(S01-E34) HV Elie Wiesel - "The Perils of Indifference" - April 12, 1999

In this podcast episode, we feature Elie Wiesel and his speech “The Perils of Indifference”. Mr. Wiesel was a Jewish writer, professor, and Holocaust survivor of the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps. He spent his life sharing the story of the concentration camps so people would not forget the Holocaust and advocated for ending of genocides occurring today. Much more information is available in the accompanying PDF document with his life story. The speech you are about to hear had been given many times around the world. This time it was given to President Clinton and other leaders and urged them to take action with today’s genocides. Indifference is not an option.

(S01-E33) HV President Lyndon Johnson - "The Great Society" - May 22, 1964

In this podcast episode, we feature President Lyndon Johnson and his speech “The Great Society”. President Johnson designed the "Great Society" legislation by expanding civil rights, public broadcasting, Medicare, Medicaid, aid to education, the arts, urban and rural development, public services, and his "War on Poverty". Assisted in part by a growing economy, the War on Poverty helped millions of Americans rise above the poverty line during his administration. Civil rights bills he signed into law banned racial discrimination in public facilities, interstate commerce, the workplace, and housing; the Voting Rights Act prohibited certain requirements in southern states used to disenfranchise African Americans. With the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, the country's immigration system was reformed, encouraging greater immigration from regions other than Europe. Johnson's presidency marked the peak of modern liberalism after the New Deal era. In addition to this audio episode, I also provide several PDF documents. Click on the link to download them:

(S01-E32) HV Aviation Leader Series - Amelia Earhart - "Future of Women in Flying"

With this podcast episode, we complete a three-part series on aviation leaders. We will listen to Amelia Earhart as she talks about the future of women in aviation. In addition to this audio episode, I also provide two PDF documents. Click on the link to download them:

(S01-E31) HV Aviation Leader Series - Neil Armstrong - Speaking from the Moon - July 20, 1969

With this podcast episode, we are in the middle of a three-part series on aviation leaders. We will listen to the conversation between NASA and Neil Armstrong in the lunar lander as he prepares to be the first human to walk on the surface of the moon. In addition to this audio episode, I also provide two PDF documents:

(S01-E30) HV Aviation Leaders Series - Colonial John Glenn - First U.S. Astronaut in Space

With this podcast episode, we begin a three-part series on aviation leaders. John Glenn shares remarks as the first American to travel into space. They follow his ticker tape parade in New York City after his return. In addition to this audio episode, I also provide two PDF documents. Click on the following links to the PDF documents:

(S01-E29) HV President Jimmy Carter - Crisis of Confidence Speech - July 15, 1979

A major priority of President Carter was the U.S. policy of energy consumption. The nation was suffering from rising oil costs due to OPEC which resulted in gas rationing, long gas lines, and energy shortages just to name a few. Before the formal part of this energy policy speech, President Carter explored reasons for lack of action by Congress with energy issues. He saw the threat as a “crisis of confidence” in our ability to forge a national priority to work together to deal with this and other issues. That section of the speech is why some call this the “Crisis of Confidence” speech. In addition to this audio recording, I also provide three PDF documents you can download:

(S01-E27) HV Jimmy Stewart - The Capture of Stacy Gault - The Six Shooter Radio Show 1953

In this podcast episode, we take a change of pace and feature a famous American movie actor performing on a 1950s weekly radio show named “The Six Shooter”. The main character is Jimmy Stewart as Britt Ponset, a drifting cowboy in the final years of the wild American west. In addition to this audio episode, I also provide two PDF documents for download:

(S01-E26) HV President Eisenhower - Farewell to the Nation

The President’s speech is typical for many of the recent U.S. presidents. He began with a quick review of the past and especially the world wars the U.S. has been engaged and the role of the country as peacemaker to help build a better future. Then, he turns to the new challenges which are domestic rather than international. Eisenhower expresses his worry that the U.S. has embraced a permanent armaments industry with the export of weapons around the world. This was a radical change in the U.S. which previously only turned to building of weapons when the country faced immediate aggression. He introduces a new world to the U.S. vocabulary, “industrial-military complex”. Building weapons has become as important as building cars and appliances for the average American. Eisenhower worried that American universities seemed more interested in attracting huge government military contracts that engaged in scientific discovery. He also was concerned about Congress and how they were being influenced by the industrial-military complex through their campaign contributions. In recent years, industries that build weapon systems often distribute their production to as many states as possible. In some cases, 30 or more states producing components for a single system like an aircraft. By doing so, new jobs are created in the home districts of congressional leaders which encourages their votes for military appropriations and productions in the factories located in their states. Rather than building up weapon systems, Eisenhower as the former general and supreme-commander of allied forces encourages disarmament and seeking to resolve differences through negotiation rather than threat of war with even more ferocious weapons. I encourage you to read the PDF document on the backstory on his warning of the American people with the “industrial-military complex.” The article also provides insights into writing of the speech by a collection of speech writers who especially fought over the section of the speech talking about the industrial military complex and the changing research interests of universities. Speech writing is an enormously complicated and political process that involves many with the speaker as the final editor.
  • Click this link for a transcript of Eisenhower's speech.
  • Click this link for a short history of Eisenhower's life.
  • Click this link for a short overview of the "industrial military complex".

