MANICHAEAN
10-17-2025, 11:58 AM
My earliest memories of the art of oratory came from listening to recordings made during the Second World War. I remember being impressed on how Roosevelt could work a crowd or Senate / Congress especially during his attack on Pearl Harbour speech, his voice rising and falling back during his delivery. Of course he was there in tandem with Churchill at that perilous time.
The latter took great pains in his speeches. Meticulous composition, drawing on history, endlessly being altered up to the final delivery, fortified by sips of whisky & soda, he threw the bad wartime news to the British people like chunks of raw meat, fresh from the slaughterhouse of world events. And they responded, being a stubborn, bloody minded race.
After the War I cannot recall much except Eisenhower playing golf. Beneath it all he seemed a quiet, almost shy man. The generals were cast in a different mould. Monty addressing the troops, self assured, stating that all would be well if perseverance prevailed. Patton part soldier, part showman, belligerent and straight talking.
After that of course was the oratory of Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Two giants in articulation, vision and motivation. Reagan struck me as a middle of the road orator; more like a favourite uncle explaining something to those that needed reassuring. Never seemed to lose his temper, even when trying.
Obama was a pro. The way he held his head, the studied pauses to let a point sink in. You rode shotgun with his visions as you knew where he was pointing you.
And now where has oratory gone? An abyss.
When Trump starts a speech I reach for the remote. Monotone in delivery , tangentially rambling on everything from windmills to climate change, boasts intertwined with perceived grievances.
It reminds me of the decline of Howard Hughes encased in a vacuum of mental incoherence like a room with no windows or doors. Surrounded by obedient acolytes, he cut himself off from the world , grew his hair, fingernails, toenails and collected his daily excrement for posterity.
None it seems, we're able to say "Boss you need help."
The latter took great pains in his speeches. Meticulous composition, drawing on history, endlessly being altered up to the final delivery, fortified by sips of whisky & soda, he threw the bad wartime news to the British people like chunks of raw meat, fresh from the slaughterhouse of world events. And they responded, being a stubborn, bloody minded race.
After the War I cannot recall much except Eisenhower playing golf. Beneath it all he seemed a quiet, almost shy man. The generals were cast in a different mould. Monty addressing the troops, self assured, stating that all would be well if perseverance prevailed. Patton part soldier, part showman, belligerent and straight talking.
After that of course was the oratory of Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Two giants in articulation, vision and motivation. Reagan struck me as a middle of the road orator; more like a favourite uncle explaining something to those that needed reassuring. Never seemed to lose his temper, even when trying.
Obama was a pro. The way he held his head, the studied pauses to let a point sink in. You rode shotgun with his visions as you knew where he was pointing you.
And now where has oratory gone? An abyss.
When Trump starts a speech I reach for the remote. Monotone in delivery , tangentially rambling on everything from windmills to climate change, boasts intertwined with perceived grievances.
It reminds me of the decline of Howard Hughes encased in a vacuum of mental incoherence like a room with no windows or doors. Surrounded by obedient acolytes, he cut himself off from the world , grew his hair, fingernails, toenails and collected his daily excrement for posterity.
None it seems, we're able to say "Boss you need help."