The Great Communicator Files
Go behind the scenes of the presidential speech writing team to examine how presidential speeches are written and delivered.
These units include original documents, notes from President Reagan in his own handwriting and videos of some of his most famous presidential speeches.
A student workbook, teacher answer guide, and “connecting to standards” information accompanies each Great Communicator File unit.
Pointe du Hoc Speech
One of two World War II commemorative speech files available in this series; the Pointe du Hoc speech file makes an excellent addition to any unit on World War II; presidential speech making; and commemorative speeches. Click here to download all Pointe Du Hoc files in a single .zip file.
- Pointe du Hoc Speechmaking and Speechwriting Activities
- Pointe du Hoc Speechmaking and Speechwriting Answer Guide
- President's Backup Copy
- Press Release of President Reagan's Remarks
- White House Staffing Memorandum - Point du Hoc
- "Presidential Address: Pointe du Hoc" Draft - May 21, 1984
- Excerpts from The Longest Day, Cornelius Ryan - 1959
- Excerpt from The Book of Joshua, The Bible
- Pointe du Hoc: Connections to CA Standards
- President Reagan's Address for the 40th Anniversary of D-Day at Pointe Du Hoc, Normandy, France (Youtube)
Omaha Beach Speech
The second of two World War II commemorative speech files available in this series; the Omaha Beach speech file makes an excellent addition to any unit on World War II; presidential speechmaking; and commemorative speeches. Click here to download all Omaha Beach files in a single .zip file.
- Omaha Beach Speechmaking and Speechwriting Activities
- Omaha Beach Speechmaking and Speechwriting Answer Guide
- President's Backup Copy - Omaha Beach
- Press Release of President Reagan's "Remarks of the President at U.S.-French Ceremony Commemorating D-Day, Omaha Beach" - June 6, 1984
- White House Staffing Memorandum - Omaha Beach
- National Security Council Memorandum - May 30, 1984; and Draft of "Remarks at Omaha Beach"
- Familiar Quotations, John Bartlett, 125th Anniversary Edition
- Collection of Letters and Unpublished Short Story from Lisa Zenatta Henn
- Honorable Discharge Papers for Private First Class Peter Zenatta Henn
- Omaha Beach: Connections to CA Standards
- President Reagan's Address at the Omaha Beach Memorial Cemetery, France, June 6, 1984 (Youtube)
Challenger Speech
When crisis strikes, the Commander in Chief is expected to address the nation. Click here to download all Challenger Speech files in a single .zip file.
- Challenger Speechmaking and Speechwriting Activities
- Challenger Speechmaking and Speechwriting Answer Guide
- President's Backup Copy - Challenger
- Presidential Remarks: 'Death of Space Shuttle Challenger Crew' - January 28, 1986
- White House Staffing Memorandum - Challenger
- Press Q&A
- Poem High Flight, John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
- NASA Teacher in Space Project
- NASA Teacher in Space Shuttle Mission Press Kit
- Correspondence with the President - Challenger Speech
- Challenger Speech: Connections to CA Standards
- President Reagan's Remarks on Challenger Explosion to Network Anchors and Questions from Reports, January 28, 1986 (Youtube)