the Army-McCarthy Hearings. ("Have You No Sense of Decency?")
• Eleanor Roosevelt. "Adoption of the Declaration of Human Rights."

Top 10 Speeches

Rank:1 King, Martin Luther, Jr. "I Have a Dream." 28 August 1963. Washington, D.C. [Also known as The Address at the March on Washington]

• TEXT: Full text available from ABC News
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full audio of speech from the Martin Luther King Papers Project, Stanford University 
• PHOTOGRAPH:  Photograph of King at the March on Washington; photos and biography from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Atlanta, Georgia 

Rank:2 Kennedy, John F. Inaugural Address. 20 January 1961. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT:Full text available at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full audio and video of speech at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph of inaugural from the National Archives.

Rank:3 Roosevelt, Franklin D. First Inaugural Address. 4 March 1933. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT: Full text of the "Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself" speech at Project Gutenberg 
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full inauguration coverage (audio and video) on YouTube 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Inauguration photos and resources from the Library of Congress

Rank:4 Roosevelt, Franklin D. The War Message. 8 December 1941. Washington, D.C. [Also known as "A Date Which Will Live in Infamy"]

• TEXT: Full text of speech from Presidential Rhetoric.com
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full coverage on YouTube
• PHOTOGRAPH: FDR and the "Day of Infamy" speech.

Rank:5 Jordan, Barbara. Keynote Speech to the Democratic National Convention. 12 July 1976. New York, New York.

• TEXT: Full text of Jordan's "Who Will Speak for the Common Good" address. 
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO: Watch and listen to Jordan's speech at DailyMotion
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph of Jordan delivering address at 1976 DNC.
  

Rank:6 Nixon, Richard M. "My Side of the Story." 23 September 1952. Los Angeles, California. [Also known as Checkers]

• TEXT: Full text of the famous "Checkers" speech at Watergate.Info.
• AUDIO/VIDEO:  Watch the full speech on YouTube
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photo of Nixon with his famous dog from US News and World Report

Rank:7 Malcolm X. "The Ballot or the Bullet." 3 April 1964. Cleveland, Ohio.

• TEXT: Entire text of Malcolm X's address.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Watch the speech on YouTube
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photo of Malcolm X and footage from the Black Youth Project, Chicago

Rank:8 Reagan, Ronald. Address to the Nation on the Challenger Disaster. 28 January 1986. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT: Complete text of the Challenger Disaster speech available at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full content of the speech from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library
• PHOTOGRAPH: Reagan photo and coverage of the day from The Christian Science Monitor

Rank:9 Kennedy, John F. Speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association. 12 September 1960. Houston, Texas.

• TEXT: Full speech transcript at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Video available at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photo of Kennedy during speech and transcript at National Public Radio (NPR)

Rank:10 Johnson, Lyndon D. Address to Congress on the Voting Rights Act. 15 March 1965. Washington, D.C. [Also known as "We Shall Overcome"]

• TEXT: Full text of Johnson's address from his presidential library
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full speech available from the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph of LBJ signing the Voting Rights Act at the American Constitution Society (ACS)

Speeches 11-20

Rank:11 Cuomo, Mario. Keynote Speech to the Democratic National Convention. 17 July 1984. San Francisco, California. [Also known as A Tale of Two Cities address]

• TEXT: Full text of DNC keynote speech from Everything2.com
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full content available on YouTube
• PHOTOGRAPH: Image and biography of Cuomo from the Forum on Law, Culture, & Society at Fordham University

Rank:12 Jackson, Jesse. Speech at the Democratic National Convention. 17 July 1984. San Francisco, California. [Also known as "The Rainbow Coalition"]

• TEXT: Full text of DNC address at PBS Frontline series' episode, "The Pilgrimage of Jesse Jackson."
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full address available on YouTube
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph from 1984 DNC campaign and convention, including a brief synopsis of the speech at PBS.org.  

Rank:13 Jordan, Barbara. Statement on the Articles of Impeachment. 25 July 1974. Washington, D.C. [Also known as the "Opening Statement to the House Judiciary Committee, Proceedings on the Impeachment of Richard Nixon."]

