Great moments in presidential speeches : AOL Video feed

Meet John Doe - Original Trailer 1941

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:24:54 -0500

The first of director Frank Capra’s independent productions (in partnership with Robert Riskin), Meet John Doe begins with the end of reporter Ann Mitchell's (Barbara Stanwyck) job. Fired as part of a downsizing move, she ends her last column with an imaginary letter written by "John Doe." Angered at the ill treatment of America's little people, the fabricated Doe announces that he's going to jump off City Hall on Christmas Eve. When the phony letter goes to press, it causes a public sensation. Seeking to secure her job, Mitchell talks her managing editor (James Gleason) into playing up the John Doe letter for all it's worth; but to ward off accusations from rival papers that the letter was bogus, they decide to hire someone to pose as John Doe: a ballplayer-turned-hobo (Gary Cooper), who'll do anything for three squares and a place to sleep. "John Doe" and his traveling companion The Colonel (Walter Brennan) are ensconced in a luxury hotel while Mitchell continues churning out chunks of John Doe philosophy. When newspaper publisher D.B. Norton (Edward Arnold), a fascistic type with presidential aspirations, decides to use Doe as his ticket to the White House, he puts Doe on the radio to deliver inspirational speeches to the masses — ghost-written by Mitchell, who, it is implied, has become the publisher's mistress. The central message of the Doe speeches is "Love Thy Neighbor," though, conceived in cynicism, the speeches strike so responsive a chord with the public that John Doe clubs pop up all over the country. Believing he is working for the good of America, Cooper agrees to front the National John Doe Movement -- until he discovers that Norton plans to exploit Doe in order to create a third political party and impose a virtual dictatorship on the country. The last of Capra's "social statement" films, Meet John Doe posted a profit, although Capra and Riskin were forced to dissolve their corporation due to excessive taxes. Barbara Stanwyck -...

Saying goodbye to Letterman's 'Great Moments'

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:47:00 -0500

Jan 16: Tom Ruprecht, the mastermind behind David Letterman's "Great Moments in Political Speeches," joins the Morning Joe gang to discuss the famous segment. (MSNBC)

'Change Is Now'

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:46:48 -0500

The Presidential Inaugural Committee CD-DVD features speeches and music.

Capitol Hill Reacts to Afghanistan Strategy

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:46:55 -0500

Dec. 1: Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., tells Countdown’s Keith Olbermann how President Barack Obama’s Afghanistan decision is being received by Congress.

오바마.연설 Leadership, Economy (2008.10.1)

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:08:08 -0400

Barack Obama (La Crosse, WI) La Crosse, WI October 01, 2008 We meet here at a time of great uncertainty. Our economy is in crisis. The dreams of so many Americans are at risk. And the American people are waiting for leadership from Washington. On Monday, over the course of a few hours, the failure to pass the economic rescue plan in the House led to the single largest decline of the stock market in two decades. Over one trillion dollars of wealth was lost by the time the markets closed. And it wasn’t just the wealth of a few CEOs or Wall Street executives. The 401Ks and retirement accounts that millions count on for their family's future are now smaller. The state pension funds of teachers and government employees lost billions upon billions of dollars. Hardworking Americans who invested their nest egg to watch it grow are now watching it disappear. But while the decline of the stock market is devastating, the consequences of the credit crisis that caused it will be even worse if we do not act and act immediately. Because of the housing crisis, we are now in a very dangerous situation where financial institutions across this country are afraid to lend money. If all that meant was the failure of a few big banks on Wall Street, it would be one thing. But that's not what it means. What it means is that if we do not act, it will be harder for you to get a mortgage for your home or the loans you need to buy a car or send your children to college. What it means is that businesses won't be able to get the loans they need to open new factories, or hire more workers, or make payroll for the workers they have. Thousands of businesses could close. Millions of jobs could be lost. A long and painful recession could follow. Let me be perfectly clear. The fact that we are in this mess is an outrage. It's an outrage because we did not get here by accident. This was not a normal part of the business cycle. This was not the actions of a few bad apples...

David Gregory: Obama Needs to ‘Define Victory’

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:04:02 -0500

Dec. 1: “Meet the Press” moderator David Gregory offers political analysis of President Barack Obama’s highly anticipated speech Tuesday announcing his plans to increase U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Who Is to Blame for Party Crashers?

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 03:41:47 -0500

Dec. 4: Should Social Secretary Desiree Rogers be facing more scrutiny over the security breach at last week’s White House dinner? NBC’s David Gregory and Chuck Todd join the Morning Joe gang to discuss.

Press Talks Obama, D.C. Social Scene

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:14:31 -0500

Dec. 3: Bill Press, host of "The Bill Press Show," joins msnbc’s Willie Geist to discuss President Barack Obama's Afghan war plan, the White House party crashers and the fate of Social Secretary of Desiree Rogers.