Ben Rhodes Publishes 15-Speech Book on America's Identity Battle
Updated
Updated · NPR · May 27
Ben Rhodes Publishes 15-Speech Book on America's Identity Battle
12 articles · Updated · NPR · May 27
Ben Rhodes' new book, All We Say, gathers 15 speeches spanning Ben Franklin to Donald Trump to examine what it means to be American.
Rhodes, a former Obama speechwriter and national security adviser, frames the collection as a reflection on a continuing battle over American identity.
The book uses speeches across eras to trace how competing visions of the country have been expressed in public language and politics.
Can 15 historical speeches reveal the future of the ongoing battle for America's identity?
How has the evolution from printed text to viral clips changed the nature of American political persuasion?