Great Speeches of the 20th Century

[mr blur]

The Guardian is doing a series of Speeches that were World Changing.

Today:

Ask not what your country can do for you
This speech was delivered by John F Kennedy at his inauguration in Washington on January 20 1961.
Video: Kennedy's historic address
<snip>

A wise and courageous address
It wasn't even his best, but Kennedy's inaugural address was still world-changing, writes Ted Sorenson, JFK's primary speechwriter.

Somehow I don't think there'll be anything by the Chimp or the Poodle in the series.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/greatspeeches/kennedy/0,,2060095,00.html

[HCE SuiGeneris]

1. I beg to differ...

While Kennedy could galvanize a nation, this man can ostracize a nation from the universe... "priceless"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L88LTwwlnh4

[Mendocino]

2. July 4 1939

"Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth"-Lou Gehrig

Yes it was about sport, not world changing, but those simple words spoke volumes about courage.

[Captain Hilts]

3. To be different, I'll add Spencer Tracy's at the end of Judgment at Nuremberg.

about the value of one single human being. What the hell, the one at the end of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner too.

As for political speeches, I still remember Barbara Jordan's at the DNC in 1976. And I saw a great one by Eunice Kennedy Shriver about the Special Olympics where she spoke of "determination without anger." I still remember it. Very moving.

I thought Pres. Clinton's - AND Al Sharpton's - speeches at the 2004 convention were fantastic.