The Greatest Speeches Of All Time Collection [DVD]

SOUNDWORK's GREATEST SPEECHES OF ALL TIME Box Set combines their three original volumes into one great package. The 39 film and sound clips presented over these 3½ hours represent some of most important moments in modern political history. Fascinating throughout.

Also recommended is JOHN F. KENNEDY: The Presidential Years, which contains highlights of 13 speeches JFK made between 1960 and '63.

CONTENTS of GREATEST SPEECHES Box Set:

VOL. ONE--
Franklin D. Roosevelt: 1942 "State of the Union Address" (post- Pearl Harbor attack).
Winston Churchill: Excerpts of famous speeches made during WWII.
Gen. Douglas MacArthur: "Old Soldiers Never Die..."
Harry S. Truman: Fiery political rhetoric from the "Buck stops here" president.
John F. Kennedy: Highlights of "New Frontiers," the 1961 Inaugural Address ("Ask Not") and "Ich Bin Ein Berliner."
Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Excerpts from two speeches, including his last. - (Memphis, 1968)
Robert F. Kennedy: RFK's impromptu eulogy of Martin Luther King. - (Indiana, 1968)
Malcolm X: A speech delivered in Harlem.
Richard M. Nixon: "I will resign this office effective noon tomorrow..." - ( Aug. 1974)
Ronald Reagan: Speeches made at the start and close of his administration.
Total time: 68:00

VOL. TWO--
Franklin D. Roosevelt: 1st Inaugural Address ("...fear itself") - (3/4/33)
Franklin D. Roosevelt: Answers claim that he feasts on "Grilled Millionaires." - (12/5/38)
Franklin D. Roosevelt: Teamsters Union Banquet, Hotel Statler in Washington D.C. - (9/23/44)
Richard M. Nixon: "Checkers Speech." - (9/23/52)
John F. Kennedy: "Test Ban Treaty" speech at American University. - (6/10/63)
Martin Luther King, Jr.: Brown Chapel in Selma, Alabama. - (3/8/65)
Barry Goldwater: Republican National Convention speech, San Francisco. - (7/16/64)
Ronald Reagan: Speech supporting Goldwater-Miller G.O.P. ticket. - (10/27/64)
Ronald Reagan: At the Brandenburg Gate ("Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall"). - (6/12/87)
Mario Cuomo: Democratic National Convention speech, San Francisco. - (7/16/84)
Jesse Jackson: Political rally, Tendley Baptist Church, Philadelphia. - (1/16/84)
George H.W. Bush: Address to Joint Session of Congress following Desert Storm victory. - (3/6/91)
Bill Clinton: 50th Anniversary of D-Day Invasion. - (6/6/94)
Bill Clinton: 2nd Inaugural Address, Washington D.C. - (1/20/97)
Total Time: 94:30

Disc #3
Will Rogers: Campaign Rally with FDR - 1932
Huey Long: To Congressional Staff members ("redistribute the wealth"). - (12/11/34)
3. Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Second Inaugural Address. - January 20, 1937
George S. Patton: War Bond rally speech, Los Angeles. - (6/12/45)
John L. Lewis: Call for ouster of Secretary of the Interior, after mining disaster. - (4/3/47)
Atty. Joseph Welch: Army vs. McCarthy testimony ("Have you no shame?"). - (4/22/54)
V.P. Richard Nixon-Nikita Khrushchev: "Kitchen Debate," U.S. Embassy, Moscow. - (7/24/59)
Hubert Humphrey: Presidential Primary speech made to farm workers. - (3/14/60)
John F. Kennedy: Civil Rights Legislation address to the nation. - (6/11/63)
Nelson Rockefeller: Republican National Convention speech. - (7/14/64)
Robert F. Kennedy: Democratic National Convention, Atlantic City. - (9/27/64)
U.S. Rep. Barbara Jordan at Impeachment hearings of Richard Nixon. - (7/25/74)
Gerald Ford: Pardon for Richard Nixon. - (9/8/74)
Jimmy Carter: Energy Crisis speech. - (7/15/79)
Ronald Reagan: National Assn. of Evangelicals Convention. - (3/23/83)
Running Time: 52:00

I teach an introductory public speaking course at a local university and start each class with a speech from one of these DVDs. They're wonderful examples of great public speaking and, I hope, an inspiration to my students. For anyone who appreciates history and major political figures, this is a terrific collection to own.

Raw footage, no complete speeches so far. I haven't seen them all yet but I'm not impressed with the quality. Probably won't buy from Speech Works again.