"The Art of the Speech"

Recently, I listened to Mitt Romney's speech regarding the state of the Republican presidential nomination process.  I was struck with the realization that I was actually hearing a speech, not the ranting that has become commonplace during this political season.  To paraphrase the title of an often mentioned book, I was hearing "The Art of the Speech."   For as long as I can remember, I have been captivated by speeches and speech making.  My maternal grandfather was a preacher.  My mother coached private speech and drama lessons.  During my high school days, I was engaged in extemporaneous speech competition.  I am just old enough to remember hearing broadcasts of the World War II speeches of the British prime minister, Winston Churchill, and the fireside chats of President Franklin Roosevelt.  I was keenly aware of the contrast between their measured addresses and the maniacal rantings of a German demagog.  History was my favorite subject in high school and college.  I devoured the transcripts of great speeches.  My dear wife, Robbie, was a champion debater during her high school days.  My brother, Dudley, has been a pastor for over 50 years.    Throughout most of my adult life, I have had the responsibilities of preparing and delivering sermons.    During the past eight decades, I have listened to and read hundreds of outstanding speeches and sermons.  I know a good speech when I hear one.  Today, in the public forum, we are hearing precious few.   A speaker should be able quickly answer a basic question.  Why is this speech being made?  The honest answer may be that the speaker is enchanted with the sound of his own voice.  He is addicted to the applause of the crowd.  Hopefully, the answer will be that a vital issue must be addressed with the object of seeing decisive action.   When the speaker has a compelling motive, the speech must be prepared.  Some things do not change with the passing of time and the changing of culture.  A good speech has three components, an introduction, a body and a conclusion.  Grab the attention of everyone in your audience.  Tell them what you are going to tell them.  Tell them.  Tell them what you just told them.  Call for response.   Great speeches are memorable speeches.  Their impact lingers for decades, even centuries.  I dare say these quotes are familiar to you:   "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal...that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."  - Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address   "Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.'" - Winston Churchill - June 18, 1940   "This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself-nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." - Franklin D. Roosevelt's Inaugural Address, March 4, 1933   "I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood." - from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 17-minute speech delivered during the March on Washington, August 28, 1963   "General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" - President Ronald Reagan's speech at the Brandenburg Gate, West Berlin, Germany, June 12, 1987   These speeches, like all great speeches, were delivered with the confidence that there were people in the audience who were reasonable, clear thinking, courageous and responsible.  I tremble because I see two things lacking in our culture, transparently honest and properly motivated speech makers, and an intelligent, informed populace willing to thoughtfully hear, receive and respond to their speeches.   This hour cries out for those who are called or positioned to speak to do so.  Compellingly spoken words have the power to set forces in motion that can change the course of history.  It is time to speak up and be heard.   © 2016 Wayne Bristow