American Rhetoric: The Power of Oratory in the United States

Database of and index to 5000+ full text, audio and video versions of public speeches, sermons, legal proceedings, lectures, debates, interviews, other recorded media events, and a declaration or two.

See also a special issue: The Rhetoric of 9-11

Site Book/CDs!

Speech of the Week

Alexandr Solzhenitsyn

"A World Split Apart"

Rhetorical Figures in Sound

200+ short audio and video clips illustrating stylistic figures of speech ranging from alliteration to synecdoche. Clips are taken from speeches, movies, sermons, and sensational media events and delivered by politicians, actors, preachers, athletes, and other notable personalities.

Key Figure: Antimetabole

Top 100 Speeches

Full text, audio, and video database of the 100 most significant American political speeches of the 20th century, according to 137 leading scholars of American public address, as compiled by Stephen E. Lucas (University of Wisconsin-Madison) and Martin J. Medhurst (Baylor University). Find out who made the cut and experience the power of rhetorical eloquence in this provocative list of "who's who" in American public address.

Movie Speeches

Full text, audio and video database of some 275+ Hollywood movie speeches.

Included are military movie speeches, sports-oriented movie speeches, forensic movie speeches, and social-political movie speeches, among others.

President Barack Obama Speeches

450+ Campaign, First and Second Term Speeches in full text, enhanced audioXE and HD video. Popular artifacts include the Audacity of Hope, Yes We Can, A More Perfect Union, President-Elect Victory, First Presidential Inaugural, A New Beginning, Together We Thrive, Newtown Prayer Vigil addresses, and many more.