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Lend Me Your Ears: Great Speeches in History
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, William Safire presents an anthology of the world's greatest speeches throughout the ages. This book features more than 200 addresses by figures from Demosthenes to Salman Rushdie that have moved millions and shaped history. Lend Me Your Ears begins with an introduction that constitutes a crash course in the art of the orator, with an insider's tricks of the trade. Safire's introduction to each speech provides historical background and highlights oratorical tactics.
957 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
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1855 people want to read
About the author
William Safire
100 books55 followersWilliam Lewis Safire was an American author, columnist, journalist and presidential speechwriter.
He was perhaps best known as a long-time syndicated political columnist for the New York Times and a regular contributor to "On Language" in the New York Times Magazine, a column on popular etymology, new or unusual usages, and other language-related topics.
He was perhaps best known as a long-time syndicated political columnist for the New York Times and a regular contributor to "On Language" in the New York Times Magazine, a column on popular etymology, new or unusual usages, and other language-related topics.
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July 23, 2009Here's what I do with this book...I like to read the speeches out loud. I think it is a great way to become more relaxed and comfortable if/when we speak in front of others and what better material is there to practice with?
April 9, 2017
This is a doorstop of a book but I have to say it taught me a lot. There truly is an art to giving speeches but the subject matter of the speeches included were basically a history lesson. It doesn't seem like such a giant book if you think of it as two separate books.
October 30, 2009
A great book of great speeches. I use this as the primary source document for speeches in my rhetoric class.
February 21, 2025
good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2023
LEND ME YOUR EARS
This is a book of speeches but do not skip over the introductions by William Safire. They remind me of the Alistair Cooke remarks before and after each episode of I CLAUDIUS on PBS’s MASTERPIECE THEATRE: beautifully written and delivered.
Below are excerpts from some of the two hundred speeches in this book. Yes, I read every one, covering 946 pages. Other readers would undoubtedly choose other speeches and segments. Indeed, I probably could have added other speeches to the mix, but, for a variety of reasons, did not. I must also apologize, if it is needed, for my commentary, admitting that this book review is, at times, a critique of the speakers’ opinions.
Page 63 – Learned Hand
A SOCIETY IN WHICH MEN RECOGNIZE NO CHECK ON THEIR FREEDOM SOON BECOMES A SOCIETY WHERE FREEDOM IS THE POSSESSION OF ONLY A SAVAGE FEW ---- AS WE HAVE LEARNED TO OUR SORROW.
THE SPIRIT OF LIBERTY REMEMBERS THAT NOT EVEN A SPARROW FALLS TO EARTH UNHEEDED; THE SPIRIT OF LIBERTY IS THE SPIRIT OF HIM WHO, NEAR TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO, TAUGHT MANKIND THAT LESSON IT HAS NEVER LEARNED, BUT HAS NEVER QUITE FORGOT---THAT THERE MAY BE A KINGDOM WHERE THE LEAST SHALL BE HEARD AND CONSIDERED SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE GREATEST.
Page 145 – Margaret Thatcher
…WHENEVER THE RULE OF FORCE AS DISTINCT FROM THE RULE OF LAW IS SEEN TO SUCCEED, THE WORLD MOVES A STEP CLOSER TO ANARCHY.
Page 147
SURELY WE, OF ALL PEOPLE, HAVE LEARNED THE LESSON OF HISTORY: THAT TO APPEASE AN AGGRESSOR IS TO INVITE AGGRESSION ELSEWHERE, AND ON AN EVER-INCREASING SCALE.
Page 151 – Mark Antony
IF YOU HAVE TEARS, PREPARE TO SHED THEM NOW…THIS WAS THE MOST UNKINDLIEST CUT OF ALL.
Page 164-65 – Senator George Graham
A MAN’S DOG STANDS BY HIM IN PROSPERITY AND IN POVERTY, IN HEALTH AND IN SICKNESS…HE WILL KISS THE HAND THAT HAS NO FOOD TO OFFER; HE WILL LICK THE WOUNDS AND SORES THAT COME IN ENCOUNTER WITH THE ROUGHNESS OF THE WORLD. HE GUARDS THE SLEEP OF HIS PAUPER MASTER AS IF HE WERE A PRINCE. WHEN ALL OTHERS DESERT, HE REMAINS…HE IS AS CONSTANT IN HIS LOVE AS THE SUN IN ITS JOURNEY THROUGH THE HEAVENS.
WHEN THE LAST SCENE OF ALL COMES, AND DEATH TAKES HIS MASTER IN ITS EMBRACE AND HIS BODY IS LAID AWAY IN THE COLD GROUND, NO MATTER IF ALL OTHER FRIENDS PURSUE THEIR WAY, THERE BY THE GRAVESIDE WILL THE NOBLE DOG BE FOUND, HIS HEAD BETWEEN HIS PAWS, HIS EYES SAD, BUT OPEN IN ALERT WATCHFULNESS, FAITHFUL AND TRUE EVEN IN DEATH.
Page 175 – Robert Green Ingersoll at his brother’s grave.
I AM GOING TO DO THAT WHICH THE DEAD OFT PROMISED HE WOULD DO FOR ME.
WHILE YET IN LOVE WITH LIFE, HE PASSED TO SILENCE.
HE SIDED WITH THE WEAK…WITH LOYAL HEART AND WITH PUREST HANDS HE FAITHFULLY DISCHARGED ALL PUBLIC TRUSTS. HE WAS A WORSHIPER OF LIBERTY, A FRIEND OF THE OPPRESSED.
I have never been a fan of 19th Century Senator John Calhoun, but his speech, beginning on page 253, is one that sheds a new light on him.
Page 450 – Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
PEACE IS NOT A PASSIVE BUT AN ACTIVE VIRTUE. OUR LORD NEVER SAID, “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEFUL,” BUT “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS.”
Page 452-456 Karl Barth – the entire sermon from Christmas Eve 1958.
Page 458-61 Full Sermon by Louis Finkelstein at the White House, June 29, 1969
Page 476 Chemist Louis Pasteur
TWO CONTRARY LAWS SEEM TO BE WRESTLING WITH EACH OTHER NOWADAYS: THE ONE, A LAW OF BLOOD AND OF DEATH…THE OTHER, A LAW OF PEACE, WORK AND HEALTH,… THE ONE SEEKS VIOLENT CONQUESTS; THE OTHER, THE RELIEF OF HUMANITY. THE LATTER PLACES ONE HUMAN LIFE ABOVE ANY VICTORY; WHILE THE FORMER WOULD SACRIFICE HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF LIVES TO THE AMBITION OF ONE.
Page 491 The introduction to this speech by William Faulkner seems hard to read, but if you read it carefully you will see that it all comes together. In another context, it might have joined my only one-star rating in GOODREADS; in this case, it enhances the often brilliant prose.
The next entry is in response to an online discussion I recently had on GOODREADS or perhaps TWITTER with fellow readers on whether we marked up books we read. Professor Phelps seems to assume that most readers do this in order to remember certain passages. I know my wife does it for that purpose. My reason for marking books is to share my thoughts and feelings with future readers of that book, especially helpful if I were no longer available to discuss the book.
Page 521-22 William Lyon Phelps, retired professor of English at Yale University. I recommend reading the entire chapter but highlight these sentiments:
A BORROWED BOOK IS LIKE A GUEST IN THE HOUSE;… YOU MUST SEE THAT IT SUSTAINS NO DAMAGE; IT MUST NOT SUFFER WHILE UNDER YOUR ROOF. YOU CANNOT LEAVE IT CARELESSLY, YOU CANNOT MARK IT, YOU CANNOT TURN DOWN THE PAGES… AND THEN, SOMEDAY, ALTHOUGH THIS IS SELDOM DONE, YOU REALLY OUGHT TO RETURN IT.
BUT YOUR OWN BOOKS BELONG TO YOU; YOU TREAT THEM WITH THAT AFFECTIONATE INTIMACY THAT ANNIHILATES FORMALITY. BOOKS ARE FOR USE, NOT FOR SHOW; YOU SHOULD OWN NO BOOK THAT YOU ARE AFRAID TO MARK UP,…
…IN A PRIVATE LIBRARY, YOU CAN AT ANY MOMENT CONVERSE WITH SOCRATES OR SHAKESPEARE OR CARLYLE OR DUMAS OR DICKENS… AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT IN THESE BOOKS YOU SEE THESE MEN AT THEIR BEST. THEY WROTE FOR YOU. (emphasis by author)
Page 535 Senator Henry Jackson
AS WE GATHER HERE THIS EVENING, OUR THOUGHTS TURN TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL JONATHAN NETANYAHU. WE RECALL THE QUALITY OF HIS PERSONAL CHARACTER, HIS INNER DEVOTION TO THE PUBLIC GOOD, HIS VOLUNTARY PERFORMANCE OF THE MOST DEMANDING DUTIES THAT THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACY ENTAILS, AND THE SACRIFICE CONSUMMATED IN THE HEROIC RESCUE AT ENTEBBE. JONATHAN’S HERITAGE IS AN UNPURCHASEABLE TREASURE OF THE SPIRIT THAT MOTH AND RUST CANNOT CONSUME NOR THIEVES BREAK THROUGH AND STEAL.
