Approaching single-digits days towards the Election of 2024, American citizens are watching a tight political race. The numbers in the “Swing and Key States” have been examined daily by every major news channel. As the race reaches its conclusion, there has been vehement rhetoric from both candidates. Trump has called President Kamala Harris “Stupid, Incompetent, Lying,” etc. Harris has responded that Trump is resemblant of “Hitler, is unhinged, and a Fascist.” These are aggressive words by both sides that have become increasingly intense. Below are several inaugural addresses and campaign speeches by presidential candidates who eventually won this office. “Still, when you speak of us Republicans, you do so only to denounce us as reptiles, or, at the best, as no better than outlaws. You will grant a hearing to pirates or murderers, but nothing like it to 'Black Republicans.' In all your contentions with one another, each of you deems an unconditional condemnation of "Black Republicanism" as the first thing to be attended to. Indeed, such condemnation of us seems to be an indispensable prerequisite—license, so to speak—among you to be admitted or permitted to speak at all. Now, can you, or not, be prevailed upon to pause and to consider whether this is quite just to us, or even to yourselves? Bring forward your charges and specifications, and then be patient long enough to hear us deny or justify. You say we are sectional. We deny it. That makes an issue; and the burden of proof is upon you…”
— Abraham Lincoln, Cooper Hall Speech, February 27th, 1860 “Throughout the nation, men and women, forgotten in the political philosophy of the government of the last years,
look to us here for guidance and for a more equitable opportunity to share in the distribution of national wealth. On the farms, in the large metropolitan areas, in the smaller cities and in the villages, millions of our citizens cherish the hope that their old standards of living...have not gone forever. Those millions cannot and shall not hope in vain. I pledge to you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people. Let us all here assembled constitute ourselves prophets of a new order of competence and of courage. This is more than a political campaign; it is a call to arms. Give me your help, not to win votes alone, but to win in this crusade to restore America to its own people.”
— President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Democratic Convention Speech, July 2nd, 1932.
“The last Republican defense budget, proposed by President Ford, would have maintained the margin. But the Carter Administration came to power on a promise of slashing America’s defenses. It has made good on its promises. Our program to restore the margin of safety must be prudent and measured. We must take a stand against terrorism in the world and combat it with firmness, or it is the most cowardly and savage violation of peace. We must regain that margin of safety I spoke of both in conventional arms and the deployment of troops. And we must allow no weakness in our strategic deterrent. We do not stand in the world. We have Allies who are with us, who look to America to provide leadership and to remain strong. But they are confused by the lack of a coherent, principled policy from the Carter Administration.”
— President Ronald Reagan VFW Speech, August 18th, 1980.
“Tonight 10 million of our fellow Americans are out of work. Tens of millions more work harder for lower pay. The incumbent President says unemployment always goes up a little before a recovery begins, but unemployment only must go up by one more person before a real recovery can begin. And Mr. President, you are that man. This election is about putting power back in your hands and putting the government back on your side. It’s about putting people first. You know, I’ve said that across the country. And whenever I do, someone always comes back at me, as a young man did just this week at a town meeting at the Henry Street Settlement on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. He said, 'That sounds good, Bill, but you’re a politician. Why should I trust you?'”
— President Bill Clinton, Democratic National Convention Speech, July 16th, 1992.
These presidential speeches had one goal in common: they sought political victory. Before the Election of 1860, Lincoln spoke in New York to describe the division in the nation. Today, as these words are always heard about, before this historic election, Lincoln explained the political climate between
the Democratic South and the Republican North. He presented the shortcomings in the country that increased under outgoing President of James K. Buchanan. This was his opportunity to prove that he was not a “folksy” or a “hick” of a leader from the woods or farmlands of Illinois, but rather an emerging leader who expected to be taken seriously.
Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt suffered from the hardships of polio and this wealthy politician from New York wanted to directly aid Americans during the Great Depression. Believing that President Herbert Hoover was unable to fight this crisis and show compassion through the government’s attack on the “Bonus Army” group of World War I Veterans. Although some Americans feared Roosevelt’s increased intervention in the economy, they listened to the ideas of the “New Deal” before this election. Roosevelt mentioned that Hoover widely lost the confidence of this country and that the people deserved a new beginning to fight the immense powers of the depression.
California Governor Ronald Reagan was an athlete, sports caster, actor, veteran, cowboy,
and ran for the presidency twice before the Election of 1980. The 1970s were a disaster for the United States through the loss of the Vietnam War, the Hostage & Oil Crisis, stagflation, President Richard M. Nixon’s resignation, and loss of American prestige overseas. Reagan campaigned that our people were bullied by second-rate nations and there had to be a response to defend our interests and pride. The “Great Communicator” viewed the risks that the Cold War could still be lost to the Soviet Union and that our military had to re-build and demonstrate resolve against the communist threat. Reagan continually stressed that Jimmy Carter was the face of his own “Question of Confidence” speech.
Finally, in 1992, President William J. Clinton was a little-known governor from Arkansas. He ran against the political longevity of President George H.W. Bush, who was an extremely experienced leader. Whereas Bush was Reagan’s Vice President, and they won the Cold War, the stock market crashed in 1987, excessive government debt was accumulated from the tax cuts, and the nation had high unemployment. There were questions about both figures, as Clinton evaded the Vietnam War draft and there were questions over his character. Bush reversed his pledge not to raise taxes, and he paid heavily for the poor economy and the increase of taxes. Years later, as Goodwill Ambassadors, both bitter opponents became good friends, and Clinton admitted that Barbara Bush was a second mother to him. Everyday Americans will be watching this election, but the friction of this contest is one that has always been seen within our political landscape.