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Do they still force schoolchildren to memorize the 275-word Gettysburg Address? If they don’t, they should. There is no greater statement of American values, and no more eloquent explanation of the meaning of America than that short, graceful utterance by Abraham Lincoln on Nov. 19, 1863.
Three things define a great speech: 1.) The moment: the exact time in history when the speaker’s words will resonate; 2.) The backdrop: the place where the speech is delivered amplifies its meaning; and 3.) The words: all great speeches are as inspiring when read as they are when delivered orally.
Could Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech have been as effective if given in the 1950s or 1970s? Would it have been remembered if it had been delivered from a pulpit rather than in front of the Lincoln Memorial? The answer is probably yes, but its impact, would have been blunted and the majestic words would not have resonated with us down through the years to today.
Abraham Lincoln was not a good public speaker. He had a high, breathy voice that cracked when he strained to be heard in larger gatherings. He was invited to the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetary as an afterthought and was asked to deliver a few “appropriate remarks.”
The main speaker was Edward Everett, former secretary of state under Millard Filmore, Massachusetts Senator, and a professional orator, whose two-hour, histrionic speech, with its classical allusions, biblical quotes, and flowery language, held the crowd spellbound.
