Saying Goodbye To The 1951 Congress

In the world of public speaking, there is a vast assortment of speeches to read and hear for examples on how to be a good public speaker, which the professional man ought to be practicing. One in specific, however, should stand out and be read by everyone. In 1951, General Douglas MacArthur was relieved of his various commands by President Truman, much to the surprise of the American populous. General MacArthur was a war hero in WWII, and served as commander of the United Nations forces in Korea.

He was relieved of his commands due to his frequent public statements, which were not received well by President Truman. His response was an address to a joint session of Congress. This speech, while inspiring, is noticeably delivered with a heavy heart. It was obvious from the tone of his voice and the manner in which he gave the speech, that Gen. MacArthur did not feel that his relief was just.

Throughout his speech, Gen. MacArthur utilizes many verbal visuals which allowed his words to really touch the hearts and minds of his listeners. This was key in making his speech effective. His speech contained many of his thought on what he would do if had been allowed to keep his commands, which showed his audience that he was the best person for the job. His adept ability to colorfully stay on point throughout his speech is a quality that every public speaker should strive to possess. Also, he incorporated facts about his service that showed Congress that he had done well in his commands, and that he could have continued to benefit the nation if he had been given the chance.

General Douglas MacArthur’s Farewell Address to Congress is one speech that every speaker ought to emulate. One of the most important aspects of his speech was that he was able to paint a vivid picture of his word with his words, but still remain on topic. This is a vital skill to possess because it is one that allows a speaker to maintain the audience’s attention while delivering the main point that they need to remember. Another important aspect of his speech was his fact-sharing skill. Being able to incorporate facts into a speech without making the speech dull is the best way to make one’s points believable. Facts are difficult to argue with. The more one can use without drowning the speech, the more effective the speech will be.

Go check out his speech on youtube.com. Listen to his delivery. One of the best speeches ever given!

Written and edited by: Aaron Bayne