• TEXT: Full text of Jordan's speech from The Barbara Jordan Forum, LBJ School of Public Affairs 
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO: Audio content from YouTube; video excerpt (YouTube)
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: July 1974 Jordan photo from Smithsonian Archives' online exhibit "The Congressional Hearings: The Senate Watergate Hearings."
  

Rank:14 MacArthur, Douglas. Farewell Address to Congress. 19 April 1951. Washington, D.C. [Also known as "Old Soldiers Never Die"]

• TEXT: Actual typed text of MacArthur's speech viewed in "American Treasures of the Library of Congress."  Full text also available at the Truman Presidential Library 
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full address on YouTube
• PHOTOGRAPH:  Biography and photo from American Experience (PBS)

Rank:15 King, Martin Luther, Jr. "I've Been to the Mountaintop." 3 April 1968. Memphis, Tennessee. [NOTE: King's last public address prior to assassination.]

• TEXT:  Full content of speech from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research Institute, Stanford University  
• AUDIO/VIDEO:  Short excerpt on YouTube
• PHOTOGRAPH: "Remembering MLK's Prophetic Mountaintop Speech" from National Public Radio 

Rank:16 Roosevelt, Theodore. "The Man with the Muckrake." 14 April 1906. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT: Full text of the "Muck Rake speech" at TheodoreRoosevelt.com.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Biography and portraits of Roosevelt from the "Theodore Roosevelt: Icon of the American Century" exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian 

Rank:17 Kennedy, Robert F. Statement on the Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. 4 April 1968. Indianapolis, Indiana.

• TEXT: Full content found at the John F. Kennedy library website.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full audio of rally and speech at the JFK library website.  YouTube: See Robert Kennedy announcing the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. 
• PHOTOGRAPH: "Robert Kennedy: Delivering News of King's Death." National Public Radio (NPR). 

Rank:18 Eisenhower, Dwight D. Farewell Address. 17 January 1961. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT: Full content available from the Miller Center, University of Virginia.   View original, typed version of speech here. 
• AUDIO/VIDEO: View full address on YouTube
• PHOTOGRAPH:  Biography and photos at the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum 

Rank:19 Wilson, Woodrow. The War Message. 2 April 1917. Washington, D.C. [Also known as "The World Must be Made Safe for Democracy"]

• TEXT: Full content of Wilson's address via TeachingAmericanHistory.org.  View original drafts of speech here. 
• AUDIO/VIDEO:  No audio available.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Image of Wilson delivering address to Congress.

Rank:20 MacArthur, Douglas. Farewell Address at the U.S. Military Academy. 12 May 1962. West Point, New York. [Also known as "Duty, Honor, and Country"]

• TEXT:  Full content of the West Point address
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Audio excerpt on YouTube
• PHOTOGRAPH: Profile of MacArthur, West Point class of 1903 via the Museum of American History, Smithsonian.

Speeches 21-30

Rank:21 Nixon, Richard M. Address to the Nation on the War in Vietnam. 3 November 1969. Washington, D.C. [Also known as The Great Silent Majority]

• TEXT: Full content of the television address at Watergate.info.  
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full address from the Nixon Presidential Library (YouTube)
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photo of Nixon talking to soldiers during the Vietnam war available from the University of California Library.

Rank:22 Kennedy, John F. "Ich bin ein Berliner." 26 June 1963. West Berlin, Germany.

• TEXT:  Full text, audio, and photographs from BBC News 
• AUDIO/VIDEO: View the speech on YouTube
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photos and history from the University of Wisconsin 

Rank:23 Darrow, Clarence. Plea for Mercy at the Trial of Leopold and Loeb. 22-23,25 August 1924. Chicago, Illinois.

• TEXT: Entire text of Darrow's argument from the University of Minnesota 
• AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph featuring Darrow and Leopold at trial from the University of Missouri, Kansas City's (UMKC) website, "Famous Trials." Photograph of Darrow at the arraignment from UMKC's "Famous Trials" website.  Photos of the trial's key figures from the University of Minnesota Law School 

Rank:24 Conwell, Russell. "Acres of Diamonds." 1900-1925. Delivered at many locations in United States.

• TEXT: Full text of the speech from Temple University
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full reading of speech available from YouTube
• PHOTOGRAPH:: Photograph and personal history of Conwell, founder of Temple University.

