speeches of Barack Obama

File:Obama 2004 1.png delivering the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention]]

Barack Obama served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. Before his presidency, he served in the Illinois Senate (1997–2004) and the United States Senate (2005–2008).

It was during his campaign for the United States Senate that he first made a speech that received nationwide attention; he gave the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. and stated "there is not a liberal America and a conservative America—there is the United States of America". Obama began to run for president just three years after that speech. In response to a political controversy involving race during the primary campaign, he delivered his "A More Perfect Union" speech, which was widely seen as a critical point in the campaign.

Obama was elected to the presidency in 2008 and subsequently re-elected in 2012. Among the hundreds of speeches he has delivered since then include seven State of the Union addresses, two victory speeches, a speech to the Islamic world in Egypt early in his first term, and a speech following the shooting of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.

On January 10, 2017, We Are The Change We Seek, a collection of Obama's greatest speeches selected and introduced by columnist E.J. Dionne and MSNBC host Joy-Ann Reid was published by Bloomsbury Publishing.[http://www.vowelor.com/book/we-are-change-we-seek-barack-obama-speeches-review/ We Are The Change We Seek: The Speeches Barack Obama], Bloomsbury Publishing

2004 Democratic National Convention keynote address

The keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention (DNC) was given by then Illinois state senator, United States Senate candidate, and future president Barack Obama on the night of Tuesday, July 27, 2004. His unexpected landslide victory in the March 2004 Illinois U.S. Senate Democratic primary had made him overnight a rising star within the national Democratic Party, started speculation about a presidential future, and led to the reissue of his memoir, Dreams from My Father.{{cite news|author=Mendell, David|date=March 17, 2004|title=Obama routs Democratic foes; Ryan tops crowded GOP field; Hynes, Hull fall far short across state|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|page=1 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/technology/chi-0403170332mar17,0,6048572.story|access-date=September 13, 2012}}

{{cite news|author=Davey, Monica|date=March 18, 2004|title=As quickly as overnight, a Democratic star is born|newspaper=The New York Times|page=A20|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/18/us/as-quickly-as-overnight-a-democratic-star-is-born.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=September 13, 2012}}
{{cite news|author=Howlett, Debbie|date=March 18, 2004|title=Dems see a rising star in Illinois Senate candidate|newspaper=USA Today|page=A04|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2004-03-18-obama-usat_x.htm|access-date=September 13, 2012}}
{{cite news|author=Scheiber, Noam |date=May 31, 2004|title=Race against history. Barack Obama's miraculous campaign|magazine=The New Republic|pages=21–22, 24–26 (cover story)|url=http://www.tnr.com/article/race-against-history-0|access-date=September 13, 2012}}
{{cite news|author=Finnegan, William|date=May 31, 2004|title=The Candidate. How far can Barack Obama go?|magazine=The New Yorker|pages=32–38|url=https://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/05/31/040531fa_fact1?currentPage=all|access-date=September 13, 2012}}
{{cite news|author=Dionne Jr., E.J.|date=June 25, 2004|title=In Illinois, a star prepares|newspaper=The Washington Post|page=A29 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4062-2004Jun24.html|access-date=September 13, 2012}}
{{cite book|author=Mendell, David|date=August 14, 2007|title=Obama: from promise to power|location=New York|publisher=Amistad/HarperCollins|pages=[https://archive.org/details/obamafrompromise00mend_0/page/235 235–259]|isbn=978-0-06-085820-9|url=https://archive.org/details/obamafrompromise00mend_0/page/235}}
{{cite news|author=Scott, Janny|date=May 18, 2008|title=The story of Obama, written by Obama|newspaper=The New York Times|page=A1|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/us/politics/18memoirs.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=September 13, 2012}} His convention keynote address was well received, which further elevated his status within the Democratic Party and led to his reissued memoir becoming a bestseller.{{cite news|date=August 2, 2004|title=Star power. Showtime: Some are on the rise; others have long been fixtures in the firmament. A galaxy of bright Democratic lights|work=Newsweek|pages=48–51|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/54728/output/print|access-date=September 13, 2012}}
{{cite news|author=Samuel, Terence|date=August 2, 2004|title=A shining star named Obama. How a most unlikely politician became a darling of the Democrats|magazine=U.S. News & World Report|page=25|url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/040802/2obama.htm|access-date=September 13, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206100640/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/040802/2obama.htm|archive-date=December 6, 2008|df=mdy-all}}
{{cite news|author=Lizza, Ryan|date=September 2004|title=The Natural. Why is Barack Obama generating more excitement among Democrats than John Kerry?|work=The Atlantic Monthly|pages=30, 33|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200409/lizza|access-date=September 13, 2012}}
{{cite news|author=Davey, Monica|date=July 26, 2004|title=A surprise Senate contender reaches his biggest stage yet|newspaper=The New York Times|page=A1|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/26/us/the-speaker-a-surprise-senate-contender-reaches-his-biggest-stage-yet.html|access-date=September 13, 2012}}
{{cite news|author=Leibovich, Mark|date=July 27, 2004|title=The other man of the hour|newspaper=The Washington Post|page=C1|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16606-2004Jul26.html|access-date=September 13, 2012}}
{{cite news|author=Milligan, Susan|date=July 27, 2004|title=In Obama, Democrats see their future|newspaper=The Boston Globe|page=B8|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/07/27/in_obama_democrats_see_their_future/|access-date=September 13, 2012}}
{{cite news|author=Seelye, Katharine Q.|date=July 28, 2004|title=Illinois Senate nominee speaks of encompassing unity|newspaper=The New York Times|page=A1|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/28/politics/campaign/28blacks.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060624052131/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/28/politics/campaign/28blacks.html|archive-date=June 24, 2006|access-date=September 13, 2012}}
{{cite news|author=Broder, David S.|date=July 28, 2004|title=Democrats focus on healing divisions; Addressing convention, newcomers set themes|newspaper=The Washington Post|page=A1|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17865-2004Jul27.html|access-date=September 13, 2012}}
{{cite news|author1=Bing, Jonathan|author2=McClintock, Pamela|date=July 29, 2004|title=Auds resist charms of Dem stars; Convention sees tepid ratings|newspaper=Variety|page=1|url=https://variety.com/2004/biz/markets-festivals/auds-resist-charms-of-dem-stars-1117908388/|access-date=September 13, 2012}}
{{cite book|author=Mendell, David|date=August 14, 2007|title=Obama: from promise to power|location=New York|publisher=Amistad/HarperCollins|pages=[https://archive.org/details/obamafrompromise00mend_0/page/272 272–285]|isbn=978-0-06-085820-9|url=https://archive.org/details/obamafrompromise00mend_0/page/272}}

