"Speaking of America" Docuseries

Experience four pivotal speeches that reshaped America: Patrick Henry’s 1775 call for liberty, Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” vision for civil rights, Ronald Reagan’s 1964 “A Time for Choosing” launch of modern conservatism, and Harvey Milk’s 1978 affirmation of equal rights for all. Together, they trace the evolving promise of American freedom.

• Episode 1 - Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”  
• Episode 2 - Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” 
• Episode 3 - Ronald Reagan’s “A Time for Choosing”  
• Episode 4 - Harvey Milk’s “That’s What America Is”  

Explore four powerful speeches that confront America’s deepest divisions. Thomas Jefferson’s 1801 inaugural address calls for unity after a bitter election; Teddy Roosevelt’s 1906 “Muck Rake” speech challenges sensational journalism; Margaret Chase Smith’s 1950 “Declaration of Conscience” boldly opposes McCarthyism; and Ted Kennedy’s 1983 address urges civility and religious tolerance in politics. These speeches spotlight leaders who stood up for integrity in turbulent times.

• Episode 5 - Thomas Jefferson’s 1801 Inaugural Address 
• Episode 6 - President Teddy Roosevelt’s “The Man with the Muck Rake” 
• Episode 7- Senator Margaret Chase Smith’s “A Declaration of Conscience” 
• Episode 8 - Senator Ted Kennedy’s Speech at Liberty Baptist College  

Examine four landmark speeches on leadership in our democracy: Teddy Roosevelt's 1910 "Man in the Arena" defines what it means to be a citizen-leader; Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1933 Inaugural address demonstrates leadership in the face of a national economic crisis; General Douglas MacArthur's 1962 "Duty, Honor, Country" describes the values every soldier in our democracy needs; and George W. Bush's remarks at the National Cathedral after 9/11 showed how to unite our nation after a devastating attack. Whether in theory or in action, these four speeches highlight what it means to lead in a democracy.

• Episode 9 - President Teddy Roosevelt’s “The Man in the Arena” 
• Episode 10 - President Franklin Roosevelt’s “Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself”  
• Episode 11 - Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s Speech at West Point “Duty, Honor, Country” 
• Episode 12 - President George W. Bush’s National Cathedral Service after 9/11  



Join Lifetime Learning for the Collection A Capstone Conversation featuring Mary Kate Cary, instructor of Speaking of America and Assistant Vice President, Office of the President, University of Virginia. Mary Kate will be joined by scholars and experts for a dynamic discussion of the historic speeches you explored in Collection A, including notables like Patrick Henry, Teddy Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Martin Luther King, Jr., and more. Together, they will dive into the context, craftsmanship, and lasting impact of these powerful speeches and answer your questions.

• Collection A Capstone Conversation with Mary Kate Cary and Scholars



Explore three defining speeches by women who helped shape America’s civic life. From Susan B. Anthony’s bold 1872 stand for voting rights, to Barbara Jordan’s commanding call to constitutional principles during the 1974 Watergate hearings, to Barbara Bush's 1990 commencement address at Wellesley College, a masterclass in how to handle protest in a free society. These moments highlight the enduring power of women’s voices in American democracy.

• Episode 13 - Susan B. Anthony’s Speech on Women's Right to Vote  
• Episode 14 - Congresswoman Barbara Jordan’s Watergate Impeachment Hearings
• Episode 15 - First Lady Barbara Bush’s Commencement Address at Wellesley College  



Examine four pivotal speeches that shaped America’s ongoing pursuit of freedom. From Frederick Douglass’s 1852 challenge to America’s ideals, to Lyndon B. Johnson and Martin Luther King Jr.’s eloquent 1965 calls for voting rights, to King and Robert F. Kennedy’s moving words during the turmoil of 1968, and Barack Obama’s historic 2008 “Yes We Can” address. Together, these voices show how powerful words can challenge injustice and move the nation forward.

• Episode 16 - Frederick Douglass "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?"  
• Episode 17 - The Road from Selma: President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “We Shall Overcome” Joint Session Address and Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Our God is Marching On,” in Montgomery, Alabama (1965) 
• Episode 18 - Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s "I've Been to the Mountaintop" in Memphis, Tennessee, and Robert F. Kennedy’s speech in Indianapolis, Indiana  
• Episode 19 - President-elect Barack Obama’s "Yes We Can"  



Explore four iconic presidential speeches that shaped American victory in the 20th century, including Franklin D. Roosevelt’s unifying call after Pearl Harbor, John F. Kennedy’s visionary “Ask Not” inaugural, Ronald Reagan’s moving tribute to the heroes of Normandy, and George H.W. Bush’s reflections on Pearl Harbor’s legacy at the end of the Cold War. These speeches highlight how presidents have used powerful words to inspire courage, define American values, and guide the nation through moments of global conflict.

• Episode 20 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s "A Date Which Will Live in Infamy" 
• Episode 21 - President John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address  
• Episode 22 - President Ronald Reagan’s "The Boys of Pointe du Hoc,” 40th Anniversary of D-Day, Normandy
• Episode 23 - President George H.W. Bush’s 50th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor  



Discover three defining moments in America’s journey into space. President John F. Kennedy’s bold 1962 “Moonshot” challenge at Rice University ignited the national drive to reach the Moon. President Richard Nixon’s undelivered Apollo 11 eulogy reveals the risks and resolve behind the Moon mission at the height of the space race. After the 1986 Challenger disaster, President Ronald Reagan offered comfort and renewed commitment to exploration in a moving national address. Together, these speeches showcase the vision, courage, and enduring spirit behind America’s quest for the stars.

• Episode 24 - President John F. Kennedy’s "Moonshot”  
• Episode 25 - President Richard Nixon’s (Undelivered) “In Event of Moon Disaster”  
• Episode 26 - President Ronald Reagan’s Address After the Challenger Disaster  



President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863 — widely considered to be the greatest expression of our nation's commitment to freedom. This two-minute speech illustrates America’s eternal commitment to freedom.

• Episode 27 - President Abraham Lincoln’s The Gettysburg Address  



Join Lifetime Learning for the Collection B Capstone Conversation featuring Mary Kate Cary, instructor of Speaking of America and Assistant Vice President, Office of the President, University of Virginia. She and a panel of experts will discuss the historic speeches explored in Collection B, including those of Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, George H.W. Bush, Barack Obama, and more. The panel will address your questions.

• Collection B Capstone Conversation with Mary Kate Cary and Scholars