In this Oval Office address from Dec. 23, 1981, President Reagan speaks about  the "sense of wonder" that is renewed when "recalling the story of the first Christmas in Bethlehem nearly two thousand years ago."

He also decries the Polish government's recent martial-law crackdown on political opponents, including leaders of the trade union Solidarity. He warns Polish leaders and "their totalitarian allies" that they "should prepare themselves for serious consequences."

A transcript of Mr. Reagan's remarks is available at https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/research/speeches/122381e

In this episode, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) describes the "breakdown of community" in the USA and the corresponding "rise of a new oligarchy of wealth and education."

He argues that the nation's cultural moment requires "a new politics of family and neighborhood...of love and belonging...[and] of home."

Sen. Hawley, the U.S. Senate's youngest member, presented this speech on Nov. 19, 2019, at the 6th Annual Gala hosted by the American Principles Project Foundation.

The full text of his remarks (as prepared for delivery) is available at https://www.hawley.senate.gov/senator-josh-hawleys-speech-6th-annual-american-principles-project-gala

Have comments or suggestions about the Notable Speeches podcast? Email [email protected]

This speech by U.S. Attorney General William Barr was presented Oct. 11, 2019, at the University of Notre Dame Law School in Indiana.

In his remarks, Mr. Barr criticized "militant secularists” who are "not content to leave religious people alone to practice their faith." Instead, "they seem to take delight in compelling people to violate their conscience,” he said.

The full text of the attorney general's speech (as prepared for delivery) is available at https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/attorney-general-william-p-barr-delivers-remarks-law-school-and-de-nicola-center-ethics

Comments or suggestions about the Notable Speeches podcast? Email [email protected]

On Nov. 5, 2019, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) delivered his address, “Catholic Social Doctrine and the Dignity of Work” to students at the Busch School of Business in Washington, D.C., part of the Catholic University of America.  

The text of his remarks (as prepared for delivery) is available at https://web.archive.org/web/20231210062752/https://www.rubio.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/_cache/files/6d09ae19-8df3-4755-b301-795154a68c59/C58480B07D02452574C5DB8D603803EF.final---cua-speech-11.5.19.pdf

Comments or suggestions about the Notable Speeches podcast? Email [email protected]

A short (45 seconds!) introduction to the forthcoming Notable Speeches podcast. Subscribe via your favorite podcast app — search "Notable Speeches."

Comments or suggestions? Email [email protected]