Obama first met Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in the spring of 2004, and was just one of several names considered for the role of keynote speaker at the party's convention that summer. After being alerted in early July that he had been chosen to deliver the address, Obama largely wrote the speech himself, with later edits from the Kerry presidential campaign. Delivered on the second night of the DNC in just under 20 minutes, the address included both a biographical sketch of Obama, his own vision of America, and the reasons for his support of Kerry for the presidency. Unlike almost all prior and all subsequent convention keynote addresses, it was not televised by the commercial broadcast networks, and was only seen by a combined PBS, cable news and C-SPAN television audience of about 9 million. Since its delivery, several academics have studied the speech, both for the various narratives it describes as well as its implications for racial reconciliation.

2008 A More Perfect Union

"A More Perfect Union"{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obamatext19mar19,1,5259336.story?track=rss |title='A more perfect union' by Barack Obama |date=March 19, 2008 |access-date=March 22, 2008 |work=The Los Angeles Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608182717/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obamatext19mar19,1,5259336.story?track=rss |archive-date = June 8, 2008}} is the name of a speech delivered by Senator Barack Obama on March 18, 2008 in the course of the contest for the 2008 Democratic Party presidential nomination.{{cite news

|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/03/18/text-of-obamas-speech-a-more-perfect-union/?mod=googlenews_wsj|title=Text of Obama's speech: A More Perfect Union|author=Barack Obama|date=March 18, 2008|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=March 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320231608/https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/03/18/text-of-obamas-speech-a-more-perfect-union/?mod=googlenews_wsj|archive-date=March 20, 2008 |url-status=live}} Speaking before an audience at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Obama was responding to a spike in the attention paid to controversial remarks made by the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, his former pastor and, until shortly before the speech, a participant in his campaign. Obama framed his response in terms of the broader issue of race in the United States. The speech's title was taken from the Preamble to the United States Constitution.

Obama addressed the subjects of racial tensions, white privilege, and race and inequality in the United States, discussing black "anger", white "resentment", and other issues as he sought to explain and contextualize Wright's controversial comments.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/18/obama-confronts-racial-di_n_92064.html|title=Obama confronts racial division|author1=Nedra Pickler |author2=Matt Apuzzo |name-list-style=amp |date=March 18, 2008|agency=Associated Press|access-date=August 6, 2015}} His speech closed with a plea to move beyond America's "racial stalemate" and address shared social problems.

On March 27, 2008, the Pew Research Center called the speech "arguably the biggest political event of the campaign so far," noting that 85 percent of Americans said they had heard at least a little about the speech and that 54 percent said they heard a lot about it.{{cite news |publisher=Pew Research Center |title=Obama Speech on Race Arguably Biggest Event of Campaign |url=http://pewresearch.org/pubs/777/obama-wright-news-interest |date=March 27, 2008 |access-date=March 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080330170219/http://pewresearch.org/pubs/777/obama-wright-news-interest|archive-date=March 30, 2008 |url-status=live}} The New Yorker opined that the speech helped elect Obama as the president of the United States.Hendrik Hertzberg, "Obama Wins", The New Yorker, November 17, 2008, p. 40, found at [https://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2008/11/17/081117taco_talk_hertzberg The New Yorker website]. Retrieved November 18, 2008.