PAGE 600 Senator Robert Taft
THE OLD [SUPREME] COURT MAY HAVE BEEN TOO CONSERVATIVE, BUT THE JUDGES BELIEVED THEY WERE INTERPRETING THE LAWS AND CONSTITUTION AS THEY WERE WRITTEN, AND MOST OF THE COUNTRY BELIEVED THAT THEY WERE HONESTLY IMPARTIAL. TODAY THE COURT REGARDS ITSELF AS THE MAKER OF POLICY---NO MAKER OF POLICY CAN COMMANDS RESPECT FOR IMPARTIAL DISPENSATION OF JUSTICE.
Almost four score years later, I believe much of the country views the Court negatively.
Page 601
WE HAVE FOOLED OURSELVES IN THE BELIEF THAT WE COULD TEACH ANOTHER NATION DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES BY FORCE. WHY, WE CAN’T EVEN TEACH OUR OWN PEOPLE SOUND PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT. …
I agree with Taft here. Viet Nam proved his point in the first sentence, and the astonishing ignorance of the American citizenry in the 21st Century concerning American government proves the second.
I BELIEVE THAT MOST AMERICANS VIEW WITH DISCOMFORT THE WAR TRIALS WHICH HAVE JUST BEEN CONCLUDED IN GERMANY… I QUESTION WHETHER THE HANGING OF THOSE WHO…WERE THE LEADERS OF THE GERMAN PEOPLE WILL EVER DISCOURAGE THE MAKING OF AGGRESSIVE WAR, FOR NO ONE MAKES AGGRESSIVE WAR UNLESS HE EXPECTS TO WIN. ABOUT THIS WHOLE JUDGMENT THERE IS THE SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE, AND VENGEANCE IS SELDOM JUSTICE. THE HANGING OF THE ELEVEN MEN CONVICTED WILL BE A BLOT ON THE AMERICAN RECORD WHICH WE SHALL LONG REGRET.
If Taft’s observations above were accurate in 1946, I do not believe them to be accurate in 2023, nor for most of the nearly eighty-year time span. I do think that Taft makes a sound argument against capital punishment, often considered a deterrent to violent crime, specifically murder. Putting his words into that context, a person does not seek to kill another person with the thought of being caught and punished, and even if the possibility enters his mind, it is far outweighed by the passion to destroy.
Page 609 Margaret Chase Smith
This speech is in the context of a Truman presidency and the ruthless rantings of Joseph McCarthy. I highlight it in this review in the wake of the disastrous Donald Trump years, a repeat performance now sought by Republicans and ultra Conservatives beginning in 2025.
…TO DISPLACE IT [THE TRUMAN ADMINISTRATION] WITH A REPUBLICAN REGIME EMBRACING A PHILOSOPHY THAT LACKS POLITICAL INTEGRITY OR INTELLECTUAL HONESTY WOULD PROVE EQUALLY DISASTROUS TO THE NATION…. I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RIDE TO POLITICAL VICTORY ON THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF CALUMNY---FEAR, IGNORACE, BIGOTRY, AND SMEAR.
…I DO NOT BELIEVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL UPHOLD ANY POLITICAL PARTY THAT PUTS POLITICAL EXPLOITATION ABOVE NATIONAL INTEREST.
…WHILE IT MIGHT BE A FLEETING VICTORY FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, IT WOULD BE A MORE LASTING DEFEAT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
Page 610
AS AN AMERICAN, I WANT TO SEE OUR NATION RECAPTURE THE STRENGTH AND UNITY IT ONCE HAD WHEN WE FOUGHT THE ENEMY INSTEAD OF OURSELVES….
Page 621 Elie Weisel
…THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE, I HAVE LEARNED, IS NOT HATE, BUT INDIFFERENCE.
Page 625 Carl Sagan
FROM GETTYSBURG…IN LESS THAN ONE CENTURY, OUR MOST FEARFUL WEAPON HAS BECOME A BILLION TIMES MORE DEADLY. BUT WE HAVE NOT BECOME A BILLION TIMES WISER IN THE GENERATIONS THAT STRETCH FROM GETTYSBURG TO US.
Page 627
…BY ABRAHAM LINCOLN, “WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE, WITH CHARITY FOR ALL….” THINK OF WHAT THAT MEANS. (emphasis added by the author) THIS IS WHAT IS EXPECTED OF US, NOT MERELY BECAUSE OUR ETHICS COMMAND IT, OR BECAUSE OUR RELIGIONS PREACH IT, BUT BECAUSE IT IS NECESSARY FOR HUMAN SURVIVAL.
Page 632 Vaclav Havel I recommend the reading of the entire speech.
…POLITICS SHOULD BE ANIMATED BY THE DESIRE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY, RATHER THAN BY THE NEED TO CHEAT OR RAPE THE COMMUNITY. LET US TEACH OURSELVES AND OTHERS THAT POLITICS CAN BE NOT ONLY THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE---ESPECIALLY IF THIS MEANS SPECULATIONS, CALCULATIONS, INTRIGUES, SECRET DEALS, AND PRAGMATIC MANEUVERING---BUT ALSO THE ART OF THE IMPOSSIBLE, NAMELY, THE ART OF IMPROVING OURSELVES AND THE WORLD.
Page 633
LET US NOT ALLOW SELFISH DESIRES TO BLOOM ONCE AGAIN UNDER THE NOBLE VEIL OF THE DESIRE TO SERVE THE COMMON GOOD. IT IS NOT REALLY IMPORTANT WHICH PARTY, CLUB, OR GROUP WILL PREVAIL IN THE ELECTIONS. THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THE WINNERS WILL BE THE BEST OF US---IN THE MORAL, CIVIC, POLITICAL, AND PROFESSIONAL SENSE---REGARDLESS OF THE WINNER’S POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS.
Page 648 Newton Minow Portions of this speech were highlighted before I took possession of the book. Some of those passages I will include in this review.
…IN A TIME OF PERIL AND OPPORTUNITY, THE OLD COMPLACENT, UNBALANCED FARE OF ACTION-ADVENTURE AND SITUATION COMEDIES IS SIMPLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
…SO WILL HISTORY DECIDE WHETHER TODAY’S BROADCASTERS EMPLOYED THEIR POWERFUL VOICE TO ENRICH THE PEOPLE OR DEBASE THEM.
Pages 648-49
WHEN TELEVISION IS GOOD…NOTHING IS BETTER. BUT WHEN TELEVISION IS BAD, NOTHING IS WORSE. I INVITE YOU TO SIT DOWN IN FRONT OF YOUR TELEVISION SET WHEN YOUR STATION GOES ON THE AIR…AND KEEP YOUR EYES GLUED TO THAT SET UNTIL THE STATION SIGNS OFF. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT YOU WILL OBSERVE A VAST WASTELAND.
Page 649
NEVER HAVE SO FEW OWED SO MUCH TO SO MANY.
Page 651
IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO CATER TO THE NATION’S WHIMS---YOU MUST ALSO SERVE THE NATION’S NEEDS.
THE PEOPLE ARE WISE, WISER THAN SOME OF THE BROADCASTERS---AND POLITICIANS---THINK.
Page 657 Daniel Boorstin
IF WE WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF DIVORCE, THERE ARE MANY EXCELLENT HISTORIES OF DIVORCE; BUT IF WE WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF MARRIAGE, WE’LL FIND THERE ARE PRACTICALLY NONE.
Page 658
…PEOPLE NOW MUST HAVE OPINIONS. THEY ARE LED TO BELIEVE BY THE PUBLICAITON OF OPINION POLLS THAT THEIR OPINION---IS SOMETHING THAT SEPARATES THEM FROM OTHERS. MOREOVER, IF THEY HAVE NO OPINION, EVEN THAT NOW PUTS THEM IN A DISSENTING CATEGORY.
Page 659
LOUIS ADAMIC…IN HIS BOOK A NATION OF NATIONS IN 1945,…BEGAN AN EMPHASIS WHICH HAS BEEN OFTEN REPEATED. IT WAS NO LONGER THE RIGHT OF THE IMMIGRANT TO BE AMERICANIZED, TO BE ASSIMILATED; IT WAS NOW THE RIGHT OF THE IMMIGRANT TO REMAIN DIFFERENT.
