February 18, 2019

Top Speeches to Read This President’s Day

By: Kristine Goffos

You likely know that President’s Day was originally a celebration of George Washington’s birthday on February 22. But did you know that it was moved to the third Monday of February in order to give you more three-day weekends? No, really, it was a part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed in 1968, which moved several federal holidays “to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers, and it was believed that ensuring holidays always fell on the same weekday would reduce employee absenteeism.” Nowadays, different states observe this holiday differently, and some states don’t observe it at all.

As you enjoy your Monday off (unless you happen live in one of the few non-observing states), don’t forget to take a moment to reflect on the reason for the holiday. These speeches span across decades and presidential perspectives, but they all have something in common–they contain something to learn from that applies to America today. So regardless of whether you’ve read these before, check out these presidential speeches with a set of fresh eyes.

1. George Washington’s Farewell Address

Published in Philadelphia’s American Daily Advertiser on September 19, 1796, Washington warns at length about three principle dangers Americans face in keeping their independence and liberty: regionalism, political factions, and foreign entanglements. Now, more than 200 years later, some of these words have never rang so true.

“The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation on the ruins of public liberty.”

2. George W. Bush’s Address to the Nation on September 11, 2001

With attacks of anti-Semitism on the rise, words of hatred thrown on both sides of the aisle, and an America that seems more divided than ever, it’s hard to believe that it was only 17 years ago that Americans came together in such moving ways as they did after 9/11. Take a moment to read this speech today–it will take you just five minutes–and reflect on how you can keep this spirit alive, how you can help your fellow man, today.

“America was targeted for attack because we’re the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.

Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature, and we responded with the best of America, with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could.”

3. Ronald Reagan Address at the Brandenburg Gate, June 12, 1987

Most will recognize a few famous words from this speech: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” But give this speech a fresh read in the context of today’s world. (Replace “Soviet Union” with “Venezuela,” and it’s eerily accurate.)

“But in the West today, we see a free world that has achieved a level of prosperity and well-being unprecedented in all human history. In the Communist world, we see failure, technological backwardness, declining standards of health, even want of the most basic kind — too little food. Even today, the Soviet Union still cannot feed itself. After these four decades, then, there stands before the entire world one great and inescapable conclusion: Freedom leads to prosperity. Freedom replaces the ancient hatreds among the nations with comity and peace. Freedom is the victor.”

4. Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865

Near the end of the Civil War, Lincoln faced a nation that was struggling to understand its own identity. Our polarizing political climate today, though not a war of arms, is not entirely different, and might be overcome if we were to follow his advice–focusing on our shared principles instead of seeking vengeance and casting blame.

“With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan — to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.”