America Speaks

This concise and stirring collection of great speeches and writings, from the Revolutionary War era to the present, focuses on key individuals and ideas that have inspired the American people and shaped the history of the nation. Here are essential speeches and writings by leaders and statesmen, explorers and historians, writers and poets, soldiers and entrepreneurs, and men and women of varied backgrounds, from key eras of the nation's history. Together, these voices are powerful, eloquent, poignant, and uniquely American. They capture the breadth and richness of American history. This history is remarkable - first, a few British colonies on the Atlantic coast struggling for independence. Then, the new nation overcomes challenging frontiers to expand westward across the continent. A bitter and tragic Civil War is fought to preserve the Union. Movements for social justice and the principles of individual freedom - the treatment of workers and sailors, emancipation of slaves, and woman's rights-change the nation. The ingenuity, hard work, and perseverance of self-made men drive incredible advances in industry, business, and economic growth. The United States then faces the challenges of global conflict in two world wars and the ensuing search for peace. From this inspiring tapestry of American history, we see the emergence of the United States as a world power and leader of the free world.

This concise and stirring collection of great speeches and writings, from the Revolutionary War era to the present, focuses on key individuals and ideas that have inspired the American people and shaped the history of the nation. Here are essential speeches and writings by leaders and statesmen, explorers and historians, writers and poets, soldiers and entrepreneurs, and men and women of varied backgrounds, from key eras of the nation's history. Together, these voices are powerful, eloquent, poignant, and uniquely American. They capture the breadth and richness of American history. This history is remarkable - first, a few British colonies on the Atlantic coast struggling for independence. Then, the new nation overcomes challenging frontiers to expand westward across the continent. A bitter and tragic Civil War is fought to preserve the Union. Movements for social justice and the principles of individual freedom - the treatment of workers and sailors, emancipation of slaves, and woman's rights-change the nation. The ingenuity, hard work, and perseverance of self-made men drive incredible advances in industry, business, and economic growth. The United States then faces the challenges of global conflict in two world wars and the ensuing search for peace. From this inspiring tapestry of American history, we see the emergence of the United States as a world power and leader of the free world.

Norman Enger is the author of several books on information technology, some have which have been translated into other languages. Mr. Enger graduated from Columbia University with honors and went on to hold executive positions in business, government, and academia. He was the founder and CEO of Applied Management Systems, and, for many years, he concurrently taught as an adjunct professor at American University, and has lectured to business and academic audiences in the United States and overseas. Mr. Enger continued his career as a senior executive at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), leading government wide efforts to modernize federal information systems. For his public service, he received OPM's highest honor - the Theodore Roosevelt Award - given to those who have made an exceptional contribution to the government and the American people. He and his wife Marianne live in Potomac, Maryland.