The Essential American: 25 Documents and Speeches Every American Should Own [Hardcover]

Jackie Gingrich Cushman (Editor), Newt Gingrich (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 23, 2010

More than ever, Americans are realizing that if we want to keep this country great, we must be citizen patriots. And here’s the handbook every citizen patriot needs: The Essential American, featuring the fundamental documents of our nation’s history.

Compiled by syndicated columnist Jackie Gingrich Cushman and featuring a foreword by her father—bestselling author and former Speaker of the House—Newt Gingrich, The Essential American is the ultimate patriot’s resource. Featuring well-known and lesser-known documents and speeches, as well as bonus material, The Essential American includes:

The Declaration of Independence The Constitution Daniel Webster’s Plymouth Oration Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address Douglas MacArthur’s Duty, Honor, Country speech Ronald Reagan’s Speech at the Brandenburg Gate BONUS Lists: American Presidents (and their presidential parties), all 50 states (with their capitals and year of admittance to the Union), etc. A bonus DVD, with more than 1,000 additional documents and articles critical to our nation’s history. And much more!

Perfect for the patriot in your life, The Essential American belongs under every Christmas tree in America!

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN AMERICAN?

In The Essential American: 25 Documents and Speeches Every American Should Own, Jackie Gingrich Cushman has compiled a guide to the great documents and speeches that have stood as beacons to successive generations, expressing what it is to be an American.

Starting with the crucial documents of our founding, Cushman introduces and explores each speech and document in its historical context, explaining why it belongs in the American canon. Some—like General Douglas MacArthur’s immortal “Duty, Honor, Country” speech or Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address—were obvious selections. Others are less well-known, like Captain Mosley Baker’s speech at San Jacinto, which urged Texans fighting for their lives to “Remember the Alamo!”

The Essential American: 25 Documents and Speeches Every American Should Own highlights different aspects of America’s character. Reflections on America’s origins, like Calvin Coolidge’s “Inspiration of the Declaration of Independence” and Daniel Webster’s “Discourse, Delivered at Plymouth” were delivered in times of peace and prosperity. General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s “Order of the Day” on D–Day, FDR’s address to Congress after Pearl Harbor was attacked, and President George W. Bush’s speech after 9/11 were the powerful responses of leadership to the crises of the hour.

Many of these documents and speeches were prepared for public dissemination while others, like Abigail Adams’ letter to her husband, began as the private thoughts of citizens meditating on the course of the nation. Some were instantly hailed as great, such as Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, while others like President Ronald Reagan’s speech at the Brandenburg Gate in West Germany required the passage of time to unveil their significance. All of them contain enduring lessons for Americans today and demand a place in our hearts and on our bookshelves.

With its handy lists of presidents and first ladies, vice presidents, and justices of the Supreme Court, a timeline of important events in American history, and a BONUS DVD of more than 1,200 documents, The Essential American: 25 Documents and Speeches Every American Should Own is a vital resource for all Americans seeking to better understand the legacy they have inherited.

From the Back Cover

Praise for
The Essential American

“AMERICA HAS A GRAND HERITAGE, BUT IT’S TOO OFTEN glossed over or even ignored in schools controlled by a liberal agenda focused on rewriting history. And those of us lucky enough to have been taught the real, unapologetic history of our great nation always need a refresher. That’s why I’m so pleased with Jackie Gingrich Cushman’s The Essential American: 25 Documents and Speeches Every American Should Own. Jackie has compiled the speeches and documents you read in history class—or wish you’d read—and introduced each one with interesting historical details and explanations of how it shaped the character of America. Pick up this unique resource for the history of our nation. You’ll return to it again and again as you’re reminded of why you’re proud to be an American.”

—SEAN HANNITY,
NATIONAL RADIO AND TELEVISION TALK SHOW HOST

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Regnery Publishing; Har/DVD edition (November 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596986433
• ISBN-13: 978-1596986435
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.4 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #539,267 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Compilation of Great Speeches by Great Americans November 22, 2010

By gjtagtow

Format:Hardcover

I am a person who never seems to have enough time to actually sit down and read a book. If it is not on a web page, I don't usually pay attention. But, I am also a fan of history and very active in politics which made this book a "must read" for me. It takes some of the best speeches from American history and lays them out with story and background from the times that they delivered. The way that these speeches are presented here will give you a great idea of how they affected the people of their day as well as relevance in today's world.

Aside from the great speeches it also contains great reference materials from the list of Presidents and Vice-Presidents, a time-line on events through American history and a reference DVD with tons of information.

I would recommend that you buy this book for yourself, but it is also a great source of information if you have any school age children or grandchildren in your life.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Essential Book November 22, 2010

By sally singletary

Format:Hardcover

When I first heard about this book I couldn't believe it hadn't already been written. It serves not only as a great read but also as an important reference to our Nation's history. Jackie puts each document in context to it's place in history, giving the reader additional insight and appreciation for each of these speeches and the time in which they were written. It has also served as a great conversation starter with our school age children. Jackie's style of writing is both interesting and informative and unlike many other historical books, this one does not drone on or bore the reader. I am thankful to have this compilation of great speeches and documents in one book and will enjoy referring to it again and again over the years. It will always be relevant.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have...Clarifying American Exceptionalism with the Real Writings November 12, 2010

By Lee and Rich

Format:Hardcover

The book is a must read. It provides a vehicle to meet our cultural need to understand and appreciate the actual perspectives of those who have defined our American story. The book picks up at our Nation's inception and travels through time as some of our greatest men and women articulate America's unique place and purpose...The exceptionalism underpinning America, our people, values and maturing understanding is made so clear in reading those 25 documents. And armed with a read, one can affirmatively debate America's greatness in a world of muddled and misleading argument about the richness of this country. Kudo's to Mrs. Cushman and all those who helped bring this book to market.