The speech was at the Lincoln Memorial! The location was symbolic – Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation (1863). King's speech was broadcast live on television. He spoke of a future where people would "not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." The speech was a defining moment of the civil rights movement. The March on Washington was organized by A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin. President John F. Kennedy watched the speech on television and reportedly said, "He's damned good." The speech helped build momentum for the Civil Rights Act (1964). A portion of the Lincoln Memorial steps is engraved with a quote from the speech. The speech was added to the National Recording Registry in 2002.

The Dunkirk evacuation prompted the speech! The evacuation was a miracle – the British Navy and civilian "Little Ships" (pleasure boats, fishing boats) rescued soldiers. Churchill delivered the speech to Parliament; it was not broadcast live (but was later broadcast). The speech prepared the British public for the possibility of a German invasion. The phrase "we shall never surrender" became a rallying cry. Churchill also gave other famous speeches: "Blood, toil, tears, and sweat" (May 13, 1940) and "This was their finest hour" (June 18, 1940). Churchill was a master orator. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature (1953). The speech is often quoted and parodied. Churchill's speeches were delivered in his distinctive voice, which he had trained (he had a lisp and worked to correct it).

The speech was at the dedication of a cemetery! The main speaker was Edward Everett, a famous orator, who spoke for two hours. Lincoln's two-minute speech was initially overlooked but later recognized as a masterpiece. The speech begins with "Four score and seven years ago" (87 years, referring to 1776) and ends with the famous call to ensure that "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Five known manuscript copies survive. The speech is inscribed on the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. It is considered one of the greatest speeches in American history. Lincoln was assassinated less than two years later. The address is memorized by generations of schoolchildren. The site of the speech is the Gettysburg National Military Park.

Reagan challenged Mikhail Gorbachev! The speech was delivered near the wall. Reagan's speechwriters debated whether to include the line; Reagan insisted. The West German government also expressed concerns. The speech is often cited as a turning point in the Cold War. Reagan was a staunch anti-communist. He had called the Soviet Union an "Evil Empire" in a 1983 speech. Gorbachev later said the wall fell because of Reagan's speech. The Brandenburg Gate was in East Berlin, so Reagan was speaking in the shadow of the wall. The speech was broadcast on both sides of the wall. The wall fell in 1989; Germany was reunified in 1990. Reagan's speech is one of the most iconic of the Cold War. The phrase "tear down this wall" is remembered as a call for freedom.

Kennedy's famous line is "Ask not what your country can do for you!" The speech also includes: "Ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." The speech was delivered on a cold day; Kennedy did not wear an overcoat. He was the youngest elected president (43). The speech had a lasting impact, inspiring the Peace Corps (established 1961). The address was delivered after his narrow election victory over Richard Nixon. The speech referenced the Cold War: "We shall pay any price, bear any burden... to assure the survival and the success of liberty." Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. The speech is carved on his grave at Arlington National Cemetery. It is considered one of the best inaugural addresses in U.S. history.

FDR said "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself"! The speech was broadcast on radio to millions of Americans. FDR was speaking as the nation faced 25% unemployment and a collapsing banking system. The speech was short (1,883 words) and was heard by many who had lost their savings. FDR's "New Deal" followed, creating programs like Social Security, the WPA, and the CCC. FDR was the only president elected to four terms. He was paralyzed from the waist down due to polio, but this was not widely shown or photographed. The inaugural address is considered one of the great presidential speeches. The phrase is still widely used to encourage courage. FDR died in office in 1945, just before the end of World War II.

Kennedy spoke in West Berlin! The crowd of over 120,000 roared its approval. The myth that he called himself a jelly doughnut is false – in context, "Ich bin ein Berliner" was perfectly understood. The speech was written by Kennedy himself, with help from translator Robert Lochner. It was one of Kennedy's most memorable speeches, delivered less than five months before his assassination. The speech was a morale boost for West Berliners, who lived as an island of democracy surrounded by communist East Germany. The phrase remains a symbol of American-German friendship. Kennedy also gave his "We choose to go to the Moon" speech at Rice University (1962). The "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech is carved in stone near the Brandenburg Gate. Kennedy's visit was a major Cold War event.

Pearl Harbor prompted the speech! FDR delivered the speech in person to a joint session of Congress. The speech lasted about 7 minutes. It was FDR's most famous speech after his inaugural address. The phrase "a date which will live in infamy" is memorable. Germany and Italy declared war on the United States on December 11, and the U.S. responded in kind. FDR directed the war effort until his death in April 1945. The speech is carved at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C. The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise; the U.S. had been neutral in World War II. The speech united the American public behind the war effort. It was one of the most important presidential speeches in U.S. history.

Churchill said "blood, toil, tears, and sweat"! The speech lasted only about six minutes. It was delivered as German forces were invading France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Churchill had succeeded Neville Chamberlain, who had resigned after the failure of the Norway campaign. The speech was not broadcast live; it was later recorded. The phrase "blood, sweat, and tears" (often misquoted) entered the lexicon. Churchill's speeches rallied British morale during the darkest days of World War II. He later gave "We shall fight on the beaches" (June 4) and "This was their finest hour" (June 18). Churchill was a master of English prose and rhetoric. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature (1953). The speech is considered one of the greatest political speeches of the 20th century.

The speech was at Rice University! The stadium was filled with 40,000 people. Kennedy had announced the lunar goal to Congress in May 1961. The Rice speech explained the decision to the public. The speech also emphasized the benefits of space exploration (technology, national pride). Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, before the goal was achieved. The speech is considered one of the great presidential speeches. The phrase "We choose to go to the Moon" is iconic. The speech included the quote: "Why does Rice play Texas?" (a reference to a football rivalry). The Rice speech helped maintain public support for the Apollo program, despite its high cost (about $25 billion). Apollo 11 succeeded in 1969, fulfilling Kennedy's goal. The speech is carved at the Kennedy Space Center.