Free Downloads American Political Speeches (Penguin Civic Classics)
A selection of speeches by the most inspiring and persuasive orators in American historyPenguin presents a series of six portable, accessible, and—above all—essential reads from American political history, selected by leading scholars. Series editor Richard Beeman, author of The Penguin Guide to the U.S. Constitution, draws together the great texts of American civic life to create a timely and informative mini-library of perennially vital issues. Whether readers are encountering these classic writings for the first time, or brushing up in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, these slim volumes will serve as a powerful and illuminating resource for scholars, students, and civic-minded citizens.American Political Speeches includes the best American rhetoric from inside and outside the White House. Some of the greatest words spoken in American history have come from men and women who lacked the biggest bully pulpit in the country, but who nevertheless were able to move the nation with words. Frederick Douglass explained the irony of Independence Day from the perspective of a slave. Martin Luther King, Jr. described his dream of an interracial America. William Jennings Bryan gave voice to social discontent with a single phrase, "a cross of gold." Barbara Jordan summoned the nation"s outrage during the impeachment hearings against Richard Nixon. And the best presidents, not by coincidence, have tended to be those with an appreciation for the use of language: Lincoln explaining a new birth of freedom at Gettysburg; John Kennedy voicing moral outrage at the Berlin Wall; Franklin D. Roosevelt chatting to a nation gathered in front of radios; Ronald Reagan addressing Congress freshly healed from an assassination attempt.
Series: Penguin Civic Classics
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Penguin Books; 1 edition (August 28, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0143121952
ISBN-13: 978-0143121954
Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.5 x 7.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #37,983 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #7 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Essays & Correspondence > Speeches #243 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Political Science > History & Theory #322 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > United States
Great book giving an overview of some of the best political speeches in our history. I bought another copy as a gift. Every American should be privy to these speeches. Who knew President Eisenhower is the who coined/popularized the term "military industrial complex" and warned of its perpetuation.
Part of Penguin Books Civic Classics, American Political Speeches by Terry Golway should be on every American's bookshelf. Here is a collection of speeches that many of us have heard of at some point during our schooling or in common reference, but chances are many of us also have not read the texts.Speeches ranges from those given by presidents--Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt(s) and more--to noted figures such as Frederick Douglass, William Jennings Bryan, and Hillary Clinton. My book club chose this for one of its selections, and we had endless topics to discuss. Which speeches surprised us? Which ones inspired us? What issues has our country dealt with in the past that we are still addressing today? Which ones seemed prophetic?We talked for two hours and could have gone on for longer if we hadn't run out of time. This is a great selection for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 14 and up or for adult book clubs. Each of the members in our group of adults said we'll buy more copies to pass on to friends, coworkers and other family members. Also, we all said we'd like to get others in the series, which includes Supreme Court decisions, Thomas Paine's Common Sense papers and Lincoln's speeches. There's not much higher of a recommendation I can give than that.
I enjoyed reading these speeches; some very familiar others somewhat new to me or long forgotten. However, it is a shame that many are excepts from the original text. This is a disservice to fully appreciating the historical perspective of the words and of the moment.
my father was thrilled with these. and used them in discussion with friends.
One of the best books I have ever owned. Inspirational!
Great speeches to teach however why is the cover back & front full of marking.Bought as new.! you are slipping with the products!!!
Saw this in a local book store and wanted it. Love reading these powerful speeches. Can't wait to collect the set.
American Political Speeches (Penguin Civic Classics) Lincoln Speeches (Penguin Civic Classics) Wedding Speeches: Father Of The Groom: Sample Speeches to Help the Father of the Groom Give the Perfect Wedding Speech (Wedding Speeches Books By Sam Siv) (Volume 5) The Federalist Papers (Penguin Civic Classics) Supreme Court Decisions (Penguin Civic Classics) Political Theology: Four New Chapters on the Concept of Sovereignty (Columbia Studies in Political Thought / Political History) By Any Means Necessary (Malcolm X Speeches and Writings) (Malcolm X speeches & writings) Rousseau: The Basic Political Writings: Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts, Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, Discourse on Political Economy, ... Contract, The State of War (Hackett Classics) Penguin Classics Beyond Good And Evil (Penguin Modern Classics) Voices of Radical Change: Greatest Speeches of Political and Social Transformation The Political Life of Medicare (American Politics and Political Economy) Capital: Volume 1: A Critique of Political Economy (Penguin Classics) Grundrisse: Foundations of the Critique of Political Economy (Penguin Classics) Capital : A Critique of Political Economy (Penguin Classics) (Volume 2) Capital: A Critique of Political Economy, Vol. 3 (Penguin Classics) The Early Political Writings of the German Romantics (Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought) The History of Islamic Political Thought, Second Edition: The History of Islamic Political Thought: From the Prophet to the Present Political Order and Political Decay: From the Industrial Revolution to the Globalization of Democracy Political Transformations and Public Finances (Political Economy of Institutions and Decisions) The Penguin Classics New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs
