In your opinion, who is the greatest public speaker of all time?
William Jennings Bryan comes to my mind, but thats just me…
Observing members:
0
Composing members:
0
37 Answers
Obama …preparing myself for the future lashing
Jesus
Over 2,000 years and people still talk about it.
Martin Luther King is certainly in the Pantheon.
@DrBill & Gail…wow, I was thinking them too
You didn’t ask “greatest person”, you asked “greatest public speaker”. He can charm anyone, he does give very inspirational speeches, and he was a pretty darn good president if you ask me.
The worst public speaker of all time would have to go to George W. Bush…IMO.
Ronald Reagan was pretty darn good.
If they have something to say and are comfortable and interesting, I think many people could be considered great.
JFK, Hitler, Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Teddy Roosevelt
@jons, Oh i understand…It’s just I’ve watched most of his headlining speeches, and i didn’t come to the same conclusion…oh well :D
@redsfan1324 Bill’s got a spell on me. That’s all I can say. :)
Bruce Lee on Jeet Kune Do.
Lou Holtz
or
Will Ferrell
@AstroChuck
Wasn’t his letter writing much more refined than his public speaking? He did flip-flop quite a bit based on outer influences…...
As for speaking
Churchill and Hitler were quite some “verbal Juggernauts”
Julius Caesar could rile up a crowd.
So could Adolph Hitler. Not a great person, but an incredible speaker. And he should probably be on this list.
@TaoSan – I like the term “verbal juggernaut”, I haven’t heard of that before. Lurve to you.
@TaoSan- Cicero was considered the greatest orator of his time. When he stood in the senate and denounced the conspiracy of Catiline he was said to have been brilliant. Nobody of his era had his rhetorical powers.
@AstroChuck
Hum, I gotta brush up on my history. Well, it’s been 20 years, lol.
My professor always concentrated on pointing out the “flip-floppiness” and alleged “insecurities” because of his non-Roman origins.
I was coming in here to say Cicero. Ya beat me to it, AC.
His insecurity over his social standing as a “novo homo” was one thing, but the man could speak. His letters were known to be a bit more colloquial, since he never expected anyone other than his friends to see them.
lurve to both I stand corrected!
Either Marcel Marceau or Teller.
I have to agree with @queenzboulevard… Hitler has got to be the greatest of all time (unfortunately).
@KrystaElyse – hell no, that’s Ad Melkert. At least he disappeared from the political arena because of his suckiness in being a speaker, among other things.
Pim Fortuyn was a gifted speaker but, sadly (even though I didn’t agree with his views), he got murdered for it.
Richard M. Devos is #1 by a large margin. Then Guy Vanderjagt and Ronald Reagan with a slight nod to Vanderjagt.
Maybe not the greatest of ALL time, but I would cast a vote for Malcolm X too. Also, watching Hitler speak is an oratory lesson in itself, although the style is rather outdated…but anyway you can feel the sheer power of what he says, after all, his mouth made him rather than his brains…
Answer this question 
This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.
Composing members:
0