Page 660
IT’S WORTH NOTING THAT SOME OF THE GREATEST AMERICAN CHAMPIONS OF THE RIGHT TO DISAGREE AND TO EXPRESS DISAGREEMENT---WERE ALSO GREAT BELIEVERS IN THE DUTY OF THE COMMUNITY TO BE PEACEFULLY GOVERNED BY THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY. BUT MORE RECENTLY DISSENT ITSELF HAS BEEN MADE INTO A VIRTUE. DISSENT FOR DISSENT’S SAKE. Reviewer’s note: We have seen this especially in the United States Senate, 2009ff, where the Presidential opposition party has fought to obstruct executive bills.
Page 671 Arthur Ochs Sulzberger
I WOULD NEVER SUGGEST THAT “GOOD NEWS IS NO NEWS,” BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT BAD NEWS IS OFTEN BIG NEWS.
Page 724 Benjamin Franklin
I CANNOT HELP EXPRESSING A WISH THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THE CONVENTION…WOULD WITH ME ON THIS OCCASION DOUBT A LITTLE OF HIS OWN INFALLIBILITY.
Page 730 Thomas Babington Macauley
THE LAW HAS NO EYES; THE LAW HAS NO HANDS; THE LAW IS NOTHING---NOTHING BUT A PIECE OF PAPER---TILL PUBLIC OPINION BREATHES THE BREATH OF LIFE INTO THE DEAD LETTER….
Pages 735-36 Henry Clay
MR. PRESIDENT, WHAT IS AN INDIVIDUAL MAN? AN ATOM, ALMOST INVISIBLE WITHOUT A MAGNIFYING GLASS---A MERE SPECK UPON THE SURFACE OF THE IMMENSE UNIVERSE; NOT A SECOND IN TIME, COMPARED TO IMMEASURABLE, NEVER-BEGINNING, AND NEVER-ENDING ETERNITY; A DROP OF WATER IN THE GREAT DEEP WHICH EVAPORATES AND IS BORNE OFF BY THE WINDS; A GRAIN OF SAND, WHICH IS SOON GATHERED TO THE DUST FROM WHICH IT SPRUNG. SHALL A BEING SO SMALL, SO PETTY, SO FLEETING, SO EVANESCENT, OPPOSE ITSELF TO THE ONWARD MARCH OF A GREAT NATION WHICH IS TO SUBSIST FOR AGES---OPPOSE ITSELFTO THAT LONG LINE OF POSTERITY WHICH, ISSUING FROM OUR LOINS, WILL ENDURE DURING THE EXISTENCE OF THE WORLD? PORBID IT, GOD.
Page 746 Abraham Lincoln Two speeches by President Lincoln have been highlighted by history: the Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863, and his Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865. The following is the final paragraph of his First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1861. It is a revised version from a speech by William Seward, who was the favorite candidate to win the Republican nomination for President in 1860. Seward later became Lincoln’s Secretary of State. He was nearly assassinated in the same conspiracy that killed the President.
I picked this paragraph because the attitude of many Americans is that if one does not agree with someone, that person is an enemy. We have stopped learning to disagree agreeably.
WE ARE NOT ENEMIES BUT FRIENDS. WE MUST NOT BE ENEMIES. THOUGH PASSION MAY HAVE STRAINED, IT MUST NOT BREAK OUR BONDS OF AFFECTION. THE MYSTIC CHORDS OF MEMORY, STRETCHING FROM EVERY BATTLEFIELD AND PATRIOT GRAVE TO EVERY LIVING HEART AND HEARTHSTONE ALL OVER THIS BROAD LAND, WILL YET SWELL THE CHORUS OF THE UNION, WHEN AGAIN TOUCHED, AS SURELY AS THEY WILL BE, BY THE BETTER ANGELS OF OUR NATURE.
Pages 770 William Jennings Bryan Three-times Democratic Party Presidential nominee. He is perhaps better known for his role as prosecutor in the Scopes Monkey Trial 1925. He is portrayed by Frederic March in the motion picture INHERIT THE WIND.
MR. MCKINLEY WAS THE MOST POPULAR MAN AMONG THE REPUBLICANS, AND THREE MONTHS AGO EVERYBODY IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PROPHESIED HIS ELECTION. HOW IS IT TODAY? WHY, THE MAN WHO WAS ONCE PLEASED TO THINK THAT HE LOOKED LIKE NAPOLEAN---THAT MAN SHUDDERS TODAY WHEN HE REMEMBERS THAT HE WAS NOMINATED ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT AS HE LISTENS HE CAN HEAR WITH EVER-INCREASING DISTINCTNESS THE SOUND OF THE WAVES AS THEY BEAT UPON THE LONELY SHORES OF ST. HELENA.
Page 771
THERE ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT, IF YOU WILL ONLY LEGISLATE TO MAKE THE WELL-TO-DO PROSPEROUS, THEIR PROSPERITY WILL LEAK THROUGH ON THOSE BELOW. This speech was made in 1896 when Bryan accepted his party’s nomination for President. It was known as the CROSS OF GOLD speech. Four score and five years later, President Ronald Reagan, in a televised address to the nation in July 1981, described, using visual aids, his economic policy which critics called trickle-down economics.
Pages 796-97 Noah S. Sweat In a book of two hundred speeches, almost all of them of a serious nature in critical times, there is a need for a little levity and Safire provides it through this speech by “Soggy” Sweat. The subject is whiskey and takes up no more space than it deserves. Nevertheless, it does give the reader a “pause to refresh.”
Pages 806-7 Premier Nikita Khrushchev I suspect that this book was not intended to be read cover to cover as I did, but to pick out speeches of interest based on subject or speaker. In the vein, it is unlikely that this speech would be targeted by 21st Century readers, although it might be read by Baby Boomers more familiar with the man. I chose to highlight it here because of the phrase “cult of the individual” which describes poignantly the state of the ultra-conservative political scene in the last eight years or so (2015ff), the so-called deification of Donald Trump. These words target the memory of Joseph Stalin whose reign of terror in the Soviet Union was comparable to that of Adolf Hitler’s in Germany and Europe, arguably more brutal. But here we are not concerned so much with the character (or lack of same) of the cults’ object of “affection” but the people who have erected the pedestal and placed that object atop it.
…QUITE A LOT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THE CULT OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND ABOUT ITS HARMFUL CONSEQUENCES.
AFTER STALIN’S DEATH THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PARTY BEGAN TO IMPLEMENT A POLICY OF EXPLAINING CONCISELY AND CONSISTENTLY THAT IT IS IMPERMISSABLE AND FOREIGN TO THE SPIRIT OF MARXISM-LENINISM TO ELEVATE ONE PERSON, TO TRANSFORM HIM INTO A SUPERMAN POSSESSING SUPERNATURAL CHARACTERISTICS AKIN TO THOSE OF A GOD. SUCH A MAN SUPPOSEDLY KNOWS EVERYTHING, SEES EVERYTHING, THINKS FOR EVERYONE, CAN DO ANYTHING, IS INFALLIBLE IN HIS BEHAVIOR.
SUCH A BELIEF ABOUT A MAN, AND SPECIFICALLY ABOUT STALIN, WAS CULTIVATED AMONG US FOR MANY YEARS.
AT THE PRESENT WE ARE CONCERNED WITH A QUESTION WHICH HAS IMMENSE IMPORTANCE FOR THE PARTY NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE---[WE ARE CONCERNED] WITH HOW THE CULT OF THE PERSON OF STALIN HAS BEEN GRADUALLY GROWING, THE CULT WHICH BECAME AT A CERTAIN SPECIFIC STAGE THE SOURCE OF A WHOLE SERIES OF EXCEEDIINGLY SERIOUS AND GRAVE PERVERSIONS OF PARTY PRINCIPLES, OF PARTY DEMOCRACY, OF REVOLUTIONARY LEGALITY….
Pages 811ff President John F. Kennedy In my mind there is an irony that Kennedy’s Inauguration Speech, January 20, 1961, follows a speech by his greatest world rival Nikita Khrushchev. I didn’t highlight any particular passage. I would encourage the reader to read Safire’s introduction.
Page 844 Barbara Jordan Jordan was a member of the House Judiciary Committee that “contemplated the impeachment of President Nixon” in the wake of the Watergate scandal.
IF THE IMPEACHMENT PROVISION IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT
This is a book of speeches but do not skip over the introductions by William Safire. They remind me of the Alistair Cooke remarks before and after each episode of I CLAUDIUS on PBS’s MASTERPIECE THEATRE: beautifully written and delivered.