Rank:25 Reagan, Ronald. Televised Speech on Behalf of Barry Goldwater. 27 October 1964. Los Angeles, California. [Also known as "A Time of Choosing"]

• TEXT: Full content of Reagan's speech that placed him on the national, political stage at PBS.org.   
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full audio and video available at Google Videos.  Full content also available on C-SPAN video library. 
• PHOTOGRAPH:  Photo of Reagan and Goldwater in 1964

Rank:26 Long, Huey Pierce. "Every Man a King." 23 February 1934. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT:  Speech history and full text available from the U.S. Senate 
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Video excerpt of Long from YouTube 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph of Senator Huey Long at the Social Security Administration's website.

Rank:27 Shaw, Anna Howard. "The Fundamental Principle of a Republic." 21 June 1915. Ogdensburg, New York.

• TEXT: Full content of Shaw's address at the "Gifts of Speech" feminist history website from Sweet Briar College. 
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available. 
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph of the suffragist and educator at the Anna Howard Shaw Center, Boston University School of Theology. 

Rank:28 Roosevelt, Franklin D. "The Arsenal of Democracy." 29 December 1940. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT:Full content of FDR's fireside chat available from American Rhetoric.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full audio available from the New York Archives Partnership Trust 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph of Roosevelt delivering fireside chat to the nation.

Rank:29 Reagan, Ronald. Speech to the National Association of Evangelicals. 8 March 1983. Orlando, Florida. [Also known as The Evil Empire]

• TEXT: Full content of Reagan's "Evil Empire" address from the Voices of Democracy Oratory Project
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full speech available from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Handwritten comments on speech draft available from the University of Texas 

Rank:30 Reagan, Ronald. First Inaugural Address. 20 January 1981. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT: Reagan's first inaugural address included in the Avalon Project at the Lillian Goldman Law Library.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full audio content of first inaugural address at Miller Center for Public Affairs, University of Virginia.  Full video (C-SPAN) available from YouTube. 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photographic stills from Reagan's address provided by Reagan2020.

Speeches 31-40

Rank:31 Roosevelt, Franklin D. The First Fireside Chat. 12 March 1933. Washington, D.C. [Also known as "The Banking Crisis"]

• TEXT: Full text and an audio excerpt from History Matters 
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Audio excerpt from the speech via YouTube
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph from the first fireside chat in "Echoes from the White House" (PBS special).

Rank:32 Truman, Harry S. Address to Congress on Greece and Turkey.12 March 1947. Washington, D.C. [Also known as The Truman Doctrine]

• TEXT:Entire speech content of the congressional address from the Avalon Project at the Lillian Goldman Law Library, Yale Law School.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full audio content available from the Truman Presidential Library 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Speech notes, drafts, and other support materials from the Truman Presidential Library

Rank:33 Faulkner, William. Speech Accepting the Nobel Prize in Literature. 10 December 1950. Stockholm, Sweden.

• TEXT: Full content of Faulkner's banquet acceptance speech from the Nobel Prize Museum 
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Audio excerpt provided by the Nobel Prize Museum.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Image from the acceptance speech included in extensive biography from the University of Mississippi.

Rank:34 Debs, Eugene V. Statement to the Court. 14 September 1918. Cleveland, Ohio.

• TEXT:  Full content of speech available from Wake Forest University
• AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Image available via the Eugene V. Debs Internet Archive.

Rank:35 Clinton, Hillary Rodham. Address to the U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women. 5 September 1995. Beijing, China. [Also known as "Women's Rights are Human Rights"]

• TEXT: Full content of Clinton's address from "Gifts of Speech" (Sweet Briar College) 
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO: Video and audio content from YouTube
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Photographic still from Clinton's address provided by AAUW Dialog.
  

Rank:36 Eisenhower, Dwight D. "Atoms for Peace." 8 December 1953. New York, New York.

• TEXT: Full content of Eisenhower's landmark speech on nuclear power from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Video excerpt of speech available from YouTube. 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Drafts, memos, and other supporting documents from the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum 

Rank:37 Kennedy, John F. American University Speech. 10 June 1963. Washington, D.C. [Also known as the Commencement Address at the American University]

• TEXT: JFK's American University speech (full content) from PBS's The American Experience.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full audio content of the American University speech at the JFK Presidential Library and Museum. Video excerpt from the JFK Presidential Library and Museum. 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph from JFK's American University address.

