All We Say: The Political Power of Speeches

What power do political speeches still possess—and how can words shape a nation’s understanding of itself? In this filmed conversation at the Thomas Mann House, writer, political commentator, and former Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes joins 2026 Thomas Mann Fellow Grégoire Roos, Director of the Europe, Russia and Eurasia Programmes at Chatham House, to explore the transformative power of political language and the role of speeches in U.S. history. Drawing on Rhodes’s latest book, All We Say – The Battle for American Identity: A History in 15 Speeches (Random House, 2026), which traces the history of the United States through fifteen pivotal speeches, the conversation examines how political rhetoric has shaped and continues to shape debates over identity, equality, belonging, and democracy. Rhodes and Roos consider what makes a speech work, how political language can mobilize or divide, and whether words can still shape a democracy in the age of AI and algorithms. The conversation also reflects on Thomas Mann, who used speeches and radio addresses from his California exile to oppose National Socialism and defend democratic values. Taking place in his former exile home, the discussion connects the history of political speech with the question of how language can confront authoritarianism and sustain democracy today.