Below are excerpts from some of the two hundred speeches in this book. Yes, I read every one, covering 946 pages. Other readers would undoubtedly choose other speeches and segments. Indeed, I probably could have added other speeches to the mix, but, for a variety of reasons, did not. I must also apologize, if it is needed, for my commentary, admitting that this book review is, at times, a critique of the speakers’ opinions.
Page 63 – Learned Hand
A SOCIETY IN WHICH MEN RECOGNIZE NO CHECK ON THEIR FREEDOM SOON BECOMES A SOCIETY WHERE FREEDOM IS THE POSSESSION OF ONLY A SAVAGE FEW ---- AS WE HAVE LEARNED TO OUR SORROW.
THE SPIRIT OF LIBERTY REMEMBERS THAT NOT EVEN A SPARROW FALLS TO EARTH UNHEEDED; THE SPIRIT OF LIBERTY IS THE SPIRIT OF HIM WHO, NEAR TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO, TAUGHT MANKIND THAT LESSON IT HAS NEVER LEARNED, BUT HAS NEVER QUITE FORGOT---THAT THERE MAY BE A KINGDOM WHERE THE LEAST SHALL BE HEARD AND CONSIDERED SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE GREATEST.
Page 145 – Margaret Thatcher
…WHENEVER THE RULE OF FORCE AS DISTINCT FROM THE RULE OF LAW IS SEEN TO SUCCEED, THE WORLD MOVES A STEP CLOSER TO ANARCHY.
Page 147
SURELY WE, OF ALL PEOPLE, HAVE LEARNED THE LESSON OF HISTORY: THAT TO APPEASE AN AGGRESSOR IS TO INVITE AGGRESSION ELSEWHERE, AND ON AN EVER-INCREASING SCALE.
Page 151 – Mark Antony
IF YOU HAVE TEARS, PREPARE TO SHED THEM NOW…THIS WAS THE MOST UNKINDLIEST CUT OF ALL.
Page 164-65 – Senator George Graham
A MAN’S DOG STANDS BY HIM IN PROSPERITY AND IN POVERTY, IN HEALTH AND IN SICKNESS…HE WILL KISS THE HAND THAT HAS NO FOOD TO OFFER; HE WILL LICK THE WOUNDS AND SORES THAT COME IN ENCOUNTER WITH THE ROUGHNESS OF THE WORLD. HE GUARDS THE SLEEP OF HIS PAUPER MASTER AS IF HE WERE A PRINCE. WHEN ALL OTHERS DESERT, HE REMAINS…HE IS AS CONSTANT IN HIS LOVE AS THE SUN IN ITS JOURNEY THROUGH THE HEAVENS.
WHEN THE LAST SCENE OF ALL COMES, AND DEATH TAKES HIS MASTER IN ITS EMBRACE AND HIS BODY IS LAID AWAY IN THE COLD GROUND, NO MATTER IF ALL OTHER FRIENDS PURSUE THEIR WAY, THERE BY THE GRAVESIDE WILL THE NOBLE DOG BE FOUND, HIS HEAD BETWEEN HIS PAWS, HIS EYES SAD, BUT OPEN IN ALERT WATCHFULNESS, FAITHFUL AND TRUE EVEN IN DEATH.
Page 175 – Robert Green Ingersoll at his brother’s grave.
I AM GOING TO DO THAT WHICH THE DEAD OFT PROMISED HE WOULD DO FOR ME.
WHILE YET IN LOVE WITH LIFE, HE PASSED TO SILENCE.
HE SIDED WITH THE WEAK…WITH LOYAL HEART AND WITH PUREST HANDS HE FAITHFULLY DISCHARGED ALL PUBLIC TRUSTS. HE WAS A WORSHIPER OF LIBERTY, A FRIEND OF THE OPPRESSED.
I have never been a fan of 19th Century Senator John Calhoun, but his speech, beginning on page 253, is one that sheds a new light on him.
Page 450 – Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
PEACE IS NOT A PASSIVE BUT AN ACTIVE VIRTUE. OUR LORD NEVER SAID, “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEFUL,” BUT “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS.”
Page 452-456 Karl Barth – the entire sermon from Christmas Eve 1958.
Page 458-61 Full Sermon by Louis Finkelstein at the White House, June 29, 1969
Page 476 Chemist Louis Pasteur
TWO CONTRARY LAWS SEEM TO BE WRESTLING WITH EACH OTHER NOWADAYS: THE ONE, A LAW OF BLOOD AND OF DEATH…THE OTHER, A LAW OF PEACE, WORK AND HEALTH,… THE ONE SEEKS VIOLENT CONQUESTS; THE OTHER, THE RELIEF OF HUMANITY. THE LATTER PLACES ONE HUMAN LIFE ABOVE ANY VICTORY; WHILE THE FORMER WOULD SACRIFICE HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF LIVES TO THE AMBITION OF ONE.
Page 491 The introduction to this speech by William Faulkner seems hard to read, but if you read it carefully you will see that it all comes together. In another context, it might have joined my only one-star rating in GOODREADS; in this case, it enhances the often brilliant prose.
The next entry is in response to an online discussion I recently had on GOODREADS or perhaps TWITTER with fellow readers on whether we marked up books we read. Professor Phelps seems to assume that most readers do this in order to remember certain passages. I know my wife does it for that purpose. My reason for marking books is to share my thoughts and feelings with future readers of that book, especially helpful if I were no longer available to discuss the book.
Page 521-22 William Lyon Phelps, retired professor of English at Yale University. I recommend reading the entire chapter but highlight these sentiments:
A BORROWED BOOK IS LIKE A GUEST IN THE HOUSE;… YOU MUST SEE THAT IT SUSTAINS NO DAMAGE; IT MUST NOT SUFFER WHILE UNDER YOUR ROOF. YOU CANNOT LEAVE IT CARELESSLY, YOU CANNOT MARK IT, YOU CANNOT TURN DOWN THE PAGES… AND THEN, SOMEDAY, ALTHOUGH THIS IS SELDOM DONE, YOU REALLY OUGHT TO RETURN IT.
BUT YOUR OWN BOOKS BELONG TO YOU; YOU TREAT THEM WITH THAT AFFECTIONATE INTIMACY THAT ANNIHILATES FORMALITY. BOOKS ARE FOR USE, NOT FOR SHOW; YOU SHOULD OWN NO BOOK THAT YOU ARE AFRAID TO MARK UP,…
…IN A PRIVATE LIBRARY, YOU CAN AT ANY MOMENT CONVERSE WITH SOCRATES OR SHAKESPEARE OR CARLYLE OR DUMAS OR DICKENS… AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT IN THESE BOOKS YOU SEE THESE MEN AT THEIR BEST. THEY WROTE FOR YOU. (emphasis by author)
Page 535 Senator Henry Jackson
AS WE GATHER HERE THIS EVENING, OUR THOUGHTS TURN TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL JONATHAN NETANYAHU. WE RECALL THE QUALITY OF HIS PERSONAL CHARACTER, HIS INNER DEVOTION TO THE PUBLIC GOOD, HIS VOLUNTARY PERFORMANCE OF THE MOST DEMANDING DUTIES THAT THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACY ENTAILS, AND THE SACRIFICE CONSUMMATED IN THE HEROIC RESCUE AT ENTEBBE. JONATHAN’S HERITAGE IS AN UNPURCHASEABLE TREASURE OF THE SPIRIT THAT MOTH AND RUST CANNOT CONSUME NOR THIEVES BREAK THROUGH AND STEAL.
PAGE 600 Senator Robert Taft
THE OLD [SUPREME] COURT MAY HAVE BEEN TOO CONSERVATIVE, BUT THE JUDGES BELIEVED THEY WERE INTERPRETING THE LAWS AND CONSTITUTION AS THEY WERE WRITTEN, AND MOST OF THE COUNTRY BELIEVED THAT THEY WERE HONESTLY IMPARTIAL. TODAY THE COURT REGARDS ITSELF AS THE MAKER OF POLICY---NO MAKER OF POLICY CAN COMMANDS RESPECT FOR IMPARTIAL DISPENSATION OF JUSTICE.
Almost four score years later, I believe much of the country views the Court negatively.
Page 601
WE HAVE FOOLED OURSELVES IN THE BELIEF THAT WE COULD TEACH ANOTHER NATION DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES BY FORCE. WHY, WE CAN’T EVEN TEACH OUR OWN PEOPLE SOUND PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT. …
I agree with Taft here. Viet Nam proved his point in the first sentence, and the astonishing ignorance of the American citizenry in the 21st Century concerning American government proves the second.
