What is the best speech in modern American history?

[Don Vito Corleone]

What is the best speech in modern American history? Modern meaning Post WW2

[Santander]

1. Pat Buchanan's "Culture War" speech at the 1992 RNC
2. Ted Cruz's speech at the 2014 Values Voter Summit
3. Zell Miller's speech at the 1992 DNC
4. Donald Trump's speech at the 2016 RNC
5. Jack Kennedy's 1962 "We choose to go to the Moon" at Rice

The culture war speech was, by far, the best.

[America Needs R'hllor]

1. Pat Buchanan's "Culture War" speech at the 1992 RNC
2. Ted Cruz's speech at the 2014 Values Voter Summit
3. Zell Miller's speech at the 1992 DNC
4. Donald Trump's speech at the 2016 RNC
5. Jack Kennedy's 1962 "We choose to go to the Moon" at Rice

The culture war speech was, by far, the best.

Choosing a Trump speech for a top 5 speeches list is the equivalent of putting a McDonald's happy meal on a list of top 5 culinary dishes.

[publicunofficial]

This would be a lot harder if I Have a Dream wasn't an option. That's a contender for best speech in history, period.

[Santander]

1. Pat Buchanan's "Culture War" speech at the 1992 RNC
2. Ted Cruz's speech at the 2014 Values Voter Summit
3. Zell Miller's speech at the 1992 DNC
4. Donald Trump's speech at the 2016 RNC
5. Jack Kennedy's 1962 "We choose to go to the Moon" at Rice

The culture war speech was, by far, the best.

Choosing a Trump speech for a top 5 speeches list is the equivalent of putting a McDonald's happy meal on a list of top 5 culinary dishes.

I have never felt more hopeful in my life.

[GGover]

I Have a Dream is too good.

I'd say both Kennedy's American University speech and his "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech should be on the list.

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

1. Pat Buchanan's "Culture War" speech at the 1992 RNC
2. Ted Cruz's speech at the 2014 Values Voter Summit
3. Zell Miller's speech at the 1992 DNC
4. Donald Trump's speech at the 2016 RNC
5. Jack Kennedy's 1962 "We choose to go to the Moon" at Rice

The culture war speech was, by far, the best.

Choosing a Trump speech for a top 5 speeches list is the equivalent of putting a McDonald's happy meal on a list of top 5 culinary dishes.

Either way, he's loving it.

[Blue3]

You included "I have a Dream."

Is it really a contest, after including that?


Not sure how many other political speeches in the 20th century (or any century) that normal Americans can recognize so easily from a quote.

[Santander]

Not sure how many other political speeches in the 20th century (or any century) that normal Americans can recognize so easily from a quote.

Most of the speeches on this list are listed by the most famous quote from them, and all are widely and easily recognized.

[MarkD]

Since the qualifier says "post WWII," I'll go with I Have a Dream.

But, if we could have included a WWII speech, I would say the best was by Judge Learned Hand, on "I Am An American Day" in 1944.

The Spirit of Liberty.

[Don Vito Corleone]

You included "I have a Dream."

Is it really a contest, after including that?


Not sure how many other political speeches in the 20th century (or any century) that normal Americans can recognize so easily from a quote.

Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!

[SNJ1985]

1. Pat Buchanan's "Culture War" speech at the 1992 RNC

Very strong contender for this title.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Not counting I have a dream , I would say Reagan's inaugural is the best speech 

[Blue3]

Not sure how many other political speeches in the 20th century (or any century) that normal Americans can recognize so easily from a quote.

Most of the speeches on this list are listed by the most famous quote from them, and all are widely and easily recognized.

No, they really aren't.

I don't even know what quotes are associated with some of those speeches. Can you post the most famous quotes associated with each of those speeches?

You included "I have a Dream."

Is it really a contest, after including that?


Not sure how many other political speeches in the 20th century (or any century) that normal Americans can recognize so easily from a quote.

Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!

That, and maybe 1-2 JFK quotes (on the moon, and on service) were the only other ones that come close.

[Lechasseur]

1. Pat Buchanan's "Culture War" speech at the 1992 RNC
2. Ted Cruz's speech at the 2014 Values Voter Summit
3. Zell Miller's speech at the 1992 DNC
4. Donald Trump's speech at the 2016 RNC
5. Jack Kennedy's 1962 "We choose to go to the Moon" at Rice

The culture war speech was, by far, the best.

Not sure about any particular order but I'd replace Donald Trump's RNC speech with Reagan's "Tear down this wall" speech, but otherwise I agree with your selection

[Kingpoleon]

1. I Have A Dream
2. Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down This Wall!
3. Our Long National Nightmare is Over

[Santander]

Not sure how many other political speeches in the 20th century (or any century) that normal Americans can recognize so easily from a quote.

Most of the speeches on this list are listed by the most famous quote from them, and all are widely and easily recognized.

No, they really aren't.

I don't even know what quotes are associated with some of those speeches. Can you post the most famous quotes associated with each of those speeches?

Fine, for those of us who didn't grow up in a politically correct MLK-worshiping environment, the other speeches are just as recognizable.

[Statilius the Epicurean]

I like LBJ's speech at Howard University.

[7,052,770]

Obviously "I have a dream," but Hillary's concession speech in the 2008 primaries was very good, as were Bill's speeches at the 2012 and 2016 DNCs.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Obviously "I have a dream"

[Mr. Smith]

While "I Have a Dream" is the obvious one, it also seems out of place. It has my vote anyway.

Why Jimmy Carter's "Crisis of Confidence" ain't on here is an absolute mystery for sure.

Also Obama's 2004 DNC Keynote was good too.

[OSR stands with Israel]

While "I Have a Dream" is the obvious one, it also seems out of place. It has my vote anyway.

Why Jimmy Carter's "Crisis of Confidence" ain't on here is an absolute mystery for sure.

Also Obama's 2004 DNC Keynote was good too.

Lol Carter's malaise speech is considered one of the worst .

[President Johnson]

LBJ's 1965 address to Congress, urging to pass Voting Rights Legislation: "We shall overcome".

[Phony Moderate]

While "I Have a Dream" is the obvious one, it also seems out of place. It has my vote anyway.

Why Jimmy Carter's "Crisis of Confidence" ain't on here is an absolute mystery for sure.

Also Obama's 2004 DNC Keynote was good too.

Lol Carter's malaise speech is considered one of the worst .

Not being well-received =/= being a bad speech.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Why does Rice play Texas
The Cross of Gold
Jerry, Auburn, I don't know