The Courage of Their Convictions, Presidential Speeches and the Challenge of Leadership

From the modest inaugural speech by George Washington, leading the United States of America at its birth, to the riveting speech on race by Barack Obama, who would go on to become the first African-American president in part because of the vision conveyed in and through the text reproduced here, the following collection of presidential speeches show how great leaders, through their words, are able to address the pressing issues and anxieties facing America and the world.