Rank:38 Richards, Ann. Keynote Speech to the Democratic National Convention. 18 July 1988. Atlanta, Georgia.

• TEXT: Full content of Richards' speech at "Gifts of Speech," a feminist history website, from Sweet Briar College. 
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO: Complete audio and video coverage of Richards' DNC speech at C-Span Video Library 
  --PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph of Ann Richards (at her inauguration) from the State Library of Texas.
  

Rank:39 Nixon, Richard M. Address to the Nation Resigning the Presidency. 8 August 1974. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT:Full text of resignation speech in PBS's program "Character Above All."
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full video from the C-SPAN Video Library 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Nixon's official resignation letter to Henry Kissinger

Rank:40 Wilson, Woodrow. "The Fourteen Points." 8 January 1918. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT:Full content of Wilson's Congressional speech available at Brigham Young University.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Shorthand draft of Wilson's speech found in the American Treasures collection at the Library of Congress

Speeches 41-50

Rank:41 Smith, Margaret Chase. "Declaration of Conscience." 1 June 1950. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT: Full content of Smith's speech from the Margaret Chase Smith Library, University of Maine. 
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO:  No audio available. 
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph and biography of Smith provided by Women in Congress
  

Rank:42 Roosevelt, Franklin D. "The Four Freedoms." 6 January 1941. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT: Full text of the speech from the FDR Presidential Library 
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full audio of the speech available from the FDR Presidential Library 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Speech history, preparation, and artifacts from the FDR Presidential Library 

Rank:43 King, Martin Luther, Jr. Speech at Riverside Church. 4 April 1967. New York, New York. [Also known as "A Time to Break Silence"]

• TEXT:  Complete text of King's legendary speech on the Vietnam War at Common Dreams 
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Audio excerpt from Riverside address at YouTube
• PHOTOGRAPH:  King, en route to speech, from American RadioWorks, NPR  

Rank:44 Terrell, Mary Church. "What it Means to be Colored in the Capital of the United States." 10 October 1906. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT: Complete text of Terrell's speech from Story of the Week, a project of The Library of America
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO:  No audio available. 
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph and biography of Terrell provided by the Oxford African American Studies Center.
  

Rank:45 Bryan, William Jennings. Speech Accepting the Democratic Presidential Nomination. 8 August 1900. Indianapolis, Indiana. [Also known as "Against Imperialism"]

• TEXT: Full text of Bryan's "Against Imperialism" speech at AmericanRhetoric.com.
• AUDIO/VIDEO:  Audio excerpt of speech at The History Channel 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Images and biography from America's Story, the Library of Congress

Rank:46 Sanger, Margaret. "A Moral Necessity for Birth Control." 1921-1922. Delivered several times for the American Birth Control League.

• TEXT: Widely delivered version of speech from the Archive of Women's Political Communication, Iowa State University. 
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available. 
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Photographs and biography of Sanger available at the Margaret Sanger Papers Project, NYU.
  

Rank:47 Bush, Barbara. Commencement Speech at Wellesley College. 1 June 1990. Wellesley, Massachusetts. [Also known as "Choices and Change"]

• TEXT: Complete text of Bush's address at Gifts of Speech, a feminist oral history project of Sweet Briar College. 
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO: Video of Bush's address at YouTube
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Photo of Barbara Bush at Wellesley available at the Bush Presidential Library. 

Rank:48 Kennedy, John F. Address to the Nation on Civil Rights. 11 June 1963. Washington, D.C. [Also known as "A Moral Issue"]

• TEXT: Complete text of Kennedy's address from the Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Video of full address from the JFK Presidential Library and Museum 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph inside Oval Office on night of address.  Photo courtesy of JFK Presidential Library and Museum. 

Rank:49 Kennedy, John F. Address to the Nation on the Cuban Missile Crisis. 22 October 1962. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT: Full content available from the JFK Presidential Library and Museum. 
• AUDIO/VIDEO:  Complete audio content available from the JFK Presidential Library. 
• PHOTOGRAPH: History of the crisis from the JFK Presidential Library and Museum.  Visit The World on the Brink: John F. Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis.   

Rank:50 Agnew, Spiro. "Television News Coverage." 13 November 1969. Des Moines, Iowa.

