The rise of the campaign speech

Exciting US primary debate moments from history

Presidential debates in the US are highly-touted events viewed as the capstone of a campaign, but their impact on the overall polling is often undetectable. Nonetheless, the televised events can be really entertaining as candidates sweat under the pressure of a live mass audience, and most morning after news round-ups contain some of the event's notable—or cringey—moments. Here's a quick, three-minute video of highlights of some of the more fascinating moments from US primaries.

Stand-up comedy podcasts have realigned political campaigns

Some of the world’s most popular podcasts, like “The Joe Rogan Experience” and “This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von,” are hosted by stand-up comedians. They also now play a role in American politics, with representatives, senators, and even presidents taking part in their freewheeling conversations

Ancient Greeks recognized public speaking as a teachable art form

Clear and eloquent speech is valuable for people in all walks of life. Some tips for becoming an effective speaker include considering your audience and how to benefit them, defining the goals of your speech, and practicing.

Learn about the history of soapbox speeches in the United States

From the 1890s to the 1960s, soapbox oratory was common across the US, with speakers gathering crowds in public spaces to share political, religious, and philosophical views.

How political campaigns use your data

What do campaigns know about US voters, and how do they use that information to shape their strategies during elections? US political campaigns base their strategies and tactics on data collected from more than 200 million voting-age Americans. This visualization by Reuters breaks down how data firms create national databases of voter files, collecting information from a variety of sources to create detailed voter profiles and how political campaigns use that data.

Using rhetoric to analyze a speech

A rhetorical situation is a framework for analyzing speeches and their reception as a form of persuasion that seeks to influence audience action. According to this framework, understanding a speech's impact requires a deep understanding of its setting. This virtual "untextbook" by Atilla Hallsby, an assistant communications professor at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, provides examples of rhetorical situations and analysis using current and historical events.

Malcolm X's 'Ballot or the Bullet' speech emphasized the political power of Black voters

The 1964 speech addressed institutionalized racism in the United States and urged Black Americans to exercise their right to vote or be prepared to defend themselves if democracy continued to fail them. It is lauded as one of the most unflinching speeches from the Civil Rights movement.

Political sloganeering is often downstream of memes

In 2018, #JobsNotMobs morphed from an internet meme into a conservative slogan. A video clip of angry protesters mixed with news anchors discouraging the use of the word "mob" posted on October 11, birthed the phrase. By October 19, it was adapted into a Republican party slogan.

Donald Trump redefined presidential communication in the social media age

Trump used platforms like Twitter (now X) to bypass traditional media, announce policy, and confront opponents directly. His online presence reshaped political messaging, blurred the line between official and personal communication, and transformed how presidents engage the public.

Propaganda became a key weapon in the US–Soviet Cold War

Both superpowers waged a global battle for hearts and minds through propaganda—using film, radio, art and education to promote their values. The US emphasized freedom and prosperity, while the USSR championed socialism and anti-imperialism.

Former White House speechwriters reflect on crafting the State of the Union

In this 2008 discussion, speechwriters from the Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton administrations discuss how the State of the Union is written, negotiated, and used to project presidential leadership.

The 1960s through 1980s are generally considered the ‘Golden Age of Advertising’

This time period spawned some of history’s most well-known ad campaigns, from "I Heart NY" to Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign. In this video from the 4As (the American Association of Advertising Agencies), advertising executive Jerry Della Femina reflects on the most creative ads of the era.

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address became one of the most famous speeches in American history

Delivered by Lincoln on Nov. 19, 1863, at the dedication of a national cemetery, the 272-word Gettysburg Address reframed the war as a struggle for equality. The speech would be cited as a moral touchstone for later movements such as women's suffrage and civil rights.

British Prime Minister Churchill’s speeches rallied the nation

Winston Churchill’s impassioned wartime oratory united Britain’s resolve, transforming fear into defiance and forging a path to continued resistance against Nazi aggression.

On the role of 'Citizenship In A Republic'

After finishing a Smithsonian-sponsored expedition to East Africa, US President Theodore Roosevelt stopped by Paris and gave a speech about the responsibilities an ordinary citizen has to their republic. Citizens must know there is no effort without error, knowing they "fail while daring greatly" in pursuit of a truly democratic republic. This podcast series on powerful speeches across history is written and narrated by historian and author Jon Meacham.

Brandenburg v. Ohio set the modern standard for when speech can be punished as incitement

A Ku Klux Klan leader's conviction for a threatening speech prompted the Supreme Court in 1969 to rule that speech is punishable as incitement only if it is directed at—and likely to produce—imminent lawless action.

Experts suggest memorable toasts tell stories

According to Riaz Meghji, a Canadian media personality, unsuccessful toasts are riddled with inside jokes and stock phrases. Great toasts, he says, tell an emotional story that commemorates the occasion.