2008 Presidential Election Victory Speech

Following his victory in the 2008 United States presidential election, President-elect Barack Obama gave his victory speech{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/05/AR2008110500013.html|title=Sen. Barack Obama's Acceptance Speech in Chicago|last=CQ Transcripts Wire |date=November 4, 2008 |newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=November 5, 2008}} at Grant Park in his home city of Chicago,{{cite news|url=http://www.timesoftheinternet.com/17106.html |title=Obama Acceptance Speech |date=November 4, 2008 |work=Times of the Internet |access-date=November 5, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081108024514/http://www.timesoftheinternet.com/17106.html |archive-date=November 8, 2008}} on November 4, 2008, before an estimated crowd of 240,000.{{cite news|url=https://abc7chicago.com/archive/6489707/ |title=Chicago News – 11/05/08|publisher=ABC|access-date=November 5, 2008}}{{cite news|url=http://mobile.chicagotribune.com/detail.jsp?key=185118&rc=top2&full=1|title=Rally crowd heads home for the night|work=The Chicago Tribune|access-date=November 5, 2008}} Viewed on television and the Internet by millions of people around the globe, Obama's speech focused on the major issues facing the United States and the world, all echoed through his campaign slogan of change.{{cite news|url=http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/article/10876/|title=Residents relate the personal significance of this election|last=Gilbert|first=Debbie|date=November 6, 2008 |work=Gainseville Times|access-date=November 8, 2008}} He also mentioned his grandmother, who had died two nights earlier.

2009 Inaugural Address

Delivered on January 20, 2009.

February 2009 Address to a Joint Session of Congress

{{Main|February 2009 Barack Obama speech to a joint session of Congress}}

File:Barack Obama addresses joint session of Congress 2-24-09.jpg]]

United States President Barack Obama delivered a speech to a joint session of the 111th United States Congress on February 24, 2009.{{cite news |first=Michelle |last=Levi |title=Date Set For Obama's First Address To Congress|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/02/10/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4790020.shtml |publisher=CBS News |date=February 10, 2009 |access-date=February 10, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217190640/http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/02/10/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4790020.shtml|archive-date=February 17, 2009 |url-status=live}} It was not an official State of the Union address.{{cite news |title=Obama outlines ambitious agenda for 'lasting prosperity' |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/24/obama.speech/index.html |publisher=CNN.com |date=February 25, 2009 |access-date=February 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224210508/http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/24/obama.speech/index.html |archive-date=February 24, 2009 |url-status=live}} Obama's first State of the Union Address was the 2010 State of the Union Address. The speech was delivered on the floor of the chamber of the United States House of Representatives in the United States Capitol. Presiding over this joint session was the House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi. Accompanying the speaker of the House was the president of the United States Senate, Joe Biden, the vice president of the United States.

President Obama discussed the recently passed $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 as well as the Troubled Assets Relief Program, the state of the economy, and the future of the country.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/24/obama.speech/index.html|title=Obama outlines ambitious agenda for 'lasting prosperity' |publisher=CNN|date=February 24, 2009}}

Attorney General Eric Holder was the designated survivor and did not attend the address in order to maintain a continuity of government. He was sequestered at a secret secure location for the duration of the event.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/24/AR2009022403530.html |title=Holder Draws 'Survivor' Duty |date=February 25, 2009 |access-date=January 21, 2011 |newspaper=Washington Post}}

2009 A New Beginning

"A New Beginning" is the name of a speech delivered by United States President Barack Obama on June 4, 2009, from the Major Reception Hall at Cairo University in Egypt. Al-Azhar University co-hosted the event. The speech honors a promise Obama made during his presidential campaign to give a major address to Muslims from a Muslim capital during his first few months as president.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs indicated that Egypt was chosen because "it is a country that in many ways represents the heart of the Arab world."{{cite web |title=Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs |author=Office of the Press Secretary |author-link=White House Press Secretary |date=May 8, 2009 |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the_press_office/Briefing-by-White-House-Press-Secretary-Robert-Gibbs-5-8-09/ |via=National Archives |work=whitehouse.gov |access-date=May 10, 2009}} Egypt is considered a key player in the Middle East peace process as well as a major recipient of American military and economic aid. Reuters reporter Ross Colvin reported that the speech would attempt to mend the United States' relations with the Muslim world, which he wrote were "severely damaged" during the presidency of George W. Bush.{{cite news |first=Ross |last=Colvin |title=Obama to reach out to Muslims in Egypt speech |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/ObamaEconomy/idUSTRE54754920090508 |work=Reuters |date=May 8, 2009 |access-date=May 10, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511131626/https://www.reuters.com/article/ObamaEconomy/idUSTRE54754920090508|archive-date=May 11, 2009 |url-status=live}}

September 2009 Address to a Joint Session of Congress

{{Main|September 2009 Barack Obama speech to a joint session of Congress}}

United States President Barack Obama discussed his plan for health care reform in a speech delivered to a joint session of the 111th United States Congress on September 9, 2009 at 8:00 PM (EDT). The speech was delivered to Congress on the floor of the chamber of the United States House of Representatives in the United States Capitol. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi presided over the joint session and was accompanied by the president of the United States Senate, Joe Biden, the vice president of the United States. Energy Secretary Steven Chu was chosen as the designated survivor and did not attend the speech.{{cite news |title=Energy secretary stays away during Obama health care speech to joint session of Congress |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-ap-us-health-care-chu,0,7791126.story |agency=Associated Press |work=Chicago Tribune |date=September 9, 2009 |access-date=September 14, 2009}}

2009 Address to the United Nations General Assembly

{{Main|General debate of the sixty-fourth session of the United Nations General Assembly#23 September}}

Delivered on September 23, 2009.

