Description
Useful for generals, politicians, teachers, parents, and anyone who has to get a lot of people moving in a hurry, this collection of famous and obscure motivational speeches includes the vow by Elizabeth I to die with her soldiers if necessary as they stared down the Spanish Armada, Napoleon's remarks on conquering Egypt, and Vyacheslav Molotov's giving Russia the word about Germany in 1941. Israel, a member of the US House of Representatives for New York provides commentary for dozens of speakers ranging from Moses, Pericles, Henry V (according to Shakepeare), Frederick Douglass, Clemenceau and, of course, a good selection of speeches by Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt. Some are poignant, such as Kennedy's inaugural and Mandela's charge to fight on, and some are a bit too wordy for today's short attention spans, but all are rousing. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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One of the leading voices on national security issues in the U.S. Congress demonstrates how words have been sharp and powerful weapons of victory in this compilation of great military speeches that helped turn the tide of history. Among the dozens of inspirational speeches featured are: Moses instructing his followers to cross the Jordan River without him. . . Queen Elizabeth pledging to die with her soldiers as they faced the Spanish Armada. . . Patrick Henry choosing between liberty and death. . . Napoleon exhorting his troops as they marched on Egypt. . . Winston Churchill rallying his nation to victory. . . General Sir Montgomery refusing to retreat from Rommel. . . President Roosevelt preparing the American people for World War II. . . General Eisenhower fortifying his troops for the invasion of Normandy. . . President Reagan demanding that Gorbachev tear down the Berlin Wall. . . President George W. Bush encouraging America after 9/11. . . and more.Congressman Israel has included speeches that have motivated and mobilized, challenged and comforted. Some were blurted in the heat of combat, others were carefully written in places far removed from the brutality of the battlefield, but all will inspire readers with the courage that moved people forward against all odds. Each speech is introduced with an insightful historic context. This dramatic sweep of military history in the words of history's military leaders serves to reinforce the concept that the pen is mightier than the sword.
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