40 Famous Speeches That Have Had Long-Term Effects on Society

The majority of President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration speech, delivered on January 20, 1961, was well-written and profound. In the speech, he made a direct call to Americans throughout the country to stand up for their country in words that were equally full of promise and grim warnings.

The notion of change was strong enough to propel FDR’s campaign to victory. In his first inaugural address, Roosevelt aimed to boost the nation’s battered morale and made the case for why he would require extensive executive authority to combat the Great Depression. This one rivals the more famous “Infamy” speech.

The American colonists planted the seeds of revolution even before the first shots got fired in Lexington. Patrick Henry was one of these early revolutionists, who, during the Second Virginia Convention, said one of the most legendary lines at the end of his speech that echoed throughout the colonies.

Michelle Obama was not only the first lady when Barack Obama was the president, but she was also a brilliant speaker. In 2016, during the Democratic National Convention, she spoke to the younger populace of the United States by talking about the importance of staying true to your values and standing tall when someone tries to think lower of you.

The National Indian Congress and Mahatma Gandhi supported the non-violent struggle to compel Britain to “Quit India.” On August 8, 1942, Gandhi gave a speech that urged for the independence of India and the end of the British colonial era overall. While his words might have reached other Indians, the British reacted by jailing him.

The Cold War was a period that brought anxiety to the everyday person and creativity to the authors and poets of both sides of the Iron Curtain, and William Faulkner was one of them. In 1950, during his Nobel Prize acceptance, Faulkner gave a speech that challenged writers to write about the human heart instead of the present nuclear problem.

After his second term as the president ended, Dwight D. Eisenhower gave his farewell address, touching upon the dangers the military-industrial complex could bring to uneducated citizens. He warned of the threat military spending could have on the economy of the United States and the corruption that comes from it.

Theodore Roosevelt advocated for moderation rather than radicalism, in addition to speaking about some progressive ideas too. In this speech, he talked about the importance of distinguishing the good from the bad, the actions that businesses were taking to prevent regulations, and the importance of highly valued character.

Socrates was an Athenian philosopher who encouraged younger Greeks to think and question everything about authority. Sadly, he got arrested by the Athenians on some serious charges. The “Apology” serves as Socrates’ response to these accusations. Socrates accepted his faith and passed away as one of the best philosophers.

Some speeches are more negative than others, yet are still quoted even by those who aren’t keen to agree with the ideas presented. The “Every Man A King” speech by Huey P. Long is the perfect example. In his speech, Long talks about the sharing of wealth and the problems that rich people create in the United States.

Mary Fisher spoke at the 1992 Republican National Convention in Houston, Texas, after receiving her HIV diagnosis. Thirty years later, her speech from that evening is still fondly recalled and gets cited as a superb example of advocate persuasion in numerous rhetorical works.

Millions of Americans watched as seven Americans launched the space shuttle Challenger on January 28, 1986. The spacecraft was engulfed in a blaze 73 seconds later. A few hours after the catastrophe, President Ronald Reagan went on the radio and the airways to pay tribute to these “pioneers” and reassure a shaken populace.

Alexander the Great launched his long campaign to extend his kingdom and empire in 335 B.C. In 326 B.C., Alexander utilized his gift for oratory, which he had honed while studying under Aristotle, to give his warriors the inspiration they required to go on to battle and to win after ten years of warfare and being away from home.

An Oscar win presents quite a unique opportunity, as the winner gets a moment to speak to the celebrities and viewers of the ceremony. Rami Malek, an actor from an Egyptian household, used this opportunity to talk about diversity and inclusion in professional industries and the struggles that immigrants might face.

Charles De Gaulle led an armored division when the German war machine attacked France and quickly occupied it. He fled from the occupied areas into England, where, on June 18, 1940, he appealed to the French people and helped spark the fire of the resistance against the German occupation.

Some speeches get told to hurt an enemy. Cicero started his Catiline Orations with his archenemy present. In terms of political speeches, it was brief, about 3,400 words, and straight to the point. In the speech, he told how he rescued Rome from rebellion and said that Catiline and his allies should be dealt with quickly.

In 431 B.C., Pericles delivered the customary funeral oration that was dedicated to the deceased Athenians. As he spoke to the Athenians, Pericles highlighted the importance of the sacrifice the fallen soldiers had paid for with their blood. Along with praising the fallen heroes, Pericles talked about the greatness of Athens and the Greeks.

The speech Mrs. Clinton gave on September 5, 1995, in a suburb of Beijing, focusing on women’s rights problems, was a career-changing moment that Mrs. Clinton wanted to make sure her efforts were centered around. During the 2016 presidential run, she used the speech as a jumping-off point.

Though you may not have heard of the Athenian orator Demosthenes, consider the fact that one of history’s most famed speakers of all time, Cicero, cited his ancient forebear 300 years later. Demosthenes’ Third Philippic, so-called because it was the third speech he gave devoted to convincing his fellow Athenians to take up arms against the encroaching forces of Phillip of Macedon, literally led men to war. 

General Douglas MacArthur was a national icon who got dismissed from the leading role in the Korean War by Harry S. Truman. When he got fired from his job, he went to Congress to give a farewell address. During the speech, he talked about the threats that exist in the world and the importance of national security.