I BELIEVE THAT MOST AMERICANS VIEW WITH DISCOMFORT THE WAR TRIALS WHICH HAVE JUST BEEN CONCLUDED IN GERMANY… I QUESTION WHETHER THE HANGING OF THOSE WHO…WERE THE LEADERS OF THE GERMAN PEOPLE WILL EVER DISCOURAGE THE MAKING OF AGGRESSIVE WAR, FOR NO ONE MAKES AGGRESSIVE WAR UNLESS HE EXPECTS TO WIN. ABOUT THIS WHOLE JUDGMENT THERE IS THE SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE, AND VENGEANCE IS SELDOM JUSTICE. THE HANGING OF THE ELEVEN MEN CONVICTED WILL BE A BLOT ON THE AMERICAN RECORD WHICH WE SHALL LONG REGRET.
If Taft’s observations above were accurate in 1946, I do not believe them to be accurate in 2023, nor for most of the nearly eighty-year time span. I do think that Taft makes a sound argument against capital punishment, often considered a deterrent to violent crime, specifically murder. Putting his words into that context, a person does not seek to kill another person with the thought of being caught and punished, and even if the possibility enters his mind, it is far outweighed by the passion to destroy.
Page 609 Margaret Chase Smith
This speech is in the context of a Truman presidency and the ruthless rantings of Joseph McCarthy. I highlight it in this review in the wake of the disastrous Donald Trump years, a repeat performance now sought by Republicans and ultra Conservatives beginning in 2025.
…TO DISPLACE IT [THE TRUMAN ADMINISTRATION] WITH A REPUBLICAN REGIME EMBRACING A PHILOSOPHY THAT LACKS POLITICAL INTEGRITY OR INTELLECTUAL HONESTY WOULD PROVE EQUALLY DISASTROUS TO THE NATION…. I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RIDE TO POLITICAL VICTORY ON THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF CALUMNY---FEAR, IGNORACE, BIGOTRY, AND SMEAR.
…I DO NOT BELIEVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL UPHOLD ANY POLITICAL PARTY THAT PUTS POLITICAL EXPLOITATION ABOVE NATIONAL INTEREST.
…WHILE IT MIGHT BE A FLEETING VICTORY FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, IT WOULD BE A MORE LASTING DEFEAT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
Page 610
AS AN AMERICAN, I WANT TO SEE OUR NATION RECAPTURE THE STRENGTH AND UNITY IT ONCE HAD WHEN WE FOUGHT THE ENEMY INSTEAD OF OURSELVES….
Page 621 Elie Weisel
…THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE, I HAVE LEARNED, IS NOT HATE, BUT INDIFFERENCE.
Page 625 Carl Sagan
FROM GETTYSBURG…IN LESS THAN ONE CENTURY, OUR MOST FEARFUL WEAPON HAS BECOME A BILLION TIMES MORE DEADLY. BUT WE HAVE NOT BECOME A BILLION TIMES WISER IN THE GENERATIONS THAT STRETCH FROM GETTYSBURG TO US.
Page 627
…BY ABRAHAM LINCOLN, “WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE, WITH CHARITY FOR ALL….” THINK OF WHAT THAT MEANS. (emphasis added by the author) THIS IS WHAT IS EXPECTED OF US, NOT MERELY BECAUSE OUR ETHICS COMMAND IT, OR BECAUSE OUR RELIGIONS PREACH IT, BUT BECAUSE IT IS NECESSARY FOR HUMAN SURVIVAL.
Page 632 Vaclav Havel I recommend the reading of the entire speech.
…POLITICS SHOULD BE ANIMATED BY THE DESIRE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY, RATHER THAN BY THE NEED TO CHEAT OR RAPE THE COMMUNITY. LET US TEACH OURSELVES AND OTHERS THAT POLITICS CAN BE NOT ONLY THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE---ESPECIALLY IF THIS MEANS SPECULATIONS, CALCULATIONS, INTRIGUES, SECRET DEALS, AND PRAGMATIC MANEUVERING---BUT ALSO THE ART OF THE IMPOSSIBLE, NAMELY, THE ART OF IMPROVING OURSELVES AND THE WORLD.
Page 633
LET US NOT ALLOW SELFISH DESIRES TO BLOOM ONCE AGAIN UNDER THE NOBLE VEIL OF THE DESIRE TO SERVE THE COMMON GOOD. IT IS NOT REALLY IMPORTANT WHICH PARTY, CLUB, OR GROUP WILL PREVAIL IN THE ELECTIONS. THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THE WINNERS WILL BE THE BEST OF US---IN THE MORAL, CIVIC, POLITICAL, AND PROFESSIONAL SENSE---REGARDLESS OF THE WINNER’S POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS.
Page 648 Newton Minow Portions of this speech were highlighted before I took possession of the book. Some of those passages I will include in this review.
…IN A TIME OF PERIL AND OPPORTUNITY, THE OLD COMPLACENT, UNBALANCED FARE OF ACTION-ADVENTURE AND SITUATION COMEDIES IS SIMPLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
…SO WILL HISTORY DECIDE WHETHER TODAY’S BROADCASTERS EMPLOYED THEIR POWERFUL VOICE TO ENRICH THE PEOPLE OR DEBASE THEM.
Pages 648-49
WHEN TELEVISION IS GOOD…NOTHING IS BETTER. BUT WHEN TELEVISION IS BAD, NOTHING IS WORSE. I INVITE YOU TO SIT DOWN IN FRONT OF YOUR TELEVISION SET WHEN YOUR STATION GOES ON THE AIR…AND KEEP YOUR EYES GLUED TO THAT SET UNTIL THE STATION SIGNS OFF. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT YOU WILL OBSERVE A VAST WASTELAND.
Page 649
NEVER HAVE SO FEW OWED SO MUCH TO SO MANY.
Page 651
IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO CATER TO THE NATION’S WHIMS---YOU MUST ALSO SERVE THE NATION’S NEEDS.
THE PEOPLE ARE WISE, WISER THAN SOME OF THE BROADCASTERS---AND POLITICIANS---THINK.
Page 657 Daniel Boorstin
IF WE WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF DIVORCE, THERE ARE MANY EXCELLENT HISTORIES OF DIVORCE; BUT IF WE WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF MARRIAGE, WE’LL FIND THERE ARE PRACTICALLY NONE.
Page 658
…PEOPLE NOW MUST HAVE OPINIONS. THEY ARE LED TO BELIEVE BY THE PUBLICAITON OF OPINION POLLS THAT THEIR OPINION---IS SOMETHING THAT SEPARATES THEM FROM OTHERS. MOREOVER, IF THEY HAVE NO OPINION, EVEN THAT NOW PUTS THEM IN A DISSENTING CATEGORY.
Page 659
LOUIS ADAMIC…IN HIS BOOK A NATION OF NATIONS IN 1945,…BEGAN AN EMPHASIS WHICH HAS BEEN OFTEN REPEATED. IT WAS NO LONGER THE RIGHT OF THE IMMIGRANT TO BE AMERICANIZED, TO BE ASSIMILATED; IT WAS NOW THE RIGHT OF THE IMMIGRANT TO REMAIN DIFFERENT.
Page 660
IT’S WORTH NOTING THAT SOME OF THE GREATEST AMERICAN CHAMPIONS OF THE RIGHT TO DISAGREE AND TO EXPRESS DISAGREEMENT---WERE ALSO GREAT BELIEVERS IN THE DUTY OF THE COMMUNITY TO BE PEACEFULLY GOVERNED BY THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY. BUT MORE RECENTLY DISSENT ITSELF HAS BEEN MADE INTO A VIRTUE. DISSENT FOR DISSENT’S SAKE. Reviewer’s note: We have seen this especially in the United States Senate, 2009ff, where the Presidential opposition party has fought to obstruct executive bills.
Page 671 Arthur Ochs Sulzberger
I WOULD NEVER SUGGEST THAT “GOOD NEWS IS NO NEWS,” BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT BAD NEWS IS OFTEN BIG NEWS.
Page 724 Benjamin Franklin
I CANNOT HELP EXPRESSING A WISH THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THE CONVENTION…WOULD WITH ME ON THIS OCCASION DOUBT A LITTLE OF HIS OWN INFALLIBILITY.
Page 730 Thomas Babington Macauley
THE LAW HAS NO EYES; THE LAW HAS NO HANDS; THE LAW IS NOTHING---NOTHING BUT A PIECE OF PAPER---TILL PUBLIC OPINION BREATHES THE BREATH OF LIFE INTO THE DEAD LETTER….
