Random Famous Short Speeches (13 items)

(#1) The Gettysburg Address
One of the most famous speeches in United States history, President Abraham Lincoln spoke during the Civil War on November 19, 1863.
(#2) Lou Gehrig's Farewell to Baseball Address
Speaking to fans at "Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day" at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939, legendary baseball player Lou Gehrig explained how he was "the luckiest man on the face of the earth."
(#3) Napoleon Bonaparte's Farewell to the Old Guard
After the failed invasion of Russia and a defeat by the Allies, Napoleon Bonapart addressed his troops on April 20, 1814, to issue his farewell.
(#4) Winston Churchill's Never Give In Speech
Speaking to a group of school children on October 29, 1941, United Kingdom Prime Minister Winston Churchill provided inspiration and advice to the crowd in this notable short speech.
(#5) Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Infamy Speech

United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the Joint Session of Congress on December 8, 1941, just one day after Japan attacked the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Hawaii. The short speech was later dubbed the "Infamy Speech" due to Roosevelt describing the attack as "a date which will live in infamy."
(#6) Ronald Reagan's Challenger Disaster Speech
Addressing the nation after the Space Shuttle Challenger tragically exploded 73 seconds after launch on January 28, 1986, President Ronald Reagan attempted to console a shaken nation with this speech.
(#7) John F. Kennedy's Ich Ben Ein Berliner Speech
Considered one of the best from President John F. Kennedy, the Ich bin ein Berliner speech was given on June 26, 1963, in West Berlin, Germany, during the Cold War. Though the Soviet Union, which he denounced in the speech, didn't fall for another 30 years, Kennedy's words remain a uniting force to this day.
(#8) Martin Luther King, Jr.'s I Have a Dream Speech
Empowering a generation and beyond, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his legendary I Have a Dream speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, on August 28, 1963.
(#9) Douglas MacArthur's Duty, Honor, Country
On May 12, 1962, General Douglas MacArthur delivered an acceptance speech for the Sylvanus Thayer Award at the United States Military Academy at West Point that mirrored the values and motto of the Academy, "Duty, Honor, Country".
(#10) William Faulkner's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech
On December 10, 1950, William Faulkner delivered his speech accepting the award for the Nobel Prize in Literature at the City Hall in Stockholm, Sweden.
(#11) Richard Nixon's Resignation Speech
On August 9, 1974, Richard Nixon became the first person to ever resign the office of the President of the United States when he gave this speech from the White House in Washington, DC.
(#12) King George VI's Address to Britain
Popularized by the 2010 film The King's Speech, King George VI's speech on September 3, 1939 addressed the involvement of Britain in WWII.
(#13) Charles De Gaulle's The Appeal of 18 June
As the new Prime Minister of France seemed poised to surrender control of the country to German forces, General Charles de Gaulles escaped to England and was granted permission by Winston Churchill to read this appeal on the BBC. The speech, delivered on June 18, 1940 was an attempt to persuade the French forces to continue resisting the German occupation.