Ronald Reagan - Ronald Reagan: The Great Speeches, Vol. 1
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Ronald ReaganEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Published)
CD Release Date: 1995-03-28
Music Label: Jerden Records
Soundtracks:
- Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech
- First Inaugural Address
- Address to the Program for Economic Recovery
- First State of the Union Address
- Address to the National Association of Evangelicals
- Presidential Nomination Acceptance Address
- 40th Anniversary of the United Nations
- Address at the Brandenburg Gate-The Berlin Wall
- Fourth of July Address on America's Bill of Rights
- State of the Union: "Were Not Finished Yet"
- Farewell Address
Free Music Notes for Ronald Reagan: The Great Speeches, Vol. 1
Free Music Review: A British Perspective
Hit: 5 Stars
Political speeches are something that is surprisingly rare on Audio CD. Outside of Winston Churchill or Martin Luther King, few politicians have the gift to make a collection of Great Speeches, let alone release a two-volume series of them.
Happily, this CD delivers the goods and, although it can be a little strong in its 'God Bless America' rhetoric, it is nonetheless a series of 11 compelling and, better still, poignant speeches on the ills of communism & the value of personal liberty.
***
Beginning with a 20 minute Nomination Acceptance speech, you are quickly dragged in to the challenges facing America in 1980. In his own words "an economic stew that has turned the nations stomach".
Next up is his inauguration speech, including the famous line "in this present crisis government is not the solution to our problems, government is the problem". As someone who has seen the entire 1 hour speech, I lament that this edit doesn't include the Martin Treptow quotation that ends the speech, but what is on here is up there with JFK's efforts.
'Joint Session of Congress' gives an insight into some of the issues Reagan had to deal with in his first 6 months - the recession, high inflation & 8 million unemployed. I found this speech revealed a lot about Reagan's ability to identify with the average American & what they go through during hard times.
'State of the Union Address' is the first experience of Reagan's famous humour, with a age-related quip to begin:
"President Washington began this tradition in 1790 after reminding the nation that the destiny of self-government and the "preservation of the sacred fire of liberty" is "finally staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people." For our friends in the press, who place a high premium on accuracy, let me say: l did not actually hear George Washington say that, but it is a matter of historic record."
'National Association of Evangelicals' speech shows Reagan's religious side, with him speaking of "revival sweeping across America". As with many predictions of revival, this one sadly went unheeded, but it is still an interesting speech.
Moving on to Reagan's second term, the first speech is the 'Second Nomination Acceptance Speech'. I found this speech really interesting as it positively glows with the 'Morning in America' optimism that lead to Reagan winning a record 49 out of 50 states in the 1984 election.
'UN 40th Anniversary' is a point where the speeches turn a little 'God Bless America', although this speech has an interesting (though possibly untrue) section about how "we occupy no country. The only land abroad we occupy is beneath the graves where our heroes rest."
'Berlin Wall' is the biggest disappointment on this CD, as it isn't the actual speech. Instead it appears to be Reagan at a Berlin press conference discussing how "I told Mr Gorbachev to tear down this wall". Annoying but forgivable.
Although it may just be me, the last three speeches, though enjoyable, I found were extremely Yankee-glorifying.
'Fourth of July' address is to be expected & is actually a rather good speech.
'Final State of the Union' is the best of the three, with an excellent section about how the World should be seen as part of the Union.
Lastly, there is 'Farewell Address' which was about how America could always "call him up if ever a defender of liberty was needed". Although it is a powerful speech, I did wonder a little whether is was also corny.
***
Anyway, putting aside the slightly OTT Americana, this CD is actually one of the best CD's of speeches I've come across & is up there with Churchill's speeches in delivering a powerful & forceful message.
And best of all is that Reagan's obsessions are tempered with humour & variety - rather than banging on about Socialism as his contemporary Margaret Thatcher did or glorifying in ideology (as Castro did), Reagan is a man you could listen to for hours & often find little that offends or doesn't sound easy-on-the-ear.
One day, maybe Obama or Tony Blair might release a similar collection of speeches. Although equally as eloquent, somehow I don't think they'll match up.
Why? Because, in Reagan's own words, "I wasn't a great communicator, but I communicated great things."
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