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Wow! Obama Tries to Trash Donald Trump and Turns into a Stuttering Mess
Dude! Spit it out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSxo9-Z5Ki0
Ever since the advent of the teleprompter, the art of public speaking has deteriorated into public reading aloud. George Bush and Barack Obama are its masters. Take away the teleprompter and "going off script" takes on a whole new meaning.
For those who think these are great public speakers, I wish they had heard those who practiced the art in time past. John Kennedy. Evert Dirkson. FDR.
I was fortunate to grow up in the American South where public speaking was an art form practiced by every town politician, lawyer, and storyteller. My favorite was a man named Dunaway Walker, a teacher of Latin and Rhetoric at an exclusive boys prep academy in Baltimore. The man could enthrall audiences of every age, even when they were mixed together, infants to great grandparents, in one room. I greatly regret that video recording didn't come into existence until decades later.
However, one of the absolute best speeches I ever attended was a political rally where George Wallace spoke while campaigning for the Democratic nomination for President. Yes, that George Wallace. Although I reviled his brand of Democratic discrimination and bigotry, I had to afford him kudos for his ability to enthrall an audience, even his political detractors and enemies. He led the audience like a conductor so that when he leaned forward over the pulpit, the audience leaned reflexively towards him. I had a vantage point at the back of the arena from which I could see the audience swaying, as though dancing, in rhythm to the sound of his voice. I have never seen the like since, certainly not today.
Ever since the advent of the teleprompter, the art of public speaking has deteriorated into public reading aloud. George Bush and Barack Obama are its masters. Take away the teleprompter and "going off script" takes on a whole new meaning.
For those who think these are great public speakers, I wish they had heard those who practiced the art in time past. John Kennedy. Evert Dirkson. FDR.
I was fortunate to grow up in the American South where public speaking was an art form practiced by every town politician, lawyer, and storyteller. My favorite was a man named Dunaway Walker, a teacher of Latin and Rhetoric at an exclusive boys prep academy in Baltimore. The man could enthrall audiences of every age, even when they were mixed together, infants to great grandparents, in one room. I greatly regret that video recording didn't come into existence until decades later.
However, one of the absolute best speeches I ever attended was a political rally where George Wallace spoke while campaigning for the Democratic nomination for President. Yes, that George Wallace. Although I reviled his brand of Democratic discrimination and bigotry, I had to afford him kudos for his ability to enthrall an audience, even his political detractors and enemies. He led the audience like a conductor so that when he leaned forward over the pulpit, the audience leaned reflexively towards him. I had a vantage point at the back of the arena from which I could see the audience swaying, as though dancing, in rhythm to the sound of his voice. I have never seen the like since, certainly not today.
Posted in these groups: 
Public Speaking
Public Speaking
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 14
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JFK I heard as a kid and always remembered his power of the podium. However, Winston Churchill would be my pick hands down. Most everyone else is known for their quips; "I paid for this mic", etc.
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CPT Jack Durish
I'm currently reading the fifth volume of eight in a biography of Churchill. Whenever I read the text of one of his speeches, I can hear his voice in my head. I was especially surprised that he had a speech impediment and overcame it with a style that hid it well
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
John F Kennedy was not only a great speaker but his way of handling the press was just awesome. We have the John F Kennedy library next to my old high school in Dorchester MA and if you visit Boston put it on your itinerary along with Fenway Park..
John F Kennedy gave several speeches at BC when I was student but his brother Bobby gave the keynote speech at my commencement and I thought he was outstanding and more passionate and stirring than his older brother John... Bobby was given an Honorary Doctor of Law degree for his work on the Senate Committee investigating union racketeering. Bobby Kennedy stood next to me when we were gathering to enter Alumni Field and he kept chatting with young kids who were running up to him to say Hello..
John F Kennedy gave several speeches at BC when I was student but his brother Bobby gave the keynote speech at my commencement and I thought he was outstanding and more passionate and stirring than his older brother John... Bobby was given an Honorary Doctor of Law degree for his work on the Senate Committee investigating union racketeering. Bobby Kennedy stood next to me when we were gathering to enter Alumni Field and he kept chatting with young kids who were running up to him to say Hello..
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MSG (Join to see)
CAPT Kevin B. The "I paid for this mic" aside, I invite you to take a listen to the Gipper's August 19, 1976 impromptu speech at the Republican National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri.
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Who was the best public speaker you ever heard?
President Ronald Reagan was the best public speaker I ever heard and especially when he said:
“Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem.”
President Ronald Reagan was the best public speaker I ever heard and especially when he said:
“Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem.”
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CPT Jack Durish
His Memorial Day speech is among the best ever "performed". I loved visiting his library in Simi Valley, CA where they play many of his speeches. One in particular had me in tears. Speaking of his beloved ranch he quoted a passage from the Bible "I lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help..." By coincidence, it was the same biblical verse I had selected to include in letters of condolence to the families of battle casualties in Vietnam. Hearing him read that passage hit me like a freight train
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
CPT Jack Durish - Reagan was not too bad when he debated Carter and Mondale during the presidential campaigns. I liked when Reagan was asked if age is a factor in this race and he told Mondale that he refused to use his age and inexperience as a factor in this presidential campaign.
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CPT Jack Durish
Sgt Tom Cunnally - What might surprise almost everyone is that Reagan wrote his own material, especially the humorous stuff. His wit won him many friends, even among his staunchest political adversaries.
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CPT Jack Durish, I think that General Douglas MacArthur ranks among the best. His Duty, Honor, Country speech (to the Corps of Cadets at the USMA on 12MAY62) is considered one of the best speeches ever made by an American. He was 82 years old (I think) when he gave the speech. He used no notes, there's not an "uh" or an "ah" or a stammer and I think it lasted almost 20 minutes. It almost sounds like poetry. I was not at the event, so I've only heard the recording and read the transcript. However, to not include him is simply not possible in my opinion.
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
We have General Douglas MacArthur's speech he gave to congress after he was fired by President Truman in the Marine Memorial Club in San Francisco CA....If you visit San Francisco sometime you may want to stop by this club and hotel it is on Sutter Street and not too far from downtown SF....
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LTC Stephen C.
Another great speech, Sgt Tom Cunnally, that ended, as you know of course, as follows:
"The world has turned over many times since I took the oath on the plain at West Point, and the hopes and dreams have long since vanished, but I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barracks ballads of that day which proclaimed most proudly that old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
And like the old soldier of that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Good-bye."
Like the Duty, Honor, Country speech, it's almost poetry.
"The world has turned over many times since I took the oath on the plain at West Point, and the hopes and dreams have long since vanished, but I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barracks ballads of that day which proclaimed most proudly that old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
And like the old soldier of that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Good-bye."
Like the Duty, Honor, Country speech, it's almost poetry.
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