Presidential Speeches Throughout History

For Wed:

• Hamilton, Federalist # 70, 71, 73
• Tocqueville, pp. 121-138, 690-695

Presidents gave relatively few speeches in the 18th and 19th centuries. Washington delivered his Farewell Address in writing.

• Norms were different.
• Technology did not allow the president's voice to reach many people

Households with Radio Sets:

1922	60,000
1927	6,750,000
1932	18,450,000
1937	24,500,000
1942	30,600,000

Source: Historical Statistics of the United States, 796.

FDR and the radio:  Day of Infamy (skip to 4:05).

Data: Public activities

"A speech is a fondue pot." -- Peggy Noonan

On March 8, 1983, President Reagan spoke to the National Association of Evangelicals in Orlando, He expressed his views on the Soviet Union, famously calling it an "evil empire." He defended the Judeo-Christian traditions against the Soviet Union's totalitarian leadership and lack of religious faith, saying that these differences were at the heart of the conflict between the two nations.

Click here to see the typescript of the speech.  

This document makes clear that Reagan did not simply read the words before him:  he played a very active part in writing the speech itself.  One amusing sidelight:  speechwriter Tony Dolan included a spurious quotation from Alexis deTocqueville -- which Reagan changed:

Here is the official text.

And here is video:

 Reagan, religion, and the spurious Tocqueville line.

And of course, the "evil empire."

As delivered (start around 2:00)

Clinton and Social Security (at 37:30)

Obama and Religion:

Presidential approval and the limits of the bully pulpit.