Famous Speeches

Here is a website with transcripts and some audio/video of famous speeches:

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speechbank.htm

Here is a speech by Barbara Jordan--before Obama, Barbara Jordan spoke of change:

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/barbarajordan1992dnc.html

And here is the text of one of my favorite speeches, by Barry Goldwater:

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/barrygoldwater1964rnc.htm

We see in private property and in economy based upon and fostering private property, the one way to make government a durable ally of the whole man, rather than his determined enemy. We see in the sanctity of private property the only durable foundation for constitutional government in a free society. And -- And beyond that, we see, in cherished diversity of ways, diversity of thoughts, of motives and accomplishments. We don't seek to lead anyone's life for him. We only seek -- only seek to secure his rights, guarantee him opportunity -- guarantee him opportunity to strive, with government performing only those needed and constitutionally sanctioned tasks which cannot otherwise be performed...

Balance, diversity, creative difference: These are the elements of the Republican equation. Republicans agree -- Republicans agree heartily to disagree on many, many of their applications, but we have never disagreed on the basic fundamental issues of why you and I are Republicans.

This is a Party. This Republican Party is a Party for free men, not for blind followers, and not for conformists.

That's from 1964, back when Republicans knew what they stood for. How will the GOP recover from its 2008 defeat? All they have to do is look at the not-too-distant past for answers.

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Here's a link for the lawyers--speeches by U.S. Supreme Court Justices:

http://www.supremecourtus.gov/publicinfo/speeches/speeches.html