Some of the world's greatest leaders have also been the world's greatest orators. Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill teaches us that the key point in a speech is to place the speaker's intentions in a wider than usual context. While the former American president, Ronald Reagan, referred to as the "Great Communicator", teaches all those who aspire to assume leadership functions the lesson of how to be loving, but know how to maintain the authority that a leader needs.
The revolutionary leader, Martin Luther King, knew how to win the heart of the public in every case by using the simplest words in a divine context and in every case emphasizing the tradition.
The former American president, Franklin Roosevelt, used phrase structure strategically in his speeches, while another former American president very much loved by the public, John F. Kennedy, played with his image. Even if his speeches are remembered more for their content, he had an outward appearance that stimulated people's sympathy.
Although one of the most feared names of the 20th century, Adolf Hitler's oratorical skills can never be denied. His ability to combine passion with authority has caused crowds of millions to follow his power and ideology.
John F. Kennedy
"... let us go forward and lead the country we want, seeking His blessing, His help, but knowing that here on Earth, God's work must really be ours."
Kennedy was a good public speaker, but his speeches are remembered more for their content. In 1960 he debated Richard Nixon, the first televised presidential debate. If the speech was heard on the radio, the idea was created that Nixon had won. But on TV it looked like Kennedy had won because of the importance he placed on appearance and attitude.
Winston Churchill
"Let us fasten our obligations, and continue to remain so, so that if the British Empire lasts for a thousand years, others will say at any moment: That was their best period."
As Prime Minister of England during World War II, Churchill delivered his most electrifying speeches over the radio. His favorite tactic, which he used over and over again, was the story appeal. He spent weeks shaping them through rhetorical precision that has virtually disappeared today.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
"... we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice begins to move the waters and justice in their proper course."
Whether speaking in a pulpit or at a podium, Martin Luther King always preached and mesmerized, injecting the most ordinary words with a spiritual origin. Also, he used easily known allusions to attach his new and radical ideas to the old and established ones, thus giving them undeniable prestige and authority.
Adolf Hitler
The horror that accompanies Hitler's name and ideologies does not prevent him from being a born master of oratory. Nothing contributed more to his fame than his oratorical skills. The words that came out of his mouth during speeches were more like dynamite molds. They convinced millions to follow him and his cause. As a result, he is widely regarded as a scholar and one of the greatest public speakers of the 20th century. It is precisely the mixture of passion and authority that made Hitler fire up the crowd.
Ronald Reagan
"We shall never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey, as they waved and 'slid across the dreary edge of the earth' to 'touch the face of God.' ".
Reagan earned the epithet "The Great Communicator" because of the disarming effectiveness of his tone of voice. He attracted listeners and won their hearts with his personal and warm style that seemed conversational and paternal, informal but authoritative and always alert to his goals.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
"... America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the forces of the Empire of Japan... The United States was at peace... Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong, Japanese forces attacked Guam, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands..."
Roosevelt's twelve years in office as President of the United States coincided with some of the nation's most turbulent times, giving him more than one opportunity to deliver a major speech. In the case of "Pearl Harbour" he portrays Japan as an unprecedented aggressor, using the passive and active form of verbs. /TO/Telegraph/
