The Worst Speeches in Presidential History

Ted Widmer: “In a sense, history has already been made. We do not know the result of the election yet, but over the last two months, Americans have endured the worst speeches ever given by a president of the United States.”

“It is far from a simple matter to adjudicate – there have been so many bad speeches over the years, going back to the founders, some of whom dreaded speaking in public. George Washington’s inaugural address did not begin promisingly, with a halting first sentence: ‘Among the vicissitudes incident to life, no event could have filled me with greater anxieties than that of which the notification was transmitted by your order, and received on the 14th day of the present month.'”

“But it feels like we have entered new territory, with speeches that are far worse than convoluted, or dull. Instead, they are routinely overflowing with vitriol against perceived enemies, groundless predictions of victory, and delusions of grandeur.”