(S01-E25) HV General Eisenhower Speech to D-Day Troops June 6, 1944

In this podcast episode, we feature a short speech by General Dwight D. Eisenhower to the allied troops who were to land on the Normandy beaches during D-Day in just a few hours. Nearly 10,000 of these brave troops will lose their lives during the invasion against fierce German resistance.
  • Click this link for a transcript of Eisenhower's speech to the troops.
  • Click this link for a short overview of the D-Day landings on the Normandy Beaches.
  • Click this link for a short overview of Operation Quicksilver to Deceive the Germans on D-Day.

(S01-E24) HV President Ronald Reagan - D-Day 40th Anniversary Speech - June 6, 1984

In this podcast episode, we feature a speech by President Ronald Reagan on the 40th anniversary of the Normandy Landings on D-Day during World War Two. The speech was given on the cliffs above the Normandy beach where the U.S. Rangers successfully scaled the wall despite heavy German fire. More than half the Rangers lost their lives during the assault. This short speech is considered by many historians as one of Reagan’s best. Separately, I provide two PDF documents: first a transcript of this speech, and secondly a short history of Ronald Reagan. Next week, I will provide the short speech given by General Eisenhower to the troops in preparation for their landing on the beaches.
  • Click this link for a transcript of Reagan's speech.
  • Click this link for a short life history of Ronald Reagan.

(S01-E23) HV General Douglass MacArthur - "Farewell to Congress" Speech - April 19, 1951

n this podcast episode, we feature a speech by General Douglass MacArthur to Congress and the American people. The date was April 19, 1951. The dramatic timing of the speech was that President Harry Truman had relieved General MacArthur of military command of the United Nations forces during the Korean War the previous week. MacArthur explained in the speech his concerns about the Chinese and a retrospective of a lifetime of service to the nation as a member of the military. This seemed to me an appropriate speech to post of Memorial Day as we remember the sacrifices made by the U.S. military on behalf of the nation There are many comparisons and contrasts between two of America’s greatest generals: George Patton and Douglass MacArthur. Those were extraordinary military commanders who are credited with helping to end World War Two more quickly. Both were deeply devoted to the defense of America and its people. And both were frustrated with political leaders who they perceived as stopping a war prematurely before it should be ended. Patton was relieved of command at the end of World War Two since he disagreed with Washington politicians since he believed the Russians were the future enemy and should be engaged militarily and pushed out of Eastern Europe. During the Korean War, MacArthur wanted to continue the war in Korea by invading China and engaging them in war. He even wanted to use tactical, short-range nuclear missiles if necessary during the war against China. President Truman could no longer tolerate the public statements by MacArthur disagreeing with Washington policies and threat to invade China. As a result, President Truman met with General MacArthur and relieved him of command on April 11, 1951 The speech you are about to hear was given to a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress and broadcast to the American people. MacArthur explains his concerns for future Chinese aggression in the Pacific and why he felt that military confrontation was needed by the U.N. troops against them. The speech is also a defense of his lifetime of service to the nation and loyalty to the American people. Another version of this speech will be delivered at West Point. Separately, I provide follow-up podcast episodes which provide three PDF documents: first a transcript of this speech, next some historical background on General MacArthur, and the final PDF with additional information why President Truman relieved this beloved military commander of his command.
  • Click this link for a transcript of this speech.
  • Click this link for the backstory of firing General MacArthur by President Truman.
  • Click this link for a short life story of General MacArthur.

(S01-E21) HV Sir. Winston Churchill - Sinews of Peace (Iron Curtain) Speech

In this podcast episode, we feature a rebroadcast of a radio speech by Sir Winston Churchill on March 5, 1946. The dramatic timing of the speech was that the Soviet Union was increasing its control of Eastern Europe following World War Two. It was also the first public speech that used the expression,
  • Click this link for a transcript of this speech.
  • Click this link for the background on the Iron Curtain dividing Eastern and Western Europe during the Cold War.

