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In honor of Presidents’ Day, listen to these 10 inspiring presidential speeches – Metro US

In honor of Presidents’ Day, listen to these 10 inspiring presidential speeches

In honor of Presidents’ Day, listen to these 10 inspiring presidential
jfklibrary.org

No matter how you voted back in November, most Democrats and Republicans might agree that month-old presidency of Donald Trump is arguably like nothing we have ever seen before.

Every day, there seems to be a new anti-Trump protest taking place, a new war of words with the media, a tweet or “alternative fact” to make some say “WTF” and others to say “MAGA” and … well, you get the idea.

So is it any wonder that many people are heading this year’s Presidents’ Day feeling a little exhausted, anxious and maybe even unsure of what the future holds for America, Americans — and the world?

Luckily, on-demand audio and podcasting site Acast dove into the archives to take us back to a time when the leader of the free world chose his words carefully and united and inspired his constituents.

Acast is presenting a collection of the 10 best presidential speeches from the past 70 years in honor of Monday’s holiday.

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The list was curated by Jeff Shesol, a former speechwriter for Bill Clinton and founder of West Wing Writers.

“Decades ago, important presidential speeches like these would be studied and even committed to memory as an exercise in the study of history or rhetoric; today, they are rarely taught and little known — even the landmark speeches,” he said. “These speeches still crackle with energy, and they deserve to be heard.”

From John F. Kennedy’s “ask not” speech and Ronald Reagan imploring Mikhail Gorbachev, leader of the then-Soviet Union, to “tear down this wall!” to George W. Bush’s post 9/11 “Islam is peace” address and Barack Obama’s historic first inauguration, these were the words that moved our nation — without a “bigly” or “fake news” or “sad!” to be found.

The list features:

Barack Obama’s first inauguration speech, Jan. 20, 2009

George W. Bush’s speech at the Islamic Center of Washington, D.C., Sept. 17, 2001

Bill Clinton’s first inauguration speech, Jan. 20, 1993

George H.W. Bush’s inauguration speech, Jan. 20, 1989

Ronald Reagan’s remarks at Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, June 12, 1987

Jimmy Carter’s Address to the Nation, July 15, 1979

Gerald Ford’s inaugural remarks, Aug. 9, 1974

Richard Nixon’s inaugurationspeech, Jan. 20, 1969

Lyndon B. Johnson’s speech to Congress on voting rights, March 15, 1965

John F. Kennedy’s inauguration speech, Jan. 20, 1961