2010 State of the Union Address

File:2010 State of the Union.jpg delivering the State of the Union to the United States Congress with Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi]]

The 2010 State of the Union Address was given by United States President Barack Obama on January 27, 2010, to a joint session of Congress.{{cite news |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gQiykp90el21tRx8HF8XMI-nsZ6g |title=Obama's first State of the Union address set for January 27 |date=January 18, 2010 |agency=AFP |access-date=January 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122101255/https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gQiykp90el21tRx8HF8XMI-nsZ6g|archive-date=January 22, 2010 |url-status=dead}} It was aired on all the major networks starting at 9 pm ET.{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/01/19/2010-01-19_obama_wont_be_idol_on_the_27th.html |title=President Obama won't be 'Idol' on January 27 when he delivers State of the Union address to Congress |date=January 19, 2010 |work=Daily News |location=New York |access-date=January 24, 2010 |first=Kenneth R. |last=Bazinet|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130161423/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/01/19/2010-01-19_obama_wont_be_idol_on_the_27th.html|archive-date=January 30, 2010 |url-status=live}}. ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and PBS online schedules as of January 24, 2010. It was Obama's first State of the Union Address, though the president did give a non-State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress a month after taking office in 2009.

The speech was delivered in the United States House of Representatives in the United States Capitol. As always, the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives, Vice President Joe Biden (as Senate President) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sat behind the president.

The theme for President Obama's speech was "Rescue, Rebuild, Restore – a New Foundation for Prosperity".{{cite news |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/27/obamas-themes-rescue-rebuild-restore/|title=Obama's Themes: 'Rescue, Rebuild, Restore' |date=January 27, 2010|access-date=February 1, 2011|work=The New York Times|first=Jeff|last=Zeleny}}{{cite web |url=http://www.lebanonwire.com/1001MLN/10012817NYT.asp|title=Obama Vows to Restore a 'Tested' Nation|date=January 28, 2010 |access-date=February 1, 2011}} Among the topics that Obama covered in his speech were proposals for job creation and federal deficit reduction.{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29471.html |title=After spending binge, White House says it will focus on deficits |date=November 13, 2009 |work=Politico |access-date=January 8, 2010 |quote=President Barack Obama announced in next year's State of the Union address that he wants to focus extensively on cutting the federal deficit in 2010 – and downplayed other new domestic spending beyond jobs programs, according to top aides involved in the planning.}}

Newly inaugurated Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell delivered the Republican response following the speech{{cite news |title=2010 Republican Response|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8484455.stm|date=January 27, 2010 |publisher=BBC News|access-date=January 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130024430/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8484455.stm|archive-date=January 30, 2010|url-status=live}} from the floor of the House of Delegates at the Virginia State Capitol in front of over 300 people.{{cite web |url=http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=35378 |title=McDonnell Trumps Obama's State of the Union Speech |work=Human Events |date=January 28, 2010 |access-date=February 22, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408073704/http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=35378|archive-date=April 8, 2010 |url-status=live}}

2010 Space policy speech at Kennedy Space Center

{{Further|Space policy of the Barack Obama administration#Space policy speech at Kennedy Space Center}}

This speech was delivered on April 15, 2010, at the Kennedy Space Center.

2010 Address to the United Nations General Assembly

{{Main|General debate of the sixty-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly#23 September 2010}}

Delivered on September 23, 2010.

2011 Tucson memorial speech

President of the United States Barack Obama delivered a speech at the Together We Thrive: Tucson and America memorial on January 12, 2011, held in the McKale Center on the University of Arizona campus.

It honored the victims of the 2011 Tucson shooting and included themes of healing and national unity. Watched by more than 30 million Americans,[http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/media_entertainment/more-than-30-million-watch-president-obamas-address-at-tucson-memorial/ "More than 30 Million Watch President Obama's Address at Tucson Memorial"] NielsenWire, January 13, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2011. it drew widespread praise from politicians and commentators across the political spectrum and from abroad.

2011 State of the Union Address

The 2011 State of the Union Address was a speech given by President Barack Obama at 9 p.m. EST on January 25, 2011, in the chamber of the United States House of Representatives.{{USBill|112|h.con.res|10}} In this joint session Obama outlined his "vision for an America that's more determined, more competitive, better positioned for the future—an America where we out-innovate, we out-educate, we out-build the rest of the world; where we take responsibility for our deficits; where we reform our government to meet the demands of a new age."{{cite web |url=http://www.szone.us/f24/remarks-president-families-usa-health-action-conference-54881/ |title=Remarks by the President at Families USA Health Action Conference |date=January 28, 2011 |access-date=January 29, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007211916/http://www.szone.us/f24/remarks-president-families-usa-health-action-conference-54881/ |archive-date=October 7, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://obama-speech.org/transcript.php?obama_speech_id=4433|title=Obamas Speeches: Remarks by the President at Families USA Health Action Conference|date=January 28, 2011|access-date=January 29, 2011|archive-date=July 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727135754/http://obama-speech.org/transcript.php?obama_speech_id=4433|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/OFA/gGMbWt|title=Video: President Addresses Health Care Advocates--"I'm happy to report that granny is safe"|date=January 28, 2011|access-date=January 29, 2011|archive-date=September 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923233337/https://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/OFA/gGMbWt|url-status=dead}}

2011 Birth Certificate statement

Obama delivered a speech at the White House Briefing Room on April 20, 2011. He stated that the release of his birth certificate is a settled issue saying that the American people "didn't care" nor were concerned about this. Obama blamed partisan politics and said this release is no different than any earlier release.

