Speeches

[paddywak]

During the course of an evening in the pub the subject turned to famous & inspirational speeches, Churchills "We will fight---", Dr Kings "I have a dream"
lincolns "Gettysberg Adress" JFK's "Ask not---" etc and the question arose as to how many of these famous speeches were actually the work of the orator or did any of these people use speech writers?

[Clanad]

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address still exists in his own handwriting. There are a very few copies, all in his handwriting that he presented to friends shortly after the November, 1863 dedication of the Cemetery... It's probable that Dr. King, Jr. wrote most of his "I have a dream" speech, although it is similar to other, previous speeches in which his writers assisted. Towards the end of the prepared text, Dr. King reverts to his Baptist preacher mode and truly inspires the crowd (and history) as though he were back in Montgomery preaching to an all black congregation...

Ted Sorenson, a relative by marriage to John F. Kennedy was a prolific speech writer (among many serving the President) and most certainly assisted in writing the many orations given by the young President...

[VHG]

I watched a program the other day about the American civil war, and they said that Lincoln was asked to do a speech at Gettysberg.

Everyone expected a long speech, and he did this very short address, lasting only about 2 minutes, and there was much disappointment and annoyance on the day.

It is now one of the most famous speeches in history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Addres s

[paddywak]

thanks for your replies. I knew about the history of the Gettysberg Address and was 100% certain it was Lincolns own work it was the others I couldn't really argue for or against. Personally I've always considered The Gettysberg Address to be pretty much the perfect speech, short , sharp and right to the point of the subject.

[123everton]

Did you know a lot of Churchill's radio speeches were actually read out by an actor?

[paddywak]

Maybe so everton but most of his most famous speeches such as "Blood Tears Toil & Sweat" & "Finest Hour" were made in the House of Commons
http://www.churchill-society-london.org.uk/Spc hIndx.html

[Segilla]

Anyone who is impressed and fascinated by Lincoln's fine Gettysberg address should listen to the American composer, Aaron Copeland's A Lincoln Portrait. This mingles the famous speech with music - some of which you are bound to have heard elsewhere.
Many people have made recordings, including , Ronald Reagan. Margaret Thatcher, Henry Fonda and so on.
Whilst Churchills speeces ralied th natio wheninth dar day pf WWII, there has beneoth loke Lincolns words whic have universal memaning