Top 100 Speeches of the 20th Century
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/newtop100speeches.htm
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You can search an index to and partial database of full text transcriptions of the American speeches that have been proclaimed the 100 most significant American speeches of the 20th century according to a list compiled by Professors Stephen E. Lucas and Martin J. Medhurst. Dr. Lucas is Evjue-Bascom Professor in the Humanities and Professor of Communication Arts at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Dr. Medhurst is Distinguished Professor of Rhetoric and Communication at Baylor University (Texas). 137 leading scholars of American public address were asked to recommend speeches on the basis of social and political impact and rhetorical artistry. You may read the news release and an itemization of the published list on the site, as well. At least 63 of the speeches are, partly or in their entirety, available in audio (mp3 or Real Audio) format. Female orators delivered 23 of the speeches. 12 of the speeches (3 in the top 10) were delivered by African-Americans. While the content of these speeches can be said to move substantially in the direction of progressive-liberal (even radical) causes and ideologies, there are exemplary representatives of rhetorical excellence from multiple and competing ideological perspectives.
