With the general election coming up, now is a good time to analyse what makes a good political speech. Listen to this speech by Barack Obama given when he was just a warmup act to John Kerry at the Democratic Party Convention in 2004. Whatever you think of Obama's politics you can still be impressed by his oratory. As you watch and listen, try to work out what it is about his choice of words, his delivery and his gestures which makes it so impressive. Here's the transcript.
Now compare this speech with one of the great speeches from an earlier pre-TV age. Families used to gather around the wireless to listen to Mr Churchill and though his style now seems dated, there is no doubting the power of his words 70 years on. Here is a partial transcript of this speech and some other great Churchill speeches.
But don't worry if you have to give a talk: a speech doesn't need to be delivered with great passion to be successful. One of the most powerful political speeches I have ever heard was Geoffrey Howe's resignation speech which effectively ended Mrs Thatcher's time as Prime Minister. It was devastating precisely because it was delivered in so under-stated a manner. If you think it's boring then ask yourself whether it's better to live in a world dominated by soundbites.
Similarly, one of the most important speeches of the 20th Century was Nehru's speech on Indian independence which was heard on millions of crackly radios across the subcontinent. It now has iconic status but it was delivered with none of the obvious passion of an Obama. It's still well worth listening to though.
Posts