September 2011 Address to a Joint Session of Congress

{{Further|September 2011 Barack Obama speech to a joint session of Congress}}

Delivered on September 8, 2011.

2011 Address to the United Nations General Assembly

{{Main|General debate of the sixty-sixth session of the United Nations General Assembly#21 September 2011}}

Delivered on September 21, 2011.

2012 State of the Union Address

The 2012 State of the Union Address was a speech given by President Barack Obama, from 9 p.m. to 10:17 p.m. EST on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, in the chamber of the United States House of Representatives.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/post/obamas-state-of-the-union-a-work-in-progress/2012/01/12/gIQATL4fwP_blog.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Al |last=Kamen |title=Obama's State of the Union: A work in progress |date=January 13, 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/us/politics/obama-to-draw-an-economic-line-in-state-of-union.html?hp |work=The New York Times |first=Jackie |last=Calmes |title=Obama to Push Activism in State of the Union Address |date=January 21, 2012}} In his speech, he focused on education reform, repairing America's infrastructure with money not used on the Iraq War, and creating new energy sources in America.

2012 "You didn't build that"

The speech took place in Roanoke, Virginia, on July 13, 2012.{{cite news |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2012/07/The-Rise-of-Romneys-You-Didnt-Build-That-Meme |title=The Rise of Romney's "You Didn't Build That" Meme |last=Weiner |first=Juli |date=July 18, 2012 |work=Vanity Fair |access-date=September 14, 2012}}

2012 Address to the United Nations General Assembly

{{Main|General debate of the sixty-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly#25 September 2012}}

Delivered on September 25, 2012.

2012 Speech to the Clinton Global Initiative

Barack Obama's speech to the Clinton Global Initiative in 2012 took place on September 25, 2012.{{cite journal |journal=TCU360 |title=Students join Obama's campus challenge to end human trafficking|author=Kaitlin Helm|date=November 29, 2012 |url=http://www.tcu360.com/campus/2012/11/16573.students-join-obamas-campus-challenge-end-human-trafficking|access-date=December 2, 2012}} The speech was on the subject of human trafficking, which Obama referred to as "modern slavery".{{cite journal|journal=The Huffington Post|author=Ben Feller|title=Clinton Global Initiative: Obama Outlines Steps To Fight Human Trafficking|date=September 25, 2012|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/25/obama-human-trafficking-cgi_n_1913051.html |access-date=December 2, 2012}} He stated that he did not use the term "slavery" lightly, knowing that this word conjures painful memories of previous forms of slavery in the United States.{{cite journal|journal=Swazi Observer|author=Nathi Gule|title=Tapping in on Obama-mania|date=November 12, 2012|url=http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=45200|access-date=December 2, 2012}} In the speech, he told his administration to oppose human trafficking to a greater extent than the administration had done previously.{{cite journal|journal=Land Line Magazine|author=Clarissa Kell-Holland|title=Transportation industry unites to stop human trafficking|date=November 15, 2012|url=http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=24427|access-date=December 2, 2012}} He also encouraged people to develop technology to combat human trafficking, and specifically put a call out to college students.{{cite journal|journal=Calgary Herald|author=Lee Rickwood|title=Calgary tech company crowdsources fight against sex trafficking|date=November 27, 2012|url=https://calgaryherald.com/technology/personal-tech/Calgary+tech+company+crowdsources+fight+against/7617194/story.html|access-date=December 2, 2012}} He also told the story of former human trafficking victim Sheila White, who, in 2003, was battered next to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey without anyone even asking her if she needed help.{{Cite AV media|title=Human Trafficking: Modern Day Slavery|date=April 17, 2013|publisher=Connecticut Public Radio|author=John Dankosky|url=http://www.yourpublicmedia.org/content/wnpr/human-trafficking-modern-day-slavery|access-date=August 21, 2013|archive-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053742/http://www.yourpublicmedia.org/content/wnpr/human-trafficking-modern-day-slavery|url-status=usurped}} Opening night of the human-trafficking-themed Canadian play She Has a Name in Edmonton, Alberta coincided with Obama's speech.{{cite journal|journal=Edmonton Journal|author=Liz Nicholls|title=Theatre review: Performances outshine writing in vivid activist play|date=September 26, 2012|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/Theatre+review+Performances+outshine+writing+vivid+activist+play/7304309/story.html|access-date=October 1, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} JD Supra called it a "landmark speech [that] is reflective of the fact that human trafficking and forced labor have become key priorities" for people wishing to address the human rights issues that result from business operations.{{cite journal|journal=JD Supra|title=Corporate Responsibility for Human Trafficking & Five Steps that Your Company Can Take Right Now|author=Sarah A. Altschuller|date=December 1, 2012|url=http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/corporate-responsibility-for-human-traff-83821/|access-date=December 2, 2012}} California Against Slavery founder Daphne Phung was pleased with Obama's speech.{{cite journal|journal=U-T San Diego|author=Elizabeth Aguilera|title=Momentum growing against human trafficking|date=November 11, 2012 |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/nov/11/momentum-growing-against-human-trafficking/|access-date=December 2, 2012}} As part of the Obama administration's followup to the speech to the Clinton Global Initiative, there was a 25-person discussion at the White House about how to eliminate human trafficking globally.{{cite journal|journal=Cleveland Daily Banner|author=David Davis|title=Watson to visit White House|date=December 2, 2012 |url=http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/20996620/article-Watson--to-visit-White-House?instance=main_article |access-date=December 2, 2012}}

