Description
A compilation of history-making oratory from some of the Republican Party's most important leaders includes works ranging from Lincoln's Gettysburg Address to famed speeches by Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, along with a look at the historical context and influence of each piece.
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Because of the liberal monopoly over academia that wants "to raze Republican contributions," laments Hall (a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford U.), America suffers from a "Republican historical amnesia" that he hopes to correct by highlighting significant moments in Republican oratory from President Abraham Lincoln to Senator John McCain. Arguing that Republicans are united in their celebration of individualism over collectivism, their commitment to Judeo-Christian themes and allusions, and a belief in "military muscularity"--all of which apparently sets them apart from their Democratic rivals in Hall's eyes--he excerpts various Republican speeches and provides his own interpretation of their historical context and importance. Between Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" and McCain's 2004 Republican Convention attack on filmmaker Michael Moore, speeches included for discussion are: Theodore Roosevelt's "The Strenuous Life," William F. Buckley's undelivered 1950 Yale alumni day speech, Dwight Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace," Senator Everett Dirksen's address in support of the Civil Right Act of 1964, Barry Goldwater's 1964 Republican Convention address ("Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice"), Nixon's "Checkers" address, Gerald Ford's speech upon taking his presidential oath of office ("Our long national nightmare is over"), a number of predictable selections from Ronald Reagan, Newt Gingrich's announcement of the "Contract with America," and George W. Bush's September 2001 declaration before a joint session of Congress of the "War on Terror." Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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