Stephen E. Lucas

From the Publisher: 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.

"The Act of Abjuration is the English translation of the Plakkaat van Verlating, the Dutch Declaration of Independence, signed on 26 July 1581 in The Hague. It is a well written statement by provincial leaders in the Netherlands ... that cited a list of grievances and declared they would no longer be subject to the rule of King Philip II of Spain due to his 'tyrannical' behaviour. The act lead to the establishment of the Dutch Republic. The pamphlet is seen as a forerunner to the U.S. Declaration of Independence in 1776. It was used a model by Thomas Jefferson when drafting the American declaration"--Back cover.

"Our nation's first president is not usually thought of as a man of words. 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 is the authoritative selection of Washington's thoughts and observations culled from his public discourse and private correspondence."--BOOK JACKET.

Alphabetical list of topics.