2012 Presidential Election Victory Speech

{{Main|Barack Obama 2012 presidential campaign#Election and victory}}

Delivered on November 6, 2012.

2013 Inaugural Address

Delivered on January 21, 2013.

2013 State of the Union Address

Delivered on February 12, 2013.

2013 Speech at the Brandenburg Gate Berlin

Delivered on June 19, 2013.

2013 "Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago"

File:President Obama speaks on the Trayvon Martin ruling (2013-07-19).webm on July 19, 2013.{{#tag:ref|Transcript of President Obama's Remarks
* [https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/07/19/remarks-president-trayvon-martin Remarks by the President on Trayvon Martin]
Video of President Obama's Remarks
* [https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/photos-and-video/video/2013/07/19/president-obama-speaks-trayvon-martin President Obama Speaks on Trayvon Martin]|group="Note"}}]]

On July 19, 2013, President Obama gave a speech in place of the usual White House daily briefing normally given by White House Press Secretary Jay Carney. In the 17-minute speech, President Obama spoke about public reaction to the conclusion of the George Zimmerman trial, racial profiling, and the state of race relations in the United States. The speech was widely covered on news networks, and made headlines across the country. During this speech, made six days after George Zimmerman was found not guilty, Obama said, "Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago." That phrase became the most frequently quoted portion of the speech in the news cycle that followed.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/19/politics/obama-zimmerman/index.html?hpt=hp_c2 |title=Obama: 'Trayvon Martin could have been me' |publisher=CNN |date=July 19, 2013 |access-date=July 19, 2013}} The speech marked a major turning point for Barack Obama, who had previously shied away from addressing issues of racial tension during his presidency. During the remarks, President Obama spoke about the many African-Americans who have experienced racial profiling, including himself.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/20/us/in-wake-of-zimmerman-verdict-obama-makes-extensive-statement-on-race-in-america.html?hp&_r=0 |title=Obama: 'Trayvon Martin could have been me' |work=The New York Times |date=July 19, 2013 |access-date=July 19, 2013}}

{{blockquote|

There are very few African American men in this country who haven't had the experience of being followed when they were shopping in a department store. That includes me. There are very few African American men who haven't had the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars. That happens to me—at least before I was a senator. There are very few African Americans who haven't had the experience of getting on an elevator and a woman clutching her purse nervously and holding her breath until she had a chance to get off. That happens often.{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/07/19/remarks-president-trayvon-martin|title=Remarks by the President on Trayvon Martin|author=Office of the White House Press Secretary|date=July 19, 2013|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|access-date=July 30, 2013}}}}

President Obama also spoke about stand-your-ground laws and pondered that, if Trayvon Martin had been armed, he might possibly have legally stood his ground on the sidewalk and shot George Zimmerman because he felt threatened. Based on that ambiguity, Obama said that perhaps such laws should be examined.

2013 Speech at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

On August 28, 2013, the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech was commemorated by an all day event featuring various speakers including President Barack Obama and John Lewis, the only speaker from the original rally to remain living.

2013 Address to the United Nations General Assembly

{{Main|General debate of the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly#24 September}}

Delivered on September 24, 2013.

2014 State of the Union Address

Delivered on January 28, 2014.

2014 Address to the United Nations General Assembly

{{Main|General debate of the sixty-ninth session of the United Nations General Assembly#24 September}}

Delivered on September 24, 2014.

2015 State of the Union Address

Delivered on January 20, 2015.