• TEXT: Full content of Agnew's speech from Southern Methodist University (SMU)
• AUDIO/VIDEO:  Audio excerpt from The History Channel 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph of Agnew, the only American Vice-President to resign, at Watergate.com.

Speeches 51-60

Rank:51 Jackson, Jesse. Speech to the Democratic National Convention. 20 July 1988. Atlanta, Georgia. [Also known as "Common Ground and Common Sense"]

• TEXT: Full content of Jackson's speech from the "Pilgrimage of Jesse Jackson," an episode of PBS's series, Frontline.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Eight-part series offering full coverage of Jackson's speech at the convention (YouTube). 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Jesse Jackson biography and photographs from the Rainbow Push Coalition 

Rank:52 Fisher, Mary. Speech to the Republican National Convention. 19 August 1992. Houston, Texas. [Also known as "A Whisper of AIDS"]

• TEXT: Full content of Fisher's landmark AIDS address at Gifts of Speech, sponsored by Sweet Briar College. 
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO: Video footage from YouTube
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph and biography of Fisher (MaryFisher.com)
  

Rank:53 Johnson, Lyndon B. "The Great Society." [Remarks at the University of Michigan] 22 May 1964. Ann Arbor, Michigan.

• TEXT: Complete text from the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum 
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full audio content of the "Great Society" speech at the Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Johnson's "Life and Times" from the LBJ Presidential Library 

Rank:54 Marshall, George C. "The Marshall Plan." 5 June 1947. Harvard University. Cambridge, Massachusetts.

• TEXT: Complete text of the landmark "Marshall Plan" at The Marshall Foundation.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full audio content from the Marshall Foundation 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Biography provided by the George C. Marshall Foundation 

Rank:55 Kennedy, Edward M. "Truth and Tolerance in America." 3 October 1983. Lynchburg, Virginia.

• TEXT: Full text of Kennedy's speech at American Rhetoric.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Excerpt from speech at YouTube
• PHOTOGRAPH: Biography of the legendary U.S. Senator at Boston.com 

Rank:56 Stevenson, Adlai. Speech Accepting the Democratic Presidential Nomination. 26 July 1952. Chicago, Illinois. [Also known as "Let's Talk Sense to American People."]

• TEXT: Full text of Stevenson's address from The American Presidency Project.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph and biography of Stevenson.

Rank:57 Roosevelt, Eleanor. "The Struggle for Human Rights." 28 September 1948. Paris, France.

• TEXT: Full content of Roosevelt's speech from the Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project, George Washington University
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO: Roosevelt human rights discussion from the FDR Presidential Library
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Roosevelt biography and timeline from American Experience (PBS).
  

Rank:58 Ferraro, Geraldine. Speech Accepting the Democratic Vice-Presidential Nomination. 19 July 1984. San Francisco, California.

• TEXT: Complete text of Ferraro's acceptance speech at Gifts of Speech, sponsored by Sweet Briar College. 
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO: Full audio of Ferraro's address from YouTube. 
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Image of Ferraro and Walter Mondale on the 1984 campaign trail. Image from the Minnesota State Historical Society.
  

Rank:59 La Follette, Robert M. "Free Speech in Wartime." 6 October 1917. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT: Full text available from the United States Senate Website.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Portrait and biography of La Follette from the U.S. Senate website 

Rank:60 Reagan, Ronald. Address at the U.S. Ranger Monument on the 40th Anniversary of D-Day. 6 June 1984. Point du Hoc, Normandy, France.

• TEXT: Complete text of Reagan's powerful D-Day speech provided by MSNBC.com.
• AUDIO/VIDEO:  Full video coverage from the Reagan Presidential Library 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Reagan in front of the Pointe du Hoc memorial as part of Washington Post coverage of the notable speech 

Speeches 61-70

Rank:61 Cuomo, Mario. "Religious Belief and Public Morality." 13 September 1984. Notre Dame, Indiana.

• TEXT:  Full text available from the University of Notre Dame Archives 
• AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph and biography of Cuomo, a former, three-term governor of New York, from the New York Times  

Rank:62 Kennedy, Edward M. Televised Statement. 25 July 1969. Boston, Massachusetts. [Also known as "Chappaquiddick"]

• TEXT: Full content of the controversial speech from "The Kennedys" on American Experience (PBS)
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full coverage of speech from YouTube
• PHOTOGRAPH: Biography and photographs at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate 

Rank:63 Lewis, John L. "Labor and the Nation." 3 September 1937. Washington, D.C. [Also known as "The Rights of Labor."]

