Videos

Presidential speechwriters and poets examined the speaking styles and speeches of presidents and politician. Speakers included David Litt, a speechwriter for former President Obama; Mary…

New York Times columnist David Brooks and historian Ronald White discussed character and the presidency, comparing past administrations to the Trump White House, at Grand Valley State University…

Former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton talked about the importance of leadership, public service, and working to build better communities. The two men also spoke briefly on their…

Philip Terzian talked about his recent Weekly Standard article on the historical relationship between the Washington, D.C., press corps and presidents.

On October 1, 1962, James Meredith became the first African American to become a student at the University of Mississippi in Oxford. President John F. Kennedy’s phone calls about the…

General Eisenhower accepted the 1952 Republican Presidential Nomination.

President Richard Nixon’s calls leading up to and after the Republican National Convention. Participants included Special Counsel to the President Charles Colson, Vice President and running mate Spiro…

President Eisenhower and Vice President Nixon accepted their nominations to be the 1956 Republican candidates for president and vice president. Between the speeches, first lady Mamie…

Mrs. Reagan conducted a tour of the Reagan Presidential Library, highlighting important episodes of the Reagan presidency. She commented on several exhibits including those which focused on the assassination…

President Johnson spoke about the conflict in Vietnam and the U.S. policy regarding the region. Entitled “Peace Without Conquest,” the address attempted to explain why Southeast Asia was of…

President Johnson spoke to a joint session of Congress regarding the voting rights of all Americans. He focused on the denial of equal rights to African-Americans and stressed that all…

Mr. Reagan spoke in support of Senator Barry Goldwater’s 1964 presidential campaign. In the speech he called “A Time for Choosing” he focused on the importance of a strong defense against…

President Ford addressed the nation to announce that he would grant a full, free, and absolute pardon to former President Nixon. He cited the likelihood of the controversy going on and…

In his news conference two weeks after being sworn in, President Ford answered questions from reporters about his plans, his budget and other topics. He would not say whether he would…

President George H.W. Bush talked about his personal life and career. Topics included his early career in public service, as Director of the CIA, his decision to seek the presidency, his…

President Nixon gave his annual State of the Union address and focused on an energy crisis and efforts to secure a Middle East peace. He also spoke about the Watergate investigation saying…

President Johnson spoke to Congress regarding the State of the Union. He focused on the need to improve the unemployment rate and equal civil rights for all Americans. He also proposed a…

In the forty-first in a series on American presidents, scholars discussed the life and career of Bill Clinton. Among the issues discussed were Clinton’s childhood and early adulthood, his…

In the fortieth in a series on American presidents, scholars discussed the life and career of George Bush. Among the issues they addressed were his naval service, his early political…

In the thirty-ninth in a series on American presidents, participants discussed the life and career of Ronald Reagan. Among the issues they discussed were his early film career, involvement…