Were it not for Abraham Lincoln the term “fourscore” would not just be forgotten but possibly never ever surfaced beyond the middle ages when it was an occasionally used phrase to represent 80 years?
Lincoln rescued the phrase at Gettysburg by adding the number seven to represent the time span from the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the November 1863 Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg.
Only 271 words long, it remains as the finest speech by a U.S. President ever. It is cherished for its passion, poetry and even its brevity, but most of all for establishing America not just as a union of states, but as “The United States,” a nation, Lincoln famously said, “conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” The Civil War, he predicted, was a test of whether the nation would endure.
In tribute to the soldiers who died there, he added the speech’s most famous line: “and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
In a world in which many other nations have fallen apart Lincoln’s nation would be unshakeable and unbreakable.
Not to outdo Gettysburg, but to place some contemporary presidential speeches at least in the same hallowed grounds, here are other favorite well-spoken moments:
DECLARING WAR, FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT, DEC. 8, 1941
Few could tell that the man who was about to become the most powerful in the world was being held together by metal braces to overcome his polio-like conditions as he addressed the United State Congress on the day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
“Yesterday, December 7, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”
Best known for the “infamy” line that speech would catapult the nation into what would become World War II, first against Japan and then with Germany preying over Europe. Without the United States’ intervention, the war’s outcome would have likely been disastrous. Instead, the day of infamy became the first step to salvation.
A NEW GENERATION, JOHN KENNEDY INAUGURATION, JAN. 21, 1961.
Now the war was over and the nation could get back to growing, prospering and even having fun without having to worry about regret notices sent to American homes from the Defense Department. There was a new president, John Kennedy, who was young, rich, had a beautiful wife and a family that played touch football on the beaches of Hyannis Port.
In the years since the war’s end in 1945, there was a war baby boom and by ’61 many of them were in their teens, rocking to Elvis and getting close to the time when they would be rocked by earning a living. They related to Kennedy’s statement “the torch has been passed to a new generation.” And some gave serious thought to Kennedy’s demand, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” With growing challenges from the “Cold War” and Vietnam, there would be lots of questions to ask.
LONG NATIONAL NIGHTMARE, GERALD FORD, AUG. 9, 1974
Never before had the nation witnessed a president resigning from office as Richard Nixon had done the night before. Facing a likely impeachment from the protracted Watergate scandal, Nixon knew it was time to go.
Because of a recent constitutional amendment that created a way to fill a vacancy in the vice-presidency by presidential appointment rather than election, Ford had been selected to that job and then was in succession, without having been elected, for the presidency when Nixon resigned. Yet it was his moment. He was not a particularly articulate man but he hit his stride as he faced the TV cameras. The nation seemed assured with his words:
“My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over.
Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men. Here the people rule. …
As we bind up the internal wounds of Watergate, more painful and more poisonous than those of foreign wars, let us restore the golden rule to our political process, and let brotherly love purge our hearts of suspicion and of hate.”
Ford would only serve out the remainder of Nixon’s term and his presidency would be troubled by the legacy he inherited, but for that moment Gerald Ford was assuring to the nation and he served it well.
SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER DISASTER, RONALD REAGAN, JAN. 28, 1986
It had been a tragic day. Challenger, the space shuttle, had exploded on takeoff that morning. All of the seven passengers were killed. There had been so much optimism in the space program. The Reagan administration had advanced the idea of having a teacher, selected from national competition, among the astronauts. Her name was Christa McAuliffe and the image of her waving with her fellow travelers as she entered the spacecraft would be seen around the world and emblazoned in everyone’s mind.
Reagan, having been a film actor, had movie star good looks and a great sense of delivery. Speaking words written by speech ace Peggy Noonan, Reagan that night was the paternal figure that the nation needed. He talked about the tragedy and the losses and even the historical context of explorers from other eras who had lost their lives trying to expand borders. He also delivered the most poetic presidential line ever:
“The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God.”
WE GOT BIN LADEN, BARACK OBAMA, MAY 2, 2011
There had been rumors that Sunday about what President Barack Obama was going to announce on national television that night. The anticipation was high, so was the euphoria in the country’s reaction.
“Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.”
It was unheard of for a head of government to publicly announce a state authorized murder of a political leader who, in this case had been the mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks. But this required no explanation, no pontification. There was joy throughout the nation and particularly beyond the gates at the front of the White House where crowds chanted “U-S-A, U-S-A!”
Obama is a powerful speaker with a deep commanding voice. Making the news even better was that it was our Navy Seals that performed the mission and there were no casualties. The president’s message was clear and did no equivocate. The world’s number one terrorist was dead.
Also important to his message was the presidents closing lines, which at many celebrations may have been drowned out by the cheering:
“Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.”
And as a grateful nation might have responded: Amen!
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