• TEXT: Complete content of speech provided by the University of Wisconsin 
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Brief footage of Lewis appearing before 1947 U.S. Senate committee. 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photographic portrait of Lewis by Yousuf Karsh.

Rank:64 Goldwater, Barry. Speech Accepting the Republican Presidential Nomination. 16 July 1964. San Francisco, California. [Also known as "Extremism in the Defense of Liberty is No Vice."]

• TEXT: Complete content of Goldwater's 1964 nomination acceptance speech at the Washington Post website.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Excerpt from nomination speech at YouTube 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph depicting Goldwater receiving nomination as July 24, 1964 Time magazine cover.

Rank:65 Carmichael, Stokely. "Black Power." October 1966. Berkeley, California.

• TEXT: Full text of Carmichael's 1966 landmark speech 
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full Black Power speech available in seven segments via YouTube 
• PHOTOGRAPH: BBC News profile of Carmichael, founding member of Black Panthers, at time of his death (11/15/98).

Rank:66 Humphrey, Hubert H. Speech at the Democratic National Convention. 14 July 1948. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [Also known as "The Sunshine of Human Rights."]

• TEXT: Full text of Humphrey's speech at the Minnesota State Historical Society
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Audio available at the Minnesota Historical Society.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Humphrey photograph on cover of Time magazine for April 1, 1966. Typed and handwritten versions of speech from the Minnesota Historical Society. 

Rank:67 Goldman, Emma. Address to the Jury. 9 July 1917. New York, New York.

• TEXT: Complete text of Goldman's defense in her anti-conscription trial found at the Emma Goldman Papers Project, UC Berkeley. 
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available. 
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph and detailed biography from "American Experience" (PBS)
  

Rank:68 Catt, Carrie Chapman. "The Crisis." 7 September 1916. Atlantic City, New Jersey.

• TEXT: Entire content of Catt's speech available from the Social Justice Speeches Project. 
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available. 
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Biography and photo available at the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics, Iowa State University.
  

Rank:69 Minow, Newton W. "Television and the Public Interest." 9 May 1961. Washington, D.C. [Also known as "A Vast Wasteland."]

• TEXT: Complete text of Minow's declaration against television programming at American Rhetoric.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full audio content of Minow's landmark address at American Rhetoric.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Minow comments on his controversial speech at the Archive of American Television 

Rank:70 Kennedy, Edward M. Eulogy to Robert Kennedy. 8 June 1968. New York, New York.

• TEXT: Complete text at the JFK Presidential Library and Museum.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full audio coverage of the eulogy from the JFK Presidential Library and Museum. Brief video excerpt from The History Channel. 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Coverage of the ceremony and Kennedy's funeral train by the New York Times    Notable, funeral image by Paul Fusco available at the Library of Congress. 

Speeches 71-80

Rank:71 Hill, Anita. Statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee. 11 October 1991. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT: Excerpt of Hill testimony and Thomas's prepared statement provided by the University of Maryland. 
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO: Audio excerpt of testimony from YouTube
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Image of Hill testifying at Thomas hearings provided by PBS's NewsHour series, "Double Standard" feature (March 18, 1998).
  

Rank:72 Wilson, Woodrow. Final Address in Support of the League of Nations. 25 September 1919. Pueblo, Colorado. (Known as "The Pueblo Speech")

• TEXT: Full content of the speech from Voices of Democracy: The U.S. Oratory Project 
• AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio or video available.
• PHOTOGRAPH:  Biography of Wilson, winner of the 1919 Nobel Peace Prize, available from Nobelprize.org 

Rank:73 Gehrig, Lou. Farewell to Baseball. 4 July 1939. New York, New York.