2015 Selma Anniversary

Obama spoke on March 7, 2015 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery Marches, lauded unsung heroes and everyday Americans that stood up for justice. According to leading George W. Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson, the speech "falls into the category of speeches that every child should read in school" and is cited by the Washington Post as the Obama speech which will hold up best for posterity.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/07/22/which-barack-obama-speech-is-the-one-for-the-history-books/|title=Which Barack Obama speech is the one for the history books?|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2017-01-14}}

2015 Eulogy for Clementa Pinckney

After the Charleston church shooting, during which state senator Clementa C. Pinckney and eight other victims were gunned down by a white supremacist, Obama went to the College of Charleston on June 26, 2015 to deliver the [https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/06/26/remarks-president-eulogy-honorable-reverend-clementa-pinckney|the eulogy for senator Pinckney] while addressing bigger issues about race relations and civil rights in the United States.{{cite web |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/06/26/remarks-president-eulogy-honorable-reverend-clementa-pinckney |title=Remarks by the President in Eulogy for the Honorable Reverend Clementa Pinckney |date=June 26, 2015 |access-date=August 13, 2015 |author=Office of the Press Secretary |via=National Archives |work=whitehouse.gov |location=Charleston, South Carolina}} Speech had Obama singing "Amazing grace" with the emotional crowd.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2015/06/26/why-obamas-singing-of-amazing-grace-is-so-powerful/|title=Obama singing amazing grace|newspaper=Washington post|access-date=31 January 2019}} A part of this song in speech was sampled by British band Coldplay in their album "A Head Full of Dreams"{{Cite web|url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/coldplay-pays-homage-obamas-rendition-amazing-grace|title=Coldplay pays homage to Obama's rendition of 'Amazing Grace'|date=2015-11-23|publisher=MSNBC|access-date=2019-01-31}}.

2015 Address to the United Nations General Assembly

{{Main|General debate of the seventieth session of the United Nations General Assembly#28 September}}

Delivered on September 28, 2015.

2015 Address to the Nation by the President

On December 6, 2015, after a terrorist attack on San Bernardino, California, Obama delivered a live [https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/12/06/address-nation-president Address to the Nation by the President] from the Oval Office. In the address, he declared the shooting an act of terrorism, referring to the shooters as having "gone down the dark path of radicalization" and embracing a "perverted version of Islam."{{cite web|title=President Obama's full Oval Office address|url=https://edition.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/12/07/president-obama-oval-office-terror-speech-full.cnn|publisher=CNN|date=December 7, 2015|access-date=December 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214220726/http://edition.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/12/07/president-obama-oval-office-terror-speech-full.cnn|archive-date=December 14, 2015|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} Obama said that "the threat from terrorism is real, but we will overcome it" and promised that the United States will "destroy ISIL and any other organization that tries to harm us." Obama also outlined the ongoing fight against ISIL (including U.S. airstrikes, financial sanctions, and targeted special operations) and urged Americans to not give in to fear.{{cite news|last1=Shear|first1=Michael D.|last2=Gardiner|first2=Harris|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/07/us/politics/president-obama-terrorism-threat-speech-oval-office.html|title=Obama Says of Terrorist Threat: 'We Will Overcome It'|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 6, 2015|access-date=December 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151207033515/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/07/us/politics/president-obama-terrorism-threat-speech-oval-office.html|archive-date=December 7, 2015|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} It was just the third speech from the Oval Office in the seven years of Obama's presidency.{{cite news|last=Shear|first=Michael D|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/07/us/politics/president-obama-islamic-state-speech-oval-office.html|title=For Speech, Obama Selects a Setting He Usually Shuns: The Oval Office|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 6, 2015|access-date=December 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151206223914/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/07/us/politics/president-obama-islamic-state-speech-oval-office.html|archive-date=December 6, 2015|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}{{cite news|author=|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/12/06/heres-what-obama-said-in-his-sunday-night-address-an-annotated-transcript|title=Here's what Obama said in his Sunday night address: An annotated transcript|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=December 6, 2015|access-date=December 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208004926/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/12/06/heres-what-obama-said-in-his-sunday-night-address-an-annotated-transcript/|archive-date=December 8, 2015|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}

2016 State of the Union Address

Delivered on January 12, 2016.

2016 Hiroshima Speech

On May 27, 2016, Obama became the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima, bombed by the US in 1945. He made [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/28/world/asia/text-of-president-obamas-speech-in-hiroshima-japan.html a speech] at the Hiroshima Peace Park to a small audience of around 100 people, including hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors). His speech was followed by one by Japanese prime minister Shinzō Abe.[https://edition.cnn.com/2016/05/27/politics/obama-hiroshima-japan/ Obama in Hiroshima calls for 'world without nuclear weapons' May 27, 2016] CNN. Retrieved August 3, 2016

2016 Democratic National Convention

File:President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton Hug July 2016.jpg

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|quote = File:Barack Obama DNC July 2016 (cropped).jpg "You know, nothing truly prepares you for the demands of the Oval Office. Until you've sat at that desk, you don't know what it's like to manage a global crisis or send young people to war. ... But Hillary's been in the room. She's been part of those decisions."

|source = — Barack Obama in the 2016 Democratic National Convention (July 27, 2016){{cite magazine|author=Will Drabold|url=https://time.com/4426150/dnc-barack-obama-transcript/|title=Read President Obama's Speech at the Democratic Convention|magazine=Time|date=July 27, 2016|access-date=July 27, 2016}}

