PathosWe're watching a movie, and the main character is going through a seriously difficult life event of some kind. The background music is slow and sad, the main character and all of his or her f...

Writing wartime political speeches is a delicate business. Speechwriters are like bomb techs, combining and splicing words like so many wires: which words (wires) will get the point across without...

AuthoritativeEric Cartman thrilled South Park audiences everywhere when he donned his mirrored shades and told the world to respect his authoritah. What he actually wanted was for people to respect...

The official title of this speech is "Remarks on East-West Relations at the Brandenburg Gate." Sure, that tells us where it happened and gives us a rough idea of what it's about, but that's pretty...

Thank you very much. Chancellor Kohl, Governing Mayor Diepgen, ladies and gentlemen: Twenty four years ago, President John F. Kennedy visited Berlin, speaking to the people of this city and the wor...

And I would like, before I close, to say one word. I have read, and I have been questioned since I've been here about certain demonstrations against my coming. And I would like to say just one thin...

(4) Base CampPresident Reagan was known as the "Great Communicator," so it's no surprise that his speeches are somewhat easy to read and have a nice flow. (He also had an excellent speechwriter.) T...

In-Text ReferencesHistorical and Political ReferencesBerlin's 750th B-Day (5, 95)World War II (24)Marshall Plan (26, 28, 31)European Community (34, indirectly in 89)Wirtschaftswunder (35)Intermedia...

Speechwriter Peter Robinson got the phrase "tear down this wall" from his dinner party hostess on a trip to West Berlin. Wonder if she got any royalties…? (Source)Reagan and Gorbachev were hugger...