• TEXT: Complete text of Gehrig's speech from Major League Baseball 
• AUDIO/VIDEO:  Excerpt from Gehrig's speech on YouTube.  Gary Cooper's version (from "Pride of the Yankees") also available. 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Biography and photos at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum 

Rank:74 Nixon, Richard M. Address to the Nation on the Cambodian Incursion. 30 April 1970. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT: Full content of Nixon's speech.
• AUDIO/VIDEO:  Complete content of speech from the Nixon Foundation
• PHOTOGRAPH: Biography from the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum 

Rank:75 Catt, Carrie Chapman. "Address to the United States Congress." November 1917. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT: Full text of Catt's speech provided by Gifts of Speech, Sweet Briar College. 
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available. 
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Images and biography of Catt offered by her childhood home's foundation in Charles City, Iowa.
  

Rank:76 Kennedy, Edward M. Speech at the Democratic National Convention. 11 August 1980. New York, New York. [Also known as "The Dream Shall Never Die."]

• TEXT: Full content of speech from the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate 
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full video coverage from the C-SPAN Video Library. 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Image of Kennedy delivering speech provided by the Edward M. Kennedy Institute 

Rank:77 Johnson, Lyndon B. Address to the Nation on Vietnam and the Decision Not to Seek Re-Election. 31 March 1968. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT: Full content of Johnson's speech at the LBJ Library and Museum.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Complete video coverage of address at Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photo of Johnson from the Smithsonian magazine, as well as discussion not to enter presidential race

Rank:78 Roosevelt, Franklin D. Speech to the Commonwealth Club. 23 September 1932. San Francisco, California.

• TEXT: Complete text of Roosevelt's speech provided by AmericanRhetoric.com
• AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio or video available.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Biography from Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

Rank:79 Wilson, Woodrow. First Inaugural Address. 4 March 1913. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT: Full content of address offered by the Avalon Project, Yale law School.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Image of Wilson from inaugural featured in PBS program "Freedom: A History of US." Letters, drafts, and other images from the inauguation courtesy of the Library of Congress. 

Rank:80 Savio, Mario. "An End to History." 2 December 1964. Berkeley,California.

• TEXT: Original text of Savio's speech offered with author commentary.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Images of Savio and UC Berkeley "Free Speech" movement from Bancroftiana, the UC Berkeley library magazine (no.114, Spr 1999).

Speeches 81-90

Rank:81 Glaser, Elizabeth. Speech at the Democratic National Convention. 14 July 1992. New York, New York. [Also known as "AIDS: A Personal Story."]

• TEXT: Complete text of Glaser's emotional address at AmericanRhetoric.com. 
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO:  Audio available at AmericanRhetoric.com
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph and biography of Glaser, founder of the Elisabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation.
  

Rank:82 Debs, Eugene V. "The Issue." 23 May 1908. Girard, Kansas.

• TEXT: Full text of address offered by Marxists.org.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Short excerpt from 1904 speech via YouTube. 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph, history, and background information on Debs at the Eugene V. Debs website.

Rank:83 Sanger, Margaret. The Children's Era. March 1925. New York, New York.

• TEXT: Entire content of Sanger's speech at the Social Justice Speeches Project. 
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available. 
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Several images of Sanger at the Margaret Sanger Papers Project, NYU.
  

Rank:84 Le Guin, Ursula. "A Left-Handed Commencement Address." 22 May 1983. Oakland, California.

• TEXT: Full text of graduation speech from Le Guin's website
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available. 
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Photographs and biography of LeGuin at her official website.
  

Rank:85 Eastman, Crystal. "Now We Can Begin." September-October 1920. New York, New York.

• TEXT: Total speech content found through Women's History division of About.com. 
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available. 
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph and biography of Eastman from the National Women's Hall of Fame 
  

Rank:86 Long, Huey Pierce. Radio Broadcast of March 7, 1935. 7 March 1935. Washington, D.C. [Also known as "Share Our Wealth."]

• TEXT: Complete content of Long's speech at the Long Legacy Project 
• AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Long featured on cover of October 3, 1932 issue of Time magazine.

Rank:87 Ford, Gerald. Address on Taking the Oath of Office. 9 August 1974. Washington, D.C. [Also known as "Our Long National Nightmare is Over."]

• TEXT: Full text of speech provided by the American Presidency Project 
• AUDIO/VIDEO:  Full coverage provided by YouTube
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photos and background available at Watergate.info.

Rank:88 Chavez, Cesar. Speech on Ending His Fast. 10 March 1968. Delano, California.