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In one of the last major speeches of his presidency, Obama strongly endorsed Clinton as the Democratic nominee for president on July 27, 2016, saying "there has never been a man or woman more qualified than Hillary Clinton. Not me, not Bill, nobody!"{{cite news |last1=Hirschfield Davis|first1=Julie|last2=Shear|first2=Michael|title=Obama, at Convention, Lays Out Stakes for a Divided Nation|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/28/us/politics/obama-speech.html|access-date=July 28, 2016|work=New York Times|date=July 27, 2016}} Obama contrasted his and Clinton's hopeful view of America with that of Republican nominee Donald Trump, which he called "deeply pessimistic." Obama argued that Trump was unqualified for the office, and was attempting to use fear to get elected.{{cite news|last1=Memoli|first1=Michael|title=Obama portrays Clinton, his former foe and advisor, as uniquely qualified for the White House|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-democratic-convention-day-three-20160727-snap-story.html|access-date=July 28, 2016 |work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 27, 2016}} Michael Grunwald of Politico called it a "stirring but fundamentally defensive speech."{{cite news|last1=Grunwald|first1=Michael|title=5 takeaways from Obama's last convention |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/democratic-convention-obama-kaine-biden-226349|access-date=July 28, 2016 |work=Politico |date=July 28, 2016}} Conservative blogger Erick Erickson tweeted "I disagree with the President on so much policy and his agenda, but appreciate the hope and optimism in this speech."{{cite news|last1=Mathis-Lilley|first1=Ben |title=Conservatives Find Selves Shocked to Realize They Liked Obama's Speech|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/07/28/obama_s_dnc_speech_praised_by_conservatives.html|access-date=July 28, 2016|work=Slate|date=July 28, 2016}} After the speech, Clinton appeared on the stage for the first time in the convention, embracing her 2008 primary rival.{{cite news|last1=Collinson|first1=Stephen|title=Obama to Trump: America is already great|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/27/politics/president-obama-hillary-clinton-2016-election/|access-date=July 28, 2016|publisher=CNN |date=July 28, 2016}}

2016 Hillary Clinton Presidential Campaign speeches

File:Obama crowd at UNC.jpg, for Obama to arrive and give a speech]]

Barack Obama gave eighteen speeches on behalf of the Clinton Campaign, many of which were in battleground states, such as North Carolina and New Hampshire. His last speech on behalf of the campaign was delivered at a rally at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on the eve of Election Day on November 7, 2016.{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/07/politics/obama-hillary-clinton-election-2016/index.html|title=Obama passes the torch to Clinton |last=Lee|first=MJ Lee|date=November 8, 2016 |publisher=CNN|access-date=November 11, 2016}}

2016 Address to the United Nations General Assembly

{{Main|General debate of the seventy-first session of the United Nations General Assembly#20 September}}

Delivered on September 20, 2016.

2017 Farewell Address

Barack Obama gave a farewell speech on January 10, 2017, stating many achievements made during his presidency and thanking the American people for their hard work they had done and would continue to do.

2020 HBCU Commencement speech

On May 16, 2020, Obama gave a virtual commencement speech for some 27,000 students from 78 historically black colleges and universities (HBCU).{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| title = Read the Full Transcript of Obama's H.B.C.U. Commencement Speech| work = The New York Times| access-date = May 17, 2020| date = May 16, 2020| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/16/us/obama-hbcu-speech-transcript.html}} He said, "You've got more tools, technology, and talents than my generation did. No generation has been better positioned to be warriors for justice and remake the world."

Notes

References

=Editions=

Dionne Jr, E. J., and Joy-Ann Reid, eds. We are the change we seek: The speeches of Barack Obama (Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2017).
{{cite book | title=Inspire a Nation: Barack Obama's Most Electrifying Speeches of the 2008 Election | publisher=Publishing 180 | editor=Easton, Jaclyn | year=2008 | isbn=978-0982100509}}
{{cite book | author1=Emerson, Ralph Waldo | title=The Inaugural Address, 2009: Together with Abraham Lincoln's First and Second Inaugural Addresses and the Gettysburg Address and Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self-Reliance | url=https://archive.org/details/inauguraladdress00obam | url-access=registration | publisher=Penguin Books | author2=Obama, Barack | author3=Lincoln, Abraham | year=2009 | location=New York | isbn=978-0-14-311642-4 | author-link1=Ralph Waldo Emerson | author-link3=Abraham Lincoln}}
{{cite book |author=Olive, David I. |title=An American Story: The Speeches of Barack Obama: A Primer |url=https://archive.org/details/americanstoryspe00oliv |url-access=registration |publisher=ECW Press |location=Toronto |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-55022-864-9}}
{{cite book |author=Rogak, Lisa |title=Barack Obama in His Own Words |publisher=Running Press Miniature Editions |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-7624-3789-4 |author-link=Lisa Rogak}}
{{cite book |author=Ruth, Greg |title=Our Enduring Spirit: President Barack Obama's First Words to America |publisher=Collins |location=London |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-06-183455-4}}
{{cite book |author=Sharpley-Whiting, T. Denean |title=The Speech: Race and Barack Obama's "A More Perfect Union" |publisher=Bloomsbury USA |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-59691-667-8}}

External links

[http://obamaspeeches.com/ ObamaSpeeches.com]
[https://americanrhetoric.com/barackobamaspeeches.htm Speeches in Text, Audio, Video] at AmericanRhetoric.com

Category:Articles containing video clips

Speeches

Obama