Great Speeches

You learn to write good speeches by listening to good speeches.
~ William McGurn, Associated Press (10 April 2005). Ex-'WSJ' Scribe Gets Hang of New Job as Bush Speechwriter

William Jennings Bryan

At the turn of the century, Bryan was largely considered the preeminent public-speaker in American politics; he burst onto the national political scene largely because of one speech, his "Cross of Gold," delivered to delegates at the Democratic National Convention on July 9, 1896.

William Jefferson Clinton

The "I Have Sinned" speech, hand-written by the President, was delivered at the annual White House prayer breakfast on Friday, September 11, 1998, to an audience of more than 100 ministers, priests and other religious leaders assembled in the East Room.

W.E.B. DuBois

Addressing the second annual meeting of the Niagra Conference, in Harpers Ferry, W.V., on August 16, 1906, DuBois makes a demand for the "full manhood rights" of African-American citizens.

William Faulkner

Accepting the Nobel Prize in Literature: The difficulties of being a artist in the nuclear age. December 10, 1950.

William Lloyd Garrison

On April 14, 1865, only five days after General Lee had surrendered at Appomattox, Garrison articulates "The Governing Passion of My Soul" in a speech given at Charleston, South Carolina.

Will H. Hays

Chairman, Republican National Committee "Citizenship" speech given at .

William G. McAdoo

Although hoping to avoid United States participation World War I because it was seen largely as an old-world European war, Treasury Secretary McAdoo gave his American Rights speech following the U.S. declaration of war in 1917.

William McKinley

In his final address, President McKinley spoke at the opening of the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, NY, on September 5, 1901. He was shot the next day and died eight days later.

William Lyon Phelps

On April 6, 1933, he delivered this speech, titled "The Pleasure of Books," during a radio broadcast.

Ronald Wilson Reagan

Called "the most successful political fundraising speech in history," actor Ronald Reagan launched his political career with the speech, "A Time for Choosing," delivered at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles on October 27, 1964.

Bertrand Arthur William Russell

The famous philosopher and crusader for nuclear disarmament, showing due concern for his fellowmen and generations to come, spoke on BBC Radio, London, after the explosion of first hydrogen bomb on December 30, 1954.

Betty Williams

On winning the Nobel Peace Prize for 1976: Movement of Peace People and Northern Irish People. December 11, 1977.

Jody Williams

Accepting the Nobel Peace Prize: The war ends, the landmine goes on killing. December 10, 1977.

Woodrow Wilson

The twenty-eighth U.S. president addressed the joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C., on April 2, 1917, in a speech titled "The World Must be Made Safe for Democracy."

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A Collection of Quotes Based on the Name William