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Our nation's first president is not usually thought of as a man of
words. Unlike the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials in the nation's
capital, the Washington monument is inscribed with no words for the
benefit of posterity. Yet Washington was keenly aware of the power
and importance of language. From the time of his entrance into the
public arena at the age of twenty to his death forty-seven years
later, he produced a steady stream of letters, reports, memoranda,
addresses, messages, and speeches designed to express his views and
to persuade people to them. Here, collected in an elegant volume,
is the authoritative selection of Washington's thoughts and
observations culled from his public discourse and private
correspondence. As we read his comments on subjects as diverse as
government, foreign policy, religious freedom, friendship,
character, and relations between the sexes, we find that his words
are often as applicable to our own time as they were to his.
Boldly breaking the mold of previous anthologies, Words of a
Century: The Top 100 American Speeches, 1900-1999 contains the
complete--and authentic--texts of the best American speeches of the
twentieth century as delivered to their immediate audiences. It
features a remarkable array of speakers, from Woodrow Wilson,
Clarence Darrow, and Carrie Chapman Catt to Martin Luther King,
Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy, and Barbara Jordan.
As diverse in type as they are in subject matter, the speeches
open a unique window on the twentieth century, and many continue to
resonate in our own time. Each is preceded by a headnote with
background on the speaker, the occasion, and the impact of the
speech. More than 2,000 annotations identify people, events, and
textual references that help bring the speeches to life for today's
readers.
This exceptional anthology is ideal for courses in rhetoric,
political communication, and twentieth century American history, as
well as for anyone interested in the artistry and impact of the
spoken word.
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