National leader

Explore 818 quotes by National leaders

Yesterday, the greatest question was decided, which ever was debated in America, and a greater, perhaps, never was nor will be decided among men. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony, "that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States."

John Adams

Read this letter at the National Archives website

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Topic

Declaration of Independence

Author

John Adams

Source

Letters of John Adams

Medium

Letter

Statement Type

American Revolution

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Adams, John. Letter to Abigail Adams. 3 July 1776.

Current Citation

Adams, John. My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams, edited by Margaret A. Hogan and C. James Taylor. Belknap Press, 2010.

We are not about to send American boys 9 or 10,000 miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves.

Lyndon B. Johnson

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Topic

Vietnam War American politics

Speaker

Lyndon B. Johnson

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Statement Type

Broken promise Promises and vows

Language

English

Time

1964 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Johnson, Lyndon B. Remarks in Memorial Hall. 21 Oct. 1964, Memorial Hall, Akron University, Akron, OH, USA.

What I am describing now is a plan and a hope for the long term—the march of freedom and democracy which will leave Marxism-Leninism on the ash-heap of history as it has left other tyrannies which stifle the freedom and muzzle the self-expression of the people.

Ronald Reagan

More information about this quote

Topic

Spread of freedom and democracy

Speaker

Ronald Reagan

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1982 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Reagan, Ronald. Address to British Parliament. Parliament meeting. 8 June 1982, Palace of Westminster, London, England, UK.

I have spoken of a Thousand Points of Light, of all the community organizations that are spread like stars throughout the Nation, doing good. We will work hand in hand, encouraging, sometimes leading, sometimes being led.

George H.W. Bush

Inaugural Address of George H.W. Bush

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Topic

Subsidiarity Limited government

Speaker

George H.W. Bush

Source

Inaugural Address of George H.W. Bush Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1989 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Bush, George H. W. "Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 1989, West Front, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.

Gerald Ford

More information about this quote

Topic

Limited government Government Conservatism Political theory Politics

Speaker

Gerald Ford

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1960 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Ford, Gerald. Presidential address to a joint session of Congress. Joint session of Congress. 12 Aug. 1974, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming.

Theodore Roosevelt

More information about this quote

Topic

Jumping in Taking action Taking risks Overcoming adversity Haters gonna hate

Speaker

Theodore Roosevelt

Source

Speeches of Theodore Roosevelt

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1910 1910s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Roosevelt, Theodore, Jr. "Citizenship in a Republic." 23 Apr. 1910, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.

Current Citation

Roosevelt, Theodore, Jr. "Citizenship in a Republic." Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.: Letters and Speeches, edited by Louis Auchincloss. Library of America, 2004.

All of our people all over the country-except the pure-blooded Indians-are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, including even those who came over here on the Mayflower.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

More information about this quote

Topic

Immigration America

Speaker

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1944 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Roosevelt, Franklin Delano. Campaign speech in Boston. 4 Nov. 1944, Fenway Park, Boston, MA, USA.

Those that perished in Hitler's gas chambers were the last Jews to die without standing up to defend themselves.

Golda Meir

More information about this quote

Topic

The Holocaust The Jewish people

Author

Golda Meir

Medium

Speech

Language

English

Time

1967 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Meir, Golda. Speech at the United Jewish Appeal Rally. United Jewish Appeal Benefit Gala. 11 June 1967, Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY, USA.

The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

More information about this quote

Topic

Great Depression New Deal American politics

Speaker

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1932 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Roosevelt, Franklin Delano. Address at Oglethorpe University. 22 May 1932, Oglethorpe University, Atlanta, GA, USA.

America seeks no earthly empire built on blood and force. No ambition, no temptation, lures her to thought of foreign dominions.

Calvin Coolidge

Second Inaugural Address of Calvin Coolidge

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Topic

American imperialism America and the world

Speaker

Calvin Coolidge

Source

Second Inaugural Address of Calvin Coolidge Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1925 1920s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Coolidge, Calvin. "Second Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1925, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning.

Donald Trump

On treating Covid-19 with cleaning products.

