As Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama prepares to speak next to Berlin’s Victory column, a team of Telegraph writers has compiled what we believe are the most significant addresses of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Great speakers: Enoch Powell, Mikhail Gorbachev, Barack Obama Photo: PA, AP and EPA
25 Barack Obama, July 27, 2004
When he spoke to the Democratic National Convention in support of Senator John
Kerry, the party’s presidential nominee against George W. Bush, Barack Obama
was an obscure state senator running for the US Senate. His soaring speech
made the case for putting aside partisan differences and bringing Americans
together; it also introduced him to the country and meant that he was
instantly tipped to become a future president.
“We worship an awesome God in the blue states and we don’t like federal agents
poking around in our libraries in the Red States.”
24 Dwight Eisenhower, June 6, 1944
As Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, Gen Eisenhower announced the D-Day
landings at Normandy to the people of France and Western Europe. Warning
them of further loss and tragedy ahead, he advised the Resistance to be
patient and wait for orders. Eleven months later, the Germans surrendered.
“Great battles lie ahead. I call upon all who love freedom to stand with us.
Keep your faith staunch - our arms are resolute - together we shall achieve
victory.”
Full speech: D-Day broadcast to the people of Western Europe
23 Nikita Khrushchev, February 25, 1956
Delivered in secret before a rapt audience of Communist apparatchiks, this remarkable speech by a Soviet leader helped destroy Stalin’s reputation. Khrushchev launched a full blooded attack on the pillar of the Soviet system, who had been venerated for much of his life. Speaking three years after Stalin’s death, Khrushchev dwelt on his paranoia and brutality. “Stalin became even more capricious, irritable and brutal; in particular, his suspicion grew. His persecution mania reached unbelievable dimensions.”
Full speech: Kruschev's Secret Speech
22 Konrad Adenauer, July 12, 1952
No sooner had Europe ended the Second World War, than leaders on the continent seemed resigned to what French Europeanist Jean Monnet described as “a war that is thought to be inevitable”. But Adenauer, West Germany's first chancellor, espoused the renunciation of nationalistic fury for a common European dream. “I believe that for the first time in history, certainly in the history of the last centuries, countries want to renounce part of their sovereignty, voluntarily and without compulsion, in order to transfer that sovereignty to a supranational structure,” he said.
21 George W. Bush, September 20, 2001
Nine days after the worst terrorist attack on American soil in the history of the United States, George W. Bush addressed both houses of Congress and a stunned nation. Inexperienced in foreign policy and narrowly elected, his country initially rallied behind his leadership, which was to take America to war against Afghanistan and Iraq. "We are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom."
Full speech: We are a country awakened to danger
20 Kwame Nkrumah, July 10, 1953
Nkrumah inspired the anti-colonial movement at a time when almost every African country was under European rule. Moving a motion in parliament for the independence of his native Ghana, then the British colony of Gold Coast, Nkrumah declared that every nation was entitled to self-government. “The right of a people to decide their own destiny, to make their way in freedom, is not to be measured by the yardstick of colour or degree of social development. It is an inalienable right.”
19 Bill Clinton, April 23, 1995
Until September 11, 2001, the bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City was the worst terrorist attack on US soil. Clinton gave an address at a memorial service for the 168 victims that movingly embraced their suffering and their place in the nation’s heart. “You have lost too much, but you have not lost everything. And you have certainly not lost America, for we will stand with you for as many tomorrows as it takes.”
Full speech: Oklahoma bombing memorial address
18 Golda Meir, January 17, 1957
In the aftermath of Israel’s abortive invasion of Egypt in 1956, Meir, then foreign minister, rose to address the UN General Assembly. Her country had been criticised across the world for attacking Egypt, along with British and French forces. Meir skilfully argued that Israel’s actions had been defensive and in the interests of long term peace. “My delegation will bend every resource of heart and mind in the days that lie ahead.”
Full speech: For the attainment for peace
17 Charles de Gaulle, June 18, 1940
In his brief but intense appeal, the Free French leader rallied the country in support of the Resistance by declaring that the war for France was not yet over. The battle of France may have been lost, he said, but France was not alone. She and Britain would be able to “draw unreservedly on the immense industrial resources of the United States.”
"The destiny of the world is at stake", he declared.
16 Gerald Ford, September 8, 1974
A month after Richard Nixon resigned amid the Watergate scandal, his vice-president and successor announced a full pardon. His decision meant Nixon would not stand trial, and made Ford’s own re-election highly unlikely. In 1976 he lost to Jimmy Carter. “My conscience tells me clearly and certainly that I cannot prolong the bad dreams that continue to reopen a chapter that is closed.”
Full speech: Pardoning Richard Nixon
15 Adolf Hitler, December 11, 1941
Following the attack on Pearl Harbour, Hitler declared war on America, engaging the Third Reich in battle with both post-war superpowers and making victory all but impossible. “As for the German nation, it needs charity neither from Mr Churchill nor from Mr Roosevelt, let alone from Mr Eden. It wants only its rights! It will secure for itself this right to life even if thousands of Churchills and Roosevelts conspire against it.”
Full speech: Hitler declares war on the US
14 Enoch Powell, April 20, 1968
Powell, the Conservative MP for Wolverhampton South West, caused outrage when he warned of the dangers of enforced multiculturalism in Britain.
