Speech 36: John F. Kennedy (we choose to go to the moon)
This iconic speech is a beautiful display of oratory and leadership. “We choose to go to the moon” On a baking hot day in September 1962, President John F. Kennedy spoke to an assembled crowd at Rice Stadium in Houston Texas. His mission was...
Speech 34: Nelson Mandela (An ideal for which I am prepared to die)
On the 20th of April 1964 Nelson Mandela delivered a powerful, restrained and poignant speech at his trial. “An ideal for which I am prepared to die” The words of Nelson Mandela’s speech made at his own trial on April 20th 1964 are...
Speech 31: Nancy Astor (Maiden Speech)
Nancy Astor was the first woman to sit in the British House of Commons, serving from 1919 to 1945. Her maiden speech was delivered on the 24th of February, 1920. “I know that it was very difficult for some honourable members to receive the first lady MP into...
Speech 30: Joe Biden (a message of unity)
Joe Biden speaks at the 2020 Democratic National Convention The 2020 Democratic National Convention was the first to be delivered as a virtual event. There must have been hundreds of challenges to overcome – logistics, technology and participation. But the...
Speech 29: Michelle Obama (Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country…)
This week, Michelle Obama delivered a keynote speech on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention. A convention like no other. In the new world of virtual delivery, Obama spoke to camera whilst seated. The speech was just over 18 minutes long and...
Speech 28: Theodore Roosevelt (The Man in the Arena)
Words have power. This is the belief that has powered the Speech a Week series. There are many fine speeches that have captured the attention of the audience, inspired action and reverberated through the years. But few speeches punch quite so much power into every...
Speech 24: Malcolm X (The Ballot or the Bullet)
The Ballot or the Bullet speech was delivered by American civil rights activist Malcolm X on 3rd April 1964 at Cory Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio. “Once you change your philosophy, you change your thought pattern. Once you change your thought pattern, you...
Speech 20: Franklin Roosevelt (a day that will live in infamy)
The Franklin D Roosevelt speech on 8th December 1941 “It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has...