More information about this quote

Topic

Covid-19

Speaker

Donald Trump

Language

English

Time

2020 2020s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Trump, Donald. Remarks at White House Coronavirus Task Force press briefing. 23 Apr. 2020, The White House, Washington, DC, USA.

Looking back to it as a sacred instrument carefully and not easily framed; remembering that it was throughout a work of concession and compromise; viewing it as limited to national objects; regarding it as leaving to the people and the States all power not explicitly parted with, I shall endeavor to preserve, protect, and defend it by anxiously referring to its provision for direction in every action.

Martin Van Buren

Inaugural Address of Martin van Buren

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Topic

US Constitution

Speaker

Martin Van Buren

Source

Inaugural Address of Martin van Buren Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1837 1830s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Van Buren, Martin. "Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1837, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook. Well, I am not a crook.

Richard Nixon

More information about this quote

Topic

Watergate Political scandals American politics Politics

Speaker

Richard Nixon

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Statement Type

Lies

Language

English

Time

1973 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Nixon, Richard. Associated Press Managing Editors Annual Conference. 17 Nov. 1973, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Orlando, FL. Q and A Session.

It was the remark of a Roman consul in an early period of that celebrated Republic that a most striking contrast was observable in the conduct of candidates for offices of power and trust before and after obtaining them, they seldom carrying out in the latter case the pledges and promises made in the former.

William Henry Harrison

Inaugural Address of William Henry Harrison

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Topic

Campaign promises Politics

Speaker

William Henry Harrison

Source

Inaugural Address of William Henry Harrison Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1841 1840s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Harrison, William Henry. "Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1841, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.

James Madison

More information about this quote

Topic

Threats to freedom Freedom Political theory

Speaker

James Madison

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1788 1780s 18th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Madison, James. "General Defense of the Constitution." Virginia Ratifying Convention. 5 June 1788, Richmond, VA, USA.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "Speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention in Defense of the Constitution, June 6, 1788." James Madison: Writings. Library of America, 1999.

We prefer self-government with danger to servitude in tranquility.

Kwame Nkrumah

More information about this quote

Topic

Self-determination Anti-colonialism

Author

Kwame Nkrumah

Language

English

Time

1967 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Nkrumah, Kwame. Axioms of Kwame Nkrumah. Thomas Nelson and Sons, 1967.

One great object of the Constitution was to restrain majorities from oppressing minorities or encroaching upon their just rights. Minorities have a right to appeal to the Constitution as a shield against such oppression.

James K. Polk

Inaugural Address of James K. Polk

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Topic

Minority rights Constitutional theory Legal theory US Constitution

Speaker

James K. Polk

Source

Inaugural Address of James K. Polk Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1845 1840s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Polk, James K. "Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1845, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

You know, I'm automatically attracted to beautiful-I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait. And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything...Grab 'em by the pussy. You can do anything.

Donald Trump

More information about this quote

Topic

American politics

Speaker

Donald Trump

Language

English

Time

2005 2000s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Trump, Donald. Recorded remarks to Billy Bush on Access Hollywood television program. Sept. 2005, Burbank, CA, USA.

Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have a right... and a desire to know-but besides this they have a right, an indisputable, unalienable, indefeasible, divine right to that most dreaded, and envied kind of knowledge. I mean of the characters and conduct of their rulers.

John Adams

Read A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law at the National Archives website

More information about this quote

Topic

Transparency in government Preservation of freedom Freedom Political theory

Author

John Adams

Source

A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law Boston Gazette

Medium

Dissertation Newspaper

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1765 1760s 18th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Adams, John. "A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law." Boston Gazette, 30 Sept. 1765.

Current Citation

Adams, John. "A Disseratation on the Canon and Feudal Law." The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States, edited by Charles Francis Adams. Vol. 3, Cambridge University Press, 2011.

The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value.

Theodore Roosevelt

More information about this quote

Topic

Environmental protection

Speaker

Theodore Roosevelt

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1910 1910s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Roosevelt, Theodore, Jr. Speech in Colorado. Colorado Live Stock Association meeting. 29 Aug. 1910, Denver, CO, USA.