The story of America's first woman presidential candidate

This video guides us through the history of Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for president in the US. Despite the odds being against her, Woodhull experienced extraordinary success as a stockbroker, newspaper founder, and presidential candidate. Watch to learn more about her background, her revolutionary ideas, and her impact on 19th-century politics.

Taylor Swift became more outspoken about her politics in the late 2010s

Vocally supporting LGBTQ+ rights, speaking out against racial inequality, and endorsing presidential candidates are more recent features of Taylor Swift's career. She first broke her political silence around the 2018 midterm elections.

How does someone become the ‘voice of a generation’?

From modern authors like Sally Rooney and JD Salinger, to the 19th century Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, the concept of artists voicing a generation's sentiments goes way back. Read this analysis to understand the concept's history and uncover the potential issues with generalizing a generation's feelings.

Global support for free speech and press freedom has declined since 2019

A 2025 Pew Research survey found that the share of people worldwide who consider free speech and press freedom important has declined over the past several years, even though majorities in most countries still say these rights matter.

There's a college course teaching influencing 101

A class at Duke University called Building Global Audiences promises to teach students how to grow their social media followings, master the art of content creation, and, of course, eventually monetize it all. One writer took the class and wrote about what it was like to be a student.

Marketers often use psychological tactics to sway consumer action

From making someone feel as though a resource is scarce (“only one item left in stock!”) to invoking a sense of authority (“top dentists recommend this toothpaste”), marketers use a variety of psychological tactics to elicit a desired response from their target audience.

Wrestling's superstars are capable of electric 'promos'

One convention of pro wrestling is the “promo”—a televised interview that allows wrestlers to develop their personas and articulate their characters’ motivations. The “Macho Man” Randy Savage is arguably the best to ever cut a promo, with his gravelly voice, memorable catchphrases and hilarious non-sequiturs making for great television.

Supporters say term limits prevent entrenched power

Advocates argue that term limits stop politicians from becoming career insiders, make government more accountable, and ensure fresh ideas circulate. They believe regular turnover keeps officials closer to the public and less beholden to special interests.

Children are now three times more likely to say they want to be a YouTuber when they grow up than an astronaut, with some even attending 'YouTube camps' that teach kids how to create content for the platform.

Despite being favored by 87% of Americans, Congress does not have term limits.

Gerrymandering works through two techniques: cracking opposing voters across districts to dilute their power, and packing them into a few to waste their votes in lopsided majorities.

20,000 letters to the advice columnist 'Dear Abby' provide insight into prevailing sex, religion, and LGBTQ fears, anxieties, and concerns from the 1950s onward.

'Silent' fireworks have gained more interest in recent years as a quieter celebratory option.

Hear about the 250-year history of the United States Postal Service, complete with some of its strangest deliveries, important innovations, and the figures that made it an American institution.

Mid-century modern graphic designers, known for their bright colors and bold lines in advertising, also found success with children's books.

In 1939, baseball star Lou Gehrig delivered his inspirational 'Luckiest Man' speech after retiring due to the health condition that now bears his name.

Graffiti dates back to at least ancient Pompeii, where citizens scrawled messages to one another on public walls

Up to a million Girl Scouts sell about 200 million cookie boxes every spring, generating $800 million, largely because refusing a child is frowned upon

Learn how to read a prospectus, the juicy document that any company must file with the SEC before going public.

After the Boston Tea Party, colonists switched to coffee, which became the main morning drink for revolutionaries.

The most expensive ad of all time was for Chanel No. 5 perfume and cost roughly $33M to produce in 2004—about $57M in today's dollars.

Hear 50 years of iconic hip-hop samples, the genre's foundational looped tracks

SpongeBob exemplifies Aristotle's philosophy for living well because he understands that happiness doesn't come from external factors like money, recognition, or power.

Browse a detailed visual analysis of over 200,000 similes—comparisons that often use 'like' or 'as'—from popular fiction to see how frequently writers the same idiomatic expressions.

See 33 images that became central to huge scandals, including a young Charles and Camilla, Michael Jackson's baby on a hotel balcony, and Hugh Grant's mugshot.

Famed poet TS Eliot rejected the manuscript for George Orwell's political fable 'Animal Farm,' writing that its criticism of authoritarianism was not 'the right point of view.'

Before humans, the Soviet Union and the United States sent animals—including apes, dogs, and cats—to space during the Space Race.

Memecoins are a type of cryptocurrency—a form of digital currency with a wide variety of uses—created around popular 'memes,' or viral internet jokes.

Cultural norms about how to handle the bodies of loved ones in communities in West Africa have hampered Ebola responses.

The American Society of Civil Engineers' infrastructure report card gave the US a C in 2025, its highest grade since the project launched in 1998.

Coral polyps reproduce via broadcast spawning, where entire reefs simultaneously release reproductive cells for about one hour, once a year.

The distributor behind 'Rocky Horror' pulled the film from its scheduled national release, believing it would be a failure, though it eventually amassed a dedicated fanbase through midnight showings, a trend that continues over 50 years later.