Pages 735-36 Henry Clay
MR. PRESIDENT, WHAT IS AN INDIVIDUAL MAN? AN ATOM, ALMOST INVISIBLE WITHOUT A MAGNIFYING GLASS---A MERE SPECK UPON THE SURFACE OF THE IMMENSE UNIVERSE; NOT A SECOND IN TIME, COMPARED TO IMMEASURABLE, NEVER-BEGINNING, AND NEVER-ENDING ETERNITY; A DROP OF WATER IN THE GREAT DEEP WHICH EVAPORATES AND IS BORNE OFF BY THE WINDS; A GRAIN OF SAND, WHICH IS SOON GATHERED TO THE DUST FROM WHICH IT SPRUNG. SHALL A BEING SO SMALL, SO PETTY, SO FLEETING, SO EVANESCENT, OPPOSE ITSELF TO THE ONWARD MARCH OF A GREAT NATION WHICH IS TO SUBSIST FOR AGES---OPPOSE ITSELFTO THAT LONG LINE OF POSTERITY WHICH, ISSUING FROM OUR LOINS, WILL ENDURE DURING THE EXISTENCE OF THE WORLD? PORBID IT, GOD.
Page 746 Abraham Lincoln Two speeches by President Lincoln have been highlighted by history: the Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863, and his Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865. The following is the final paragraph of his First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1861. It is a revised version from a speech by William Seward, who was the favorite candidate to win the Republican nomination for President in 1860. Seward later became Lincoln’s Secretary of State. He was nearly assassinated in the same conspiracy that killed the President.
I picked this paragraph because the attitude of many Americans is that if one does not agree with someone, that person is an enemy. We have stopped learning to disagree agreeably.
WE ARE NOT ENEMIES BUT FRIENDS. WE MUST NOT BE ENEMIES. THOUGH PASSION MAY HAVE STRAINED, IT MUST NOT BREAK OUR BONDS OF AFFECTION. THE MYSTIC CHORDS OF MEMORY, STRETCHING FROM EVERY BATTLEFIELD AND PATRIOT GRAVE TO EVERY LIVING HEART AND HEARTHSTONE ALL OVER THIS BROAD LAND, WILL YET SWELL THE CHORUS OF THE UNION, WHEN AGAIN TOUCHED, AS SURELY AS THEY WILL BE, BY THE BETTER ANGELS OF OUR NATURE.
Pages 770 William Jennings Bryan Three-times Democratic Party Presidential nominee. He is perhaps better known for his role as prosecutor in the Scopes Monkey Trial 1925. He is portrayed by Frederic March in the motion picture INHERIT THE WIND.
MR. MCKINLEY WAS THE MOST POPULAR MAN AMONG THE REPUBLICANS, AND THREE MONTHS AGO EVERYBODY IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PROPHESIED HIS ELECTION. HOW IS IT TODAY? WHY, THE MAN WHO WAS ONCE PLEASED TO THINK THAT HE LOOKED LIKE NAPOLEAN---THAT MAN SHUDDERS TODAY WHEN HE REMEMBERS THAT HE WAS NOMINATED ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT AS HE LISTENS HE CAN HEAR WITH EVER-INCREASING DISTINCTNESS THE SOUND OF THE WAVES AS THEY BEAT UPON THE LONELY SHORES OF ST. HELENA.
Page 771
THERE ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT, IF YOU WILL ONLY LEGISLATE TO MAKE THE WELL-TO-DO PROSPEROUS, THEIR PROSPERITY WILL LEAK THROUGH ON THOSE BELOW. This speech was made in 1896 when Bryan accepted his party’s nomination for President. It was known as the CROSS OF GOLD speech. Four score and five years later, President Ronald Reagan, in a televised address to the nation in July 1981, described, using visual aids, his economic policy which critics called trickle-down economics.
Pages 796-97 Noah S. Sweat In a book of two hundred speeches, almost all of them of a serious nature in critical times, there is a need for a little levity and Safire provides it through this speech by “Soggy” Sweat. The subject is whiskey and takes up no more space than it deserves. Nevertheless, it does give the reader a “pause to refresh.”
Pages 806-7 Premier Nikita Khrushchev I suspect that this book was not intended to be read cover to cover as I did, but to pick out speeches of interest based on subject or speaker. In the vein, it is unlikely that this speech would be targeted by 21st Century readers, although it might be read by Baby Boomers more familiar with the man. I chose to highlight it here because of the phrase “cult of the individual” which describes poignantly the state of the ultra-conservative political scene in the last eight years or so (2015ff), the so-called deification of Donald Trump. These words target the memory of Joseph Stalin whose reign of terror in the Soviet Union was comparable to that of Adolf Hitler’s in Germany and Europe, arguably more brutal. But here we are not concerned so much with the character (or lack of same) of the cults’ object of “affection” but the people who have erected the pedestal and placed that object atop it.
…QUITE A LOT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THE CULT OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND ABOUT ITS HARMFUL CONSEQUENCES.
AFTER STALIN’S DEATH THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PARTY BEGAN TO IMPLEMENT A POLICY OF EXPLAINING CONCISELY AND CONSISTENTLY THAT IT IS IMPERMISSABLE AND FOREIGN TO THE SPIRIT OF MARXISM-LENINISM TO ELEVATE ONE PERSON, TO TRANSFORM HIM INTO A SUPERMAN POSSESSING SUPERNATURAL CHARACTERISTICS AKIN TO THOSE OF A GOD. SUCH A MAN SUPPOSEDLY KNOWS EVERYTHING, SEES EVERYTHING, THINKS FOR EVERYONE, CAN DO ANYTHING, IS INFALLIBLE IN HIS BEHAVIOR.
SUCH A BELIEF ABOUT A MAN, AND SPECIFICALLY ABOUT STALIN, WAS CULTIVATED AMONG US FOR MANY YEARS.
AT THE PRESENT WE ARE CONCERNED WITH A QUESTION WHICH HAS IMMENSE IMPORTANCE FOR THE PARTY NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE---[WE ARE CONCERNED] WITH HOW THE CULT OF THE PERSON OF STALIN HAS BEEN GRADUALLY GROWING, THE CULT WHICH BECAME AT A CERTAIN SPECIFIC STAGE THE SOURCE OF A WHOLE SERIES OF EXCEEDIINGLY SERIOUS AND GRAVE PERVERSIONS OF PARTY PRINCIPLES, OF PARTY DEMOCRACY, OF REVOLUTIONARY LEGALITY….
Pages 811ff President John F. Kennedy In my mind there is an irony that Kennedy’s Inauguration Speech, January 20, 1961, follows a speech by his greatest world rival Nikita Khrushchev. I didn’t highlight any particular passage. I would encourage the reader to read Safire’s introduction.
Page 844 Barbara Jordan Jordan was a member of the House Judiciary Committee that “contemplated the impeachment of President Nixon” in the wake of the Watergate scandal.
IF THE IMPEACHMENT PROVISION IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT
January 29, 2013
Good book, but somewhat Eurocentric -- which may reflect the editor's greater familiarity with Western history and historical figures.
Also, a surprising amount of recent (late 20th century) material. This was disappointing. While the modern population is much larger than in earlier times -- and there might therefore be more momentous speeches nowadays than in earlier ages -- one gets the impression that this has been a Golden Age of Oratory.
I'd be curious whether the next edition of the book includes, say, George Galloway's blistering testimony before the US Senate in in 2005, or Steve Jobs' unveiling of the iPhone.
While neither might have geopolitical importance, the former is an astonishing display of rhetorical prowess, and the latter is probably considered the crowning achievement of Steve Jobs' career -- both as a tech CEO and as a marketer.
Also, a surprising amount of recent (late 20th century) material. This was disappointing. While the modern population is much larger than in earlier times -- and there might therefore be more momentous speeches nowadays than in earlier ages -- one gets the impression that this has been a Golden Age of Oratory.
I'd be curious whether the next edition of the book includes, say, George Galloway's blistering testimony before the US Senate in in 2005, or Steve Jobs' unveiling of the iPhone.
While neither might have geopolitical importance, the former is an astonishing display of rhetorical prowess, and the latter is probably considered the crowning achievement of Steve Jobs' career -- both as a tech CEO and as a marketer.
April 30, 2012
I think everyone should read this book. Seeing the written form of famously spoken words has shed a lot of light on what the speakers were actually saying.
That said, I hated reading this book. One of those necessary evils of education that will come in handy later in life.
That said, I hated reading this book. One of those necessary evils of education that will come in handy later in life.
November 5, 2012
I will try to keep this book close at hand. It is full of suprises and delights ranging from a relection on what a dog could mean to a man, to Richard Nixon's eulogy for Everett Dirksen that captures what we desperately need in today's politicians
October 18, 2019
My table holds only so many books. This book is one of them. It’s fun to take the book outside and read these out loud. I try to imagine being the speaker and wondering what the original speaker was thinking that gave them. Thank you William Safire for editing and compiling these.
July 4, 2024
A pretty interesting book I picked after reading about Ted Sorenson's biography on JFK. It helped me understand a interesting (but perhaps very trivial and obvious to others) point on how important speeches are for a political campaign and for history/kingdoms in general. A great orator accompanied by a great speech content can help woo people and win campaigns. This led me in search of books with collection of great speeches and this book does not disappoint.
