Famous Speeches by the Presidents
Clip 1: The first clip depicts President Nixon's address to the nation on the war in Vietnam. Nixon had declared the
end to the Vietnam war. He stated, “a conclusion as a result of the plan that
we have instituted.” He had announced this in a conference in Midway in June.
He stated that the US would be following a new form of a process called “Vietnamization”.
South Vietnamese forces would get stronger and helped by the US. As the South
Vietnamese army got stronger then the US forces would leave combat and return
to the US. In the speech Nixon had ordered a withdrawal of 60,000 troops
according to www.history.com. As Nixon was
speaking, troops from the U.S. 25th Infantry Division started to
leave Vietnam. In April 1970, Nixon’s promise to end the war was false. He had
actually expanded the war by ordering U.S and South Vietnamese troops to attack
the communists in Cambodia. This then led to a burst of anti-war
demonstrations. Americans were surely furious when expecting their brothers,
husbands, sons, and uncles to return home. One of these demonstrations was at
Kent State.
Clip 2: The second clip depicts President Ford's address to the nation when assuming presidency right after Nixon's resignation. President Ford’s speech
proved to be quite dramatic. He had discussed the terms in which he was sworn
into office. Those terms in which were not so delightful. During this time,
Americans had lost complete respect for their government as well as trust.
After Nixon’s Watergate scandal, the American people began to question their
own government. They were quite furious to say the least. President Nixon had
surely dismantled the trust of the American people. In Ford’s speech he
mentioned, “y fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over. Our
Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men.
Here, the people rule. But there is a higher Power, by whatever name we honor
Him, who ordains not only righteousness but love, not only justice, but mercy.
... let us restore the golden rule to our political process, and let brotherly
love purge our hearts of suspicion and hate.” Ford tries to regain the American
spirit as well as restore the trust in the government. During Ford’s
presidency, he later pardons Nixon for his actions. The American people were shocked
and outraged.
Clip 3: The third clip depicts President Jimmy Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech. This speech concerned the energy crisis. Carter was ready to go on vacation to Hawaii after dealing with an economic summit in Tokyo. When on the plane, Carter received a phone call from his pollster, Patrick Cadell saying that he needed to come home as soon as possible. This was due to the energy crisis. The OPC oil producer’s cartel had announced another increase in gasoline prices. American’s were so outraged. The anger was directed at the government. Carter’s approval rate had decreased by 25 percent because of this. The president ended up coming home and went to Camp David where he worked on his speech. The hope in America had been tarnished as well as the American Dream. Carter’s speech included ways to keep America’s confidence up as well as how to maintain energy within American’s homes. Millions of Americans heard Carter state, "The solution of our energy crisis can also help us to conquer the crisis of the spirit in our country,” Carter wanted to incorporate the American Dream as well as the American spirit and restore it.
Clip 3: The third clip depicts President Jimmy Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech. This speech concerned the energy crisis. Carter was ready to go on vacation to Hawaii after dealing with an economic summit in Tokyo. When on the plane, Carter received a phone call from his pollster, Patrick Cadell saying that he needed to come home as soon as possible. This was due to the energy crisis. The OPC oil producer’s cartel had announced another increase in gasoline prices. American’s were so outraged. The anger was directed at the government. Carter’s approval rate had decreased by 25 percent because of this. The president ended up coming home and went to Camp David where he worked on his speech. The hope in America had been tarnished as well as the American Dream. Carter’s speech included ways to keep America’s confidence up as well as how to maintain energy within American’s homes. Millions of Americans heard Carter state, "The solution of our energy crisis can also help us to conquer the crisis of the spirit in our country,” Carter wanted to incorporate the American Dream as well as the American spirit and restore it.