(S01-E20) HV Sir. Winston Churchill - Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat Speech

In this podcast episode, we feature a rebroadcast of a radio speech by Sir Winston Churchill on May 13, 1940. The dramatic timing of the speech was that it was Churchill’s first speech to the British people since being named Prime Minister during early World War II. This speech is part one of a two-part series featuring Mr. Churchill. The next episode will be his famous “Iron Curtain” speech that announced that the Cold War had already begun with the aggressions by the Soviet Union. Germany had been rampaging throughout Europe during early World War Two, conquering one nation another another. The United States would not enter the war for another 18 months and were not providing sufficient support for the British due to their isolationist feelings and wanting to avoid entanglement in European wars. The British morale was at a low-point at this moment as they felt it was their tiny nation was the only one that had not fallen to German occupation and that invasion from the Nazis was ready to begin. Prime Minister Churchill delivers a short speech of the grim reality and positive hope. He promises the British people through an honest assessment that the near future will be “Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat” as they fight against the Germans alone. Yet, he ends this short speech will hope for the British people to not give up, but fight. Accompanying this audio podcast is a written transcript of the speech along with the back story for this particular speech. Each are provided as separate PDF episodes for this podcast.
  • Click on this link for a transcript of this speech.
 Click on this link for the backstory of writing this speech.

(S01-E19) HV Walter Winchell - Influential Journalist Who Specialized in Gossip News

In this final episode in this two-part series, we feature Mr. Walter Winchell, an American broadcast journalist who focused on often exploitive celebrity news and his interpretation of the day’s news. His rapid-fire delivery of the news was mesmerizing. He separated the short news stories from each other by pressing a telegraph key to create urgency and importance as if to communicate he was reading breaking news stories coming across the news wires. Winchell is recognized as the first successful gossip columnist that drew fifty million readers for his news stories and radio broadcasts each week. He enjoyed reporting exciting or embarrassing information about people and especially entertainers. He was highly feared in Hollywood where scandals could wreck an aspiring movie or theatre actor. In the 1950s, Winchell joined forces with Senator McCarthy’s quest to identify Communists in the entertainment field. When Senator McCarthy was exposed for having little or no information on supposed Communist infiltration, Winchell lost respect by the general public and his listenership plummeted. For those of you who have watched the old Untouchables TV show, Winchell was the narrator at the beginning and throughout the episodes. I have included a PDF from Wikipedia on the career and life of Mr. Winchell. Let us now tune our radio dial to May 6, 1945 and listen to Mr. Winchell report on his mix of sensational celebrity news, odd collection of world news, and reports from World War Two. Click on this link for a short story about Walter Winchell as the King of Gossip News.

(S01-E18) HV Edward R. Murrow - Eyewitness account of WWII bombing raid over Berlin

In the podcast episode in this two-part series, we feature Mr. Edward R. Murrow, a well-respected American broadcast journalist. He was a pioneer in radio and television news broadcasting. Murrow was recognized by the public and his peers for his honesty and setting the standard for integrity in delivering the news.
  • Click this link for a transcript of this speech.
  • Click this link for a short life story of Mr. Murrow.

(S01-E16) HV Alexandr Solzhenitsyn - "A World Split Apart"

In this podcast episode, we feature Alexandr Solzhenitsyn delivering a speech named by others as A World Split Apart at Harvard University in 1978. He is considered the Soviet Union’s greatest author, historian, and resilient critic of the government. In 1970 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. This speech was delivered during tensions of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. The Cuban Missile Crisis occurred less than 15 years earlier. The Vietnam Conflict and ongoing violence in the Middle East were supported on opposite sides by both countries. Both nations were rapidly developing new weapons with even more destructive force than during World War Two. In his speech at Harvard, Mr. Solzhenitsyn shares about the crisis that faces the world and possible solutions to end the violence and threat to humankind. You will hear the voice of him and that of the translator. In addition to an available download transcript of this speech, I also included another PDF from Wikipedia with the life story of Mr. Solzhenitsyn. Rather than offering a commentary after this speech, I recommend reading the Wikipedia entry about him and his struggle to share the struggle within the Soviet Union and those throughout the world.
  • Click this link for a transcript of this speech.
  • Click this life for a short life story of Solzhenitsyn

(S01-E14) President Eisenhower - Atoms for Peace Speech to the U.N.

In this podcast episode, we feature President Eisenhower delivering a speech named by others as Atoms for Peace at the United Nations in 1953. This speech was delivered during high tensions of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. The Berlin Blockade had only been resolved a few years earlier in 1948. That event nearly triggered a military confrontation between those who countries then. Both nations were rapidly developing new weapons with even more destructive force than used at Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War Two. President Eisenhower previously was General Eisenhower serving as the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe during World War Two. After the war ended, he retired from the military and was elected President of the United States in 1953. Eisenhower was now in a position to take nuclear energy as a weapon and help repurpose it for peaceful purposes. This speech to the United Nations was part of an intentional campaign called “Operation Candor” to discuss the risks and hopes of a nuclear future for the American people. In addition to an available download transcript of this speech, I also included another PDF that is a critical entry from Wikipedia providing more context for this speech and the U.S. intentions to influence the European allies and the Soviet Union. I was impressed with the deep analysis of the article. Rather than offering a commentary after this speech, I recommend reading the Wikipedia entry about the speech and the bigger issues.
  • Click this link for a transcript of Eisenhower's speech.
  • Click this link for the backstory to the writing of Eisenhower's speech.