Best Democratic Speeches

[Jackson4Gore]

I am currently making a CD with Democratic presidents, VPs, Senators, etc. making famous speeches. I need a playlist though. Can someone help me compile a list of famous speeches by our great leaders?

Here is some off the top of my head:

JFK Inaugural Speech
LBJ After JFK's death
Clinton's Inaugural Speech
Gore's Concession Speech
Yesterday's Speech

I need some more and places to find them in MP3 or Wav form!

Thanks

[Alex146]

1. you could probably fit FDR in there

[JI7]

2. hubert humphrey at 1948 democratic convention

[bryant69]

3. I know he's not a democrat

but you might also look at Eisenhowers speech upon leaving the white house-- the one about the military industrial complex.

however you might be looking for specifically Democratic Party speeches. Which is the only way to explain nothing by MLK.

William Jennings Bryan's Cross of Gold Speech was good--I think he was a democrat when he gave it. And of course Thomas Jefferson had numerous great speeches--although it would be hard to find them in MP3 or WAV form.

Bryant
check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[blm]

4. Get hold of Kerry's speech after the murder of Matthew Shephard.

Hearsay around the industry said it was the inspiration for Aaron Sorkin's West Wing episode targeting bigotry.

[OKNancy]

5. Speeches and more speeches

http://www.historychannel.com/speeches/archive1.html

[Guava Jelly]

6. So many floor speaches by Robert Byrd

mostly pre Iraq War..
He brought tears to my eyes on many occasions

[AlCzervik]

7. Ike's iron triangle speech

We should have listened to Ike, what he feared is what is happening now.

even though ike was a repub, it's a very important speech.

[eaprez]

8. Bill Bradley

and the speech he gave on racisim on the floor!
Jessie Jackson's historic speech at the Dem Convention in...98

[Michael Costello]

9. Democratic speeches

William Jenning Bryan's 1896 "Cross of Gold" speech. I can't remember the last time I heard a Democratic presidential candidate speak in a manner that sounds so radical to my ears:

"Upon which side will the Democratic party fight; upon the side of 'the idle holders of idle capital' or upon the side of 'the struggling masses?' That is the question which the party must answer first, and then it must be answered by each individual hereafter. The sympathies of the Democratic party, as shown by the platform, are on the side of the struggling masses who have ever been the foundation of the Democratic party."

Then there's FDR's 1932 inaugural address:

"This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance...Plenty is at our doorstep, but a generous use of it languishes in the very sight of the supply. Primarily this is because the rulers of the exchange of mankind’s goods have failed, through their own stubbornness and their own incompetence, have admitted their failure, and abdicated. Practices of the unscrupulous money changers stand indicted in the court of public opinion, rejected by the hearts and minds of men.

True they have tried, but their efforts have been cast in the pattern of an outworn tradition. Faced by failure of credit they have proposed only the lending of more money. Stripped of the lure of profit by which to induce our people to follow their false leadership, they have resorted to exhortations, pleading tearfully for restored confidence."

I watched the movie about Clinton's 1992 election, the War Room. Carville gave a short speech about the value of labor which I found touching - it's not something you hear out of the mouths of Democrats much nowadays.

In 1912, Eugene Debs won 6% of the vote for president. He was not a Democrat though, he ran on the Socialist ticket. He said in a speech

"As long as there is a lower class, I am in it.
As long as there is a criminal element, I am of it.
As long as there is a soul in prison, I am not free."

[Insider]

10. Barbara Jordan: Keynote Speech 1976 Dem Convention

http://www.elf.net/bjordan/keynote.html

--snip--
Throughout out history, when people have looked for new ways to solve their problems, and to uphold the principles of this nation, many times they have turned to political parties. They have often turned to the Democratic Party.

What is it, what is it about the Democratic Party that makes it the instrument that people use when they search for ways to shape their future? Well I believe the answer to that question lies in our concept of governing. Our concept of governing is derived from our view of people. It is a concept deeply rooted in a set of beliefs firmly etched in the national conscience, of all of us.

Now what are these beliefs?

First, we believe in equality for all and privileges for none. This is a belief that each American regardless of background has equal standing in the public forum, all of us. Because we believe this idea so firmly, we are inclusive rather than an exclusive party. Let everybody come.
--snip--

[trumad]

11. Remember Clinton's speech a while back in England

in front of the Labor Party... That was somethin...