• TEXT: Complete text of "The Mexican-American and the Church," Chavez's speech after his 25-day spiritual fast.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Biography and photos from the Cesar Chavez Foundation

Rank:89 Flynn, Elizabeth Gurley. Statement at the Smith Act Trial. 2 February 1953. New York, New York.

• TEXT: Full content of Flynn's defense speech at AmericanRhetoric.com. 
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available. 
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Biography and photos of Flynn from the PBS series "Faces of Protest."
  

Rank:90 Carter, Jimmy. Address to the Nation on Energy and National Goals. 15 July 1979. Washington, D.C. [Also known as "A Crisis of Confidence" or "The Malaise Speech"]

• TEXT: Complete text of the speech from the American Presidency Project. 
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full video of the speech from the Miller Center, University of Virginia 
• PHOTOGRAPH: Biography and photos at the Carter Presidential Library and Museum.

Speeches 91-100

Rank:91 Malcolm X. "Message to the Grassroots." 10 November 1963. Detroit, Michigan.

• TEXT: Full content of Malcolm's passionate speech at TeachingAmericanHistory.org.
• AUDIO/VIDEO:  Audio excerpt on YouTube
• PHOTOGRAPH: Biography and photos available on official website 

Rank:92 Clinton, Bill. Speech at the Prayer Service for Victims of the Oklahoma City Bombing. 23 April 1995. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

• TEXT: Original speech transcript with notes from the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum 
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full video content available on YouTube
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph gallery of the White House response and Clinton's time in Oklahoma City

Rank:93 Chisholm, Shirley. "For the Equal Rights Amendment." 10 August 1970. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT: Full content of Chisholm's address from Gifts of Speech, Sweet Briar College. 
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO: Excerpts of 1972 addresses on YouTube. 
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Photographs and biography from the National Women's Hall of Fame
  

Rank:94 Reagan, Ronald. Address at the Brandenburg Gate. 12 June 1987. West Berlin, Germany.

• TEXT: Full text of the "Tear Down the Wall" speech available at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full Berlin address available from YouTube
• PHOTOGRAPH: Biography and photos available from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library

Rank:95 Wiesel, Elie. "The Perils of Indifference." 12 April 1999. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT: Complete text of Wiesel's speech, as well as First Lady Hilary Clinton's introduction, at the HistoryPlace
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full audio content of address at AmericanRhetoric.com.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Biography of the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor from the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity 

Rank:96 Ford, Gerald. Address to the Nation Pardoning Richard M. Nixon. 8 September 1974. Washington, D.C.

• TEXT: Full text of the controversial pardon at The American Presidency Project 
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Complete video coverage from The American Presidency Project 
• PHOTOGRAPH: The scandal's history, as presented by the Washington Post, in a special report 

Rank:97 Wilson, Woodrow. "For the League of Nations." 7 September 1919. Des Moines, Iowa.

• TEXT: Wilson's complete speech text found at AmericanRhetoric.com.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: No audio available.
• PHOTOGRAPH: Photographs and biography from PBS's American Experience series, "Woodrow Wilson." Notes about day's chronology from the J.R. Boling Daybook: An Interactive Wilson Experience. 

Rank:98 Johnson, Lyndon B. Address to Congress after Assuming the Presidency. 27 November 1963. Washington, D.C. [Also known as "Let us Continue"]

• TEXT: Text of Johnson's Congressional address at the LBJ Library and Museum.
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Full video content at the Voices of Democracy Project 
• PHOTOGRAPH: World-famous image of Johnson's swearing-in aboard Air Force One on November 22, 1963.

Rank:99 Welch, Joseph. Defense of Fred Fisher at the Army-McCarthy Hearings. 9 June 1954. Washington, D.C. [Also known as "Have You No Sense of Decency?"]

• TEXT: Transcript of the famous exchange (full dialogue) from History Matters
• AUDIO/VIDEO: Excerpt from the hearing on YouTube
• PHOTOGRAPH: Coverage of the hearing from the New York Times 

Rank:100 Roosevelt, Eleanor. "Adoption of the Declaration of Human Rights." 9 December 1948. Paris, France.

• TEXT: Full UN address coverage from the Social Justice Speeches Project. 
  -- AUDIO/VIDEO: Short audio excerpt from Roosevelt's speech at AmericanRhetoric.com. 
  -- PHOTOGRAPH: Image of Roosevelt holding copy of declaration provided by United Nations website.