I read a few of the speeches and it captures an important piece of history/event and why that speech moved the needle in history.
Like Jawaharlala Nehru's speech after Gandhi's death, Salman Rushdie's '1000 days trapped inside a hot air balloon' after his exile, Che Guevera's speech before the revolution, Martin Luther King Jr's 'I have a dream' and so on.
This is more of a book you would own and go back and read a speech from time to time, rather than gulping it all in one go. Highly recommend.
I read a few of the speeches and it captures an important piece of history/event and why that speech moved the needle in history.
Like Jawaharlala Nehru's speech after Gandhi's death, Salman Rushdie's '1000 days trapped inside a hot air balloon' after his exile, Che Guevera's speech before the revolution, Martin Luther King Jr's 'I have a dream' and so on.
This is more of a book you would own and go back and read a speech from time to time, rather than gulping it all in one go. Highly recommend.
February 2, 2023
While not a page-turner, this is a must for any lover of history, and anyone who finds themselves speaking in public with any regularity. I am both of those, and consider myself a student of many of these remarkable orators. So many inspiring and memorable words recounted, together with some historical context. It has certainly been a valuable addition to the personal library.
January 7, 2020
This book contains several hundred speeches selected by Mr. Safire. Many are worth close study as examples of great rhetoric; some are of only minor significance and merely stretch the book out. On the whole it's worth the reader's time and attention.
April 16, 2019
Amazing
November 17, 2019
Best book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2022
Good refrence book
September 9, 2023
A great read. People interested in history would benefit from having this sitting on their shelves, even if they didn't intend to read it.
September 13, 2023
Refer to this book regularly. Great inspiration for writers especially and for history buffs or the just plain curious about powerful messages throughout history.
October 29, 2025
There are a handful of speeches in this volume that dazzle from start to finish. Frederick Douglass’s tribute to Abraham Lincoln is probably the prime example of this. But many of the speeches are educational less for their eloquence than for their ability to situate the reader in time and place. This book is as much — arguably more — for the lover of history as for the lover of speeches, especially with the advantage of hindsight illuminating how certain positions aged well, or not, such as Johnnie Cochran proclaiming “…this is O.J. Simpson’s one day in court.” (Ha!) Safire’s introductions enhance the volume, and, though he is a noted conservative, he strikes an impressive balance, seemingly as admiring of a good speech from a Democrat as from a Republican. It’s a long book best consumed in bites. I recommend my approach of reading one speech per day, which got me through in about 10 months.
October 15, 2020
This book is an advertisement for an expanded, more diverse, curriculum. Yet I loved Safire’s introductions and teared up when reading Churchill’s speeches. Or maybe I was just cutting onions.
February 28, 2016
Like any anthology, the quality of this book is scattershot. My favorite speeches are listed below, but even the best of the best speeches can be dry when read instead of listened too. I most appreciated this book when it argues for the best of mankind. It's a good jolt to remind yourself of duty, self-sacrifice, compassion, humility and hard work.
I also appreciated the organization of the book, which I've seen others object to. The speeches are split by topic, and then organized chronologically. This cyclical style reproduces a cozy sense of progress that I haven't felt since my high school history classes. Especially in the Tributes, Sermons and Speeches of Social progress, the book says "See? Humanity is getting better. We are imperfect, and we suffer setbacks, but we are slowly opening our eyes, expanding who we consider human and becoming more perfect reflections of our ideals." I know that's likely not the case, but it's a pretty, inspirational fiction to be reminded of.
Finally, this book is mostly Western, you've just got to deal with it. It's mostly about Europeans and Americans, and mostly about white men, except for a few token expansions, mostly in the social responsibility section. I would appreciate a complementary edition that focuses only on marginal voices, but I understand that isn't Safire's background or his goal.
Unfortunately, my copy was all out of order after page 870, so I can't speak to the quality of the political or commencement speeches.
Memorials and War: Webster Bunker Hill; Learned Hand 4th of July, Macarthur, Duty Honor Country; Washington Insurrection; Davis takes his leave; Churchill Braces britons to their task; Montgomery draws the line at El Alamein;
Eulogies and Tributes: Emerson Burns; Frederick Douglass on Lincoln; Ingersoll speaks at his brother's grave; Jane Addams praises George Washington; Rabbi Wise on Lincoln; Stanley Baldwin Toasts a Lexicographer; Kennedy, Arts in America; Robert Kennedy on MLK;
Trials: Haile Selassie League of Nations; Robert Emmet, Prosperity be the judge; Gandhi Defends his Beliefs; Darrow answers supporter of Capital Punishment;
Farewells: George Washington farewell; Edward VIII abdicates; Lou Gehrig bids farewell to baseball; Macarthur, Old Soldiers never die; Lyndon Johnson Farewell;
Sermons: John Wesley Free Grace; Red Jacket rejects change of religion; Lincoln Second Inaugural;
Inspirational Speeches: Theodore Roosevelt, Ignoble Ease; William Faulkner Charges Writers to Help Mankind Prevail; William Lyon Phelps Praises the Owning of Books; Alistair Cooke State of the English Language;
Speeches of Social Responsiblity: Pitt the Younger urges abolition of slave Trade; Chief Seattle cautions Americans; Walter Lippmann, the easy way; Kissin' Jim Folson; Benazhir Bhutto Islamic feminism;
I also appreciated the organization of the book, which I've seen others object to. The speeches are split by topic, and then organized chronologically. This cyclical style reproduces a cozy sense of progress that I haven't felt since my high school history classes. Especially in the Tributes, Sermons and Speeches of Social progress, the book says "See? Humanity is getting better. We are imperfect, and we suffer setbacks, but we are slowly opening our eyes, expanding who we consider human and becoming more perfect reflections of our ideals." I know that's likely not the case, but it's a pretty, inspirational fiction to be reminded of.
Finally, this book is mostly Western, you've just got to deal with it. It's mostly about Europeans and Americans, and mostly about white men, except for a few token expansions, mostly in the social responsibility section. I would appreciate a complementary edition that focuses only on marginal voices, but I understand that isn't Safire's background or his goal.
Unfortunately, my copy was all out of order after page 870, so I can't speak to the quality of the political or commencement speeches.
Memorials and War: Webster Bunker Hill; Learned Hand 4th of July, Macarthur, Duty Honor Country; Washington Insurrection; Davis takes his leave; Churchill Braces britons to their task; Montgomery draws the line at El Alamein;
Eulogies and Tributes: Emerson Burns; Frederick Douglass on Lincoln; Ingersoll speaks at his brother's grave; Jane Addams praises George Washington; Rabbi Wise on Lincoln; Stanley Baldwin Toasts a Lexicographer; Kennedy, Arts in America; Robert Kennedy on MLK;
Trials: Haile Selassie League of Nations; Robert Emmet, Prosperity be the judge; Gandhi Defends his Beliefs; Darrow answers supporter of Capital Punishment;
Farewells: George Washington farewell; Edward VIII abdicates; Lou Gehrig bids farewell to baseball; Macarthur, Old Soldiers never die; Lyndon Johnson Farewell;
Sermons: John Wesley Free Grace; Red Jacket rejects change of religion; Lincoln Second Inaugural;
Inspirational Speeches: Theodore Roosevelt, Ignoble Ease; William Faulkner Charges Writers to Help Mankind Prevail; William Lyon Phelps Praises the Owning of Books; Alistair Cooke State of the English Language;
Speeches of Social Responsiblity: Pitt the Younger urges abolition of slave Trade; Chief Seattle cautions Americans; Walter Lippmann, the easy way; Kissin' Jim Folson; Benazhir Bhutto Islamic feminism;
August 13, 2016
Writing a review of this book takes some courage, for this is a book coauthored by hundreds of remarkable characters throughout the human history.
I first borrowed this book from one of NYU’s libraries because I needed to write political speeches for a science fiction. It soon became clear that this is not a book that can be skimmed through in a few days. Not a beach read or a diversion you bring to an airplane. It desires a slot on my bookshelf and is well worth the $35 I spent on Amazon. There are more than 200 speeches presented in 14 categories, ranging from Napoleon’s exhortation to his soldiers to Clinton’s memorial of Martin Luther King. My favorite is the category of War and Revolution, as “The better work men do is always done under stress and at great personal cost” (William Carlos Williams), although I do learn a lot in any of the other categories, about economy, democracy, religion, etc.
