Debate '08: Taft and Bryan Campaign on the Edison Phonograph [BOX SET]

William Howard Taft

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 9, 2008)
• Original Release Date: September 9, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Archeophone Records
• ASIN: B001F20XWC
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #200,198 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Roosevelt Policies (William Howard Taft)

2. An Ideal Republic (William Jennings Bryan)

3. Foreign Missions (William Howard Taft)

4. Imperialism (William Jennings Bryan)

5. The Philippines (William Howard Taft)

6. The Trust Question (William Jennings Bryan)

7. Unlawful Trusts (William Howard Taft)

8. Swollen Fortunes (William Jennings Bryan)

9. Republican and Democratic Treatment of Trusts (William Howard Taft)

10. The Tariff Question (William Jennings Bryan)

11. The Farmer and the Republican Party (William Howard Taft)

12. The Railroad Question (William Jennings Bryan)

13. The Rights of Labor (William Howard Taft)

14. The Labor Question (William Jennings Bryan)

15. Jury Trial in Contempt Cases (William Howard Taft)

16. Guaranty of Bank Deposits (William Jennings Bryan)

17. Enforced Insurance of Bank Deposits (William Howard Taft)

18. Popular Election of Senators (William Jennings Bryan)

19. Rights and Progress of the Negro (William Howard Taft)

20. Immortality (William Jennings Bryan)

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A new animal disrupted the political circus in 1908 when the phonograph carried the voices of presidential candidates directly to the people. Debate '08 marks the centennial of this historic premiere with the first reissue of all 22 Edison wax cylinders recorded by the Democratic candidate, William Jennings Bryan, and the Republican candidate, William Howard Taft. The two-minute duration of these records forced an eager Bryan and a reluctant Taft to excerpt their nuanced speeches and get to the point. Thus began the 20th century's march to the sound bite . . . and the redefinition of political communications for all time. Includes full-color 80-page wide-format booklet with transcripts of the speeches and original research. From the same Grammy-nominated team that brought you 'Actionable Offenses: Indecent Phonograph Recordings from the 1890s.'

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Debate 08 Fascinating Americana, September 24, 2008

By	Margaret M. Sebert (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Debate 08 is an intriguing collection of no less than 22 recordings of political speeches made by William Jennings Bryan and William Howard Taft pursuant to the presdidential election of 1908.

Included is a colorful 78 page booklet which lays out the history of the era. Sound quality is remarkably listenable on the transfers of these original Edison cylinder recordings.

The most fascinating thing is how like todays speeches they actually are. Considering their age, the short 2 to 2.5 min speeches are remarkably "soud bite like".

This is a great slice of history, amply proving that the more things change, the more they stay the same. This is a must have for all history buffs and political mavens!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Restoration of 1908 Campaign via Edison Cylinders, September 12, 2008

By	John L Frigo "Music Man" (Shaker Heights, OH, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Archeophone Records have done an excellent job of remastering and restoring these twenty-two Edison two minute wax cylinder recordings of the 1908 Presidential campaign between William Jennings Bryan and William Howard Taft. The sound quality of these recordings is exemplary. They are crystal clear and easy to understand. An eighty page booklet containing the history of the phonograph's use in spoken word recording, as well as historic photographs, and transcripts of the speeches are included. This is one of the best Archeophone releases yet. I recommend it highly, as I do all of this company's CDs. I own all of them. Only Ward Marston, of Marston Records, does remastering of this sterling quality.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Archeophone the book publisher?, September 16, 2008

By	Ted Ison (East Coast USA) - See all my reviews

Great job again, guys. But this one should maybe be sold as a book with an accompanying CD! The 80 page booklet is wonderful, filled with images and cool info... not the usual boring US history book accounts of the election, but relating it all to the recording and phonographical side of things. I haven't gotten through it all yet, but I feel I certainly got my money's worth!