“As I look ahead, I am filled with foreboding…I seem to see the River Tiber foaming with much blood.”
Full speech: Rivers of Blood
13 Mikhail Gorbachev: December 7, 1988
After explaining the concepts of Perestroika and Glasnost to an international audience, he shocked delegates by announcing the withdrawal of tank divisions from East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Hungary and a unilateral cut of 500,000 soldiers from the Soviet military. Relations with the West would never be the same. “Today we have entered an era when progress will be based on the interests of all mankind. Force and the threat of force can no longer and should not be instruments of foreign policy.”
Full speech: Gorbachev's UN speech
Full speech: D-Day broadcast to the people of Western Europe
23 Nikita Khrushchev, February 25, 1956
Delivered in secret before a rapt audience of Communist apparatchiks, this remarkable speech by a Soviet leader helped destroy Stalin’s reputation. Khrushchev launched a full blooded attack on the pillar of the Soviet system, who had been venerated for much of his life. Speaking three years after Stalin’s death, Khrushchev dwelt on his paranoia and brutality. “Stalin became even more capricious, irritable and brutal; in particular, his suspicion grew. His persecution mania reached unbelievable dimensions.”
Full speech: Kruschev's Secret Speech
22 Konrad Adenauer, July 12, 1952
No sooner had Europe ended the Second World War, than leaders on the continent seemed resigned to what French Europeanist Jean Monnet described as “a war that is thought to be inevitable”. But Adenauer, West Germany's first chancellor, espoused the renunciation of nationalistic fury for a common European dream. “I believe that for the first time in history, certainly in the history of the last centuries, countries want to renounce part of their sovereignty, voluntarily and without compulsion, in order to transfer that sovereignty to a supranational structure,” he said.
21 George W. Bush, September 20, 2001
Nine days after the worst terrorist attack on American soil in the history of the United States, George W. Bush addressed both houses of Congress and a stunned nation. Inexperienced in foreign policy and narrowly elected, his country initially rallied behind his leadership, which was to take America to war against Afghanistan and Iraq. "We are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom."
Full speech: We are a country awakened to danger
20 Kwame Nkrumah, July 10, 1953
Nkrumah inspired the anti-colonial movement at a time when almost every African country was under European rule. Moving a motion in parliament for the independence of his native Ghana, then the British colony of Gold Coast, Nkrumah declared that every nation was entitled to self-government. “The right of a people to decide their own destiny, to make their way in freedom, is not to be measured by the yardstick of colour or degree of social development. It is an inalienable right.”
19 Bill Clinton, April 23, 1995
Until September 11, 2001, the bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City was the worst terrorist attack on US soil. Clinton gave an address at a memorial service for the 168 victims that movingly embraced their suffering and their place in the nation’s heart. “You have lost too much, but you have not lost everything. And you have certainly not lost America, for we will stand with you for as many tomorrows as it takes.”
Full speech: Oklahoma bombing memorial address
18 Golda Meir, January 17, 1957
In the aftermath of Israel’s abortive invasion of Egypt in 1956, Meir, then foreign minister, rose to address the UN General Assembly. Her country had been criticised across the world for attacking Egypt, along with British and French forces. Meir skilfully argued that Israel’s actions had been defensive and in the interests of long term peace. “My delegation will bend every resource of heart and mind in the days that lie ahead.”
Full speech: For the attainment for peace
17 Charles de Gaulle, June 18, 1940
In his brief but intense appeal, the Free French leader rallied the country in support of the Resistance by declaring that the war for France was not yet over. The battle of France may have been lost, he said, but France was not alone. She and Britain would be able to “draw unreservedly on the immense industrial resources of the United States.”
"The destiny of the world is at stake", he declared.
16 Gerald Ford, September 8, 1974
A month after Richard Nixon resigned amid the Watergate scandal, his vice-president and successor announced a full pardon. His decision meant Nixon would not stand trial, and made Ford’s own re-election highly unlikely. In 1976 he lost to Jimmy Carter. “My conscience tells me clearly and certainly that I cannot prolong the bad dreams that continue to reopen a chapter that is closed.”
Full speech: Pardoning Richard Nixon
15 Adolf Hitler, December 11, 1941
Following the attack on Pearl Harbour, Hitler declared war on America, engaging the Third Reich in battle with both post-war superpowers and making victory all but impossible. “As for the German nation, it needs charity neither from Mr Churchill nor from Mr Roosevelt, let alone from Mr Eden. It wants only its rights! It will secure for itself this right to life even if thousands of Churchills and Roosevelts conspire against it.”
Full speech: Hitler declares war on the US
14 Enoch Powell, April 20, 1968
Powell, the Conservative MP for Wolverhampton South West, caused outrage when he warned of the dangers of enforced multiculturalism in Britain.
“As I look ahead, I am filled with foreboding…I seem to see the River Tiber foaming with much blood.”
Full speech: Rivers of Blood
13 Mikhail Gorbachev: December 7, 1988
After explaining the concepts of Perestroika and Glasnost to an international audience, he shocked delegates by announcing the withdrawal of tank divisions from East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Hungary and a unilateral cut of 500,000 soldiers from the Soviet military. Relations with the West would never be the same. “Today we have entered an era when progress will be based on the interests of all mankind. Force and the threat of force can no longer and should not be instruments of foreign policy.”
Full speech: Gorbachev's UN speech
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