But this is more than a collection. Preceding every speech, the author, William Safire, gives a brief background of the speech and the speaker. For historical events, you may argue that anyone could easily “google” something out, but the intros written by Safire are not mere facts; they are the distillate of abundant knowledge combined with personal insights. I’ve tried reading some of the speeches without first resorting to Safire’s intros. Always ended up clueless. Some of the events awoke my old memories. When I learned those events in high school, they were numbers and names and exam questions. Now reading the actual speech, I become face to face with the speaker, fearing his fear and smiling at his smile. There is no force stronger than the mind of a remarkable human being. And that’s how people achieve eternity --- “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing about.” (Benjamin Franklin)
I first borrowed this book from one of NYU’s libraries because I needed to write political speeches for a science fiction. It soon became clear that this is not a book that can be skimmed through in a few days. Not a beach read or a diversion you bring to an airplane. It desires a slot on my bookshelf and is well worth the $35 I spent on Amazon. There are more than 200 speeches presented in 14 categories, ranging from Napoleon’s exhortation to his soldiers to Clinton’s memorial of Martin Luther King. My favorite is the category of War and Revolution, as “The better work men do is always done under stress and at great personal cost” (William Carlos Williams), although I do learn a lot in any of the other categories, about economy, democracy, religion, etc.
But this is more than a collection. Preceding every speech, the author, William Safire, gives a brief background of the speech and the speaker. For historical events, you may argue that anyone could easily “google” something out, but the intros written by Safire are not mere facts; they are the distillate of abundant knowledge combined with personal insights. I’ve tried reading some of the speeches without first resorting to Safire’s intros. Always ended up clueless. Some of the events awoke my old memories. When I learned those events in high school, they were numbers and names and exam questions. Now reading the actual speech, I become face to face with the speaker, fearing his fear and smiling at his smile. There is no force stronger than the mind of a remarkable human being. And that’s how people achieve eternity --- “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing about.” (Benjamin Franklin)
February 23, 2008
William Safire has given readers a remarkable gift with this collection. Lend Me Your Ears is very similar to a book of poetry - it is to be treasured, read and referenced over a lifetime; never to be "finished" or forgotten.
This book has broad appeal - especially to fans of history and politics. But, anyone looking for inspiration or uplifting can find an appropriate speech or passage in its pages. And, most importantly, the book cuts both ways across the political divide - one can find speeches from John F. and Robert Kennedy, FDR, Clinton, Lincoln, Churchill, Martin Luther King, and least surprisingly, Nixon, since Safire served as one of his speechwriters. Safire knows the language as well as anyone, probably better than your favorite English teacher, and his marvelous talents as a speechwriter give this book even more credibility. A good speechwriter knows a great speech when he hears it and/or reads it, as Safire shows with his selections in this book. (Point of fact - I'm a proud liberal Democrat, and I have these feelings about Safire!)
Safire offers introductions and sage commentary before each speech, which I found both enlightening and entertaining. I cannot recommend this book highly enough for anyone interested in great speeches through history. I'm hoping for a revised edition or perhaps a volume II from Safire. (Update: there is now an updated version available.)
One final note: some criticize the author for speeches omitted in this volume, but a line has to be drawn, or a book on this subject could span thousands of pages. Keep in mind, this book contains great speeches in Safire's opinion; it's not an end-all-be-all list of great historic speeches. (Orig. Review - Nov. '04)
This book has broad appeal - especially to fans of history and politics. But, anyone looking for inspiration or uplifting can find an appropriate speech or passage in its pages. And, most importantly, the book cuts both ways across the political divide - one can find speeches from John F. and Robert Kennedy, FDR, Clinton, Lincoln, Churchill, Martin Luther King, and least surprisingly, Nixon, since Safire served as one of his speechwriters. Safire knows the language as well as anyone, probably better than your favorite English teacher, and his marvelous talents as a speechwriter give this book even more credibility. A good speechwriter knows a great speech when he hears it and/or reads it, as Safire shows with his selections in this book. (Point of fact - I'm a proud liberal Democrat, and I have these feelings about Safire!)
Safire offers introductions and sage commentary before each speech, which I found both enlightening and entertaining. I cannot recommend this book highly enough for anyone interested in great speeches through history. I'm hoping for a revised edition or perhaps a volume II from Safire. (Update: there is now an updated version available.)
One final note: some criticize the author for speeches omitted in this volume, but a line has to be drawn, or a book on this subject could span thousands of pages. Keep in mind, this book contains great speeches in Safire's opinion; it's not an end-all-be-all list of great historic speeches. (Orig. Review - Nov. '04)
February 10, 2016
It took me over a year to read this book, one speech at a time with many other books in between. That is mostly because I used this as my fall back when I didn't have anything more intriguing waiting to be read. The book lends itself to this scattershot approach. You can read one speech through, and then set the book down and pick it up a month later to read the next speech. Part of the reason it took so long is because the speeches themselves are hit-and-miss. There are some great speeches and some that are merely good. As a writer, I can appreciate most of Safire's choices. He is enamored with the style as much as the substance (generally these speeches were of historical significance). Where both are present, the choice was undoubtedly easy. Yet, not many speeches have both. That means that you have to slog through some speeches that have historic significance, but are not so beautifully executed. You also have to suffer through some that are skillfully presented, but in which the message is commonplace. Perhaps there were just too many speeches in the book. It is certainly a thick volume, and would not have been harmed by being slimmer. However, the book had enough style and substance throughout to keep me reading, and I came away with a richer sense of history as well.
November 2, 2008
This book has one simple premise, to take great speeches from history and present them to us in English, along with a simple introduction as to why the author (a presidential speech writer himself) finds them worthy of inclusion.
The speeches are broadly categorized by type, religion, politics, military, etc. and have a broad appeal.
Unlike some writers this book does not focus particularly on multiple speeches from the same speaker. Rather each is taken separately and included for its particular significance.
The shortest is roughly one page in length and the longest goes over several pages. As befits a good speech they are all quite readable, and I've had a lot of fun taking turns with friends reading them to each other.
The speeches are broadly categorized by type, religion, politics, military, etc. and have a broad appeal.
Unlike some writers this book does not focus particularly on multiple speeches from the same speaker. Rather each is taken separately and included for its particular significance.
The shortest is roughly one page in length and the longest goes over several pages. As befits a good speech they are all quite readable, and I've had a lot of fun taking turns with friends reading them to each other.
January 12, 2010
This is a magnificent collection of speeches from pivotal moments in ancient and modern history. It is one thing to hear snips of these speeches on sound clips or in history books, quite another to read them in full context. This book serves as solid reference material, motivation, and an anthology of eloquence.
In the modern age of sound bite, the real art of stirring passion via soulful words is all but lost. This book serves as a window into the souls and minds of brilliant men and women.
In the modern age of sound bite, the real art of stirring passion via soulful words is all but lost. This book serves as a window into the souls and minds of brilliant men and women.
April 4, 2012
This is a fantastic collection of speeches, and Safire provides just the right amount of context to allow them to be read with the same gravitas as they had when they were first given. He also points the reader towards what he believes are things to be noted about each speech, which is very helpful for the aspiring speechwriter or even the interested layman, without getting in the way of the original writing. I would definitely recommend this collection to anyone with an interest in rhetoric, history, or law(I found the court arguments, in particular, very intriguing).
December 9, 2017
I read Karl Barth's small Christmas sermon in the book. He stressed Jesus' being right beside us in this lonely and dark world. Some of my comments on this notion:
To the degree that God is One He is beside His saints. But technically Jesus is reigning at the Right Hand of God the Father and it is the person of the Holy Spirit that is with us. There is another sense in which God is "next" to all people in the world for He is omnipresent. But Barth was a little off I think.
To the degree that God is One He is beside His saints. But technically Jesus is reigning at the Right Hand of God the Father and it is the person of the Holy Spirit that is with us. There is another sense in which God is "next" to all people in the world for He is omnipresent. But Barth was a little off I think.
March 28, 2011
Reading the speeches really is fascinating. It puts an entirely new perspective on U.S and world histoy. Reading the speeches from Abe Lincoln, General Macarthur, Judge Learned Hand, Queen Elizabeth and manny more giving a renewed interest in history and what it means to our future.
This book is really not a book that needs to be read in order as each speech is different. However the book does categorize the speeches. Very good book.
This book is really not a book that needs to be read in order as each speech is different. However the book does categorize the speeches. Very good book.
July 1, 2013
I am in no hurry to finish this book. In fact, it is not a book to read but to study. William Safire is a erudite and I wonder how he wrote introduction of this book! It is amazing. I marked this quote from introduction ''Tell them what you're going to tell them; then tell them; then tell them what you told them''.
May 3, 2015
This is a solid anthology of speeches, but is organized by theme, rather than chronologically, and many of the selections seem to be very spotty (not all that representative either of their historical period or of that genre of speaking). Still, for an inexpensive anthology (I bought the ebook for under $5), it is a useful book (especially for class purposes, as I used it).
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