Historic Voices: Global History and Culture

In this podcast episode, we feature President Eisenhower delivering a speech named by others as Atoms for Peace at the United Nations in 1953. This speech was delivered during high tensions of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.  The Berlin Blockade had only been resolved a few years earlier in 1948.  That event nearly triggered a military confrontation between those who c...

This entry from Wikipedia provides an excellent overview of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that Eleanor Roosevelt and many other world leaders wrote and proclaimed.  It was not an easy task to gain agreement among the nations to this universal declaration. You are encouraged to compare this document with the U.S. Constitution and other documents from nations around the world.

This entry from Wikipedia (41 pages) is a comprehensive overview of her life with special emphasis on advocacy for marginalized groups that were too often targets for systematic discrimination. Her public life before Roosevelt took office as President, during the four terms of presidency, and afterwards is a testament of fierce loyalty to principles of dignity for all lives.

This is the actual declaration document approved by the United Nations by all except for six votes of abstentions by several countries that disagreed with some of the freedoms contained within it: six Communist countries, South Africa still operating under racial segregation, and Saudi Arabia that disagreed with application of the some of the principles with women.

This document is a transcript of Eleanor Roosevelt delivering a speech about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights shortly after World War Two. With the rampant disregard for human life and dignity leading up to and during World War Two, world leaders agreed to clearly affirm the rights of individuals wherever they lived. In April 1946, Eleanor Roosevelt became the first chairperson of the pre...

In this podcast episode, we feature Eleanor Roosevelt delivering a speech about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights shortly after World War Two. With the rampant disregard for human life and dignity leading up to and during World War Two, world leaders agreed to clearly affirm the rights of individuals wherever they lived. In April 1946, Eleanor Roosevelt became the first chairperson of the...

In this podcast episode, we feature Paul Harvey and one of his signature radio programs.  The Rest of the Story was a Monday-through-Friday radio program hosted by Paul Harvey beginning during the Second World War on the ABC Radio Networks.    The Rest of the Story consisted of stories presented as little-known or forgotten facts on a variety of subjects with some key element of the story (usually...

In this podcast episode, we feature the voices of two great British Shakespearean actors, Sir John Gielgud and Sir Ralph Richardson, and the great radio and movie actor, director, producer, and writer, Mr. Orson Wells. Sir Gielgud appeared in many great Hollywood films including Gandhi, Elizabeth, Chariots of Fire, and The Elephant Man . Mr. Wells is best known for the film Citizen Kane and 1938-r...

In this podcast episode, we feature Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King's A Time to Break Silence speech on April 4,  1967 in New York City. While many have listened to Dr. King's I Have a Dream speech, fewer have considered his words in A Time to Break Silence. He embraced his concern for both the welfare of the African-American soldiers who most often were on the front lines of battle, but also for the...

In this podcast episode, we feature Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. speech  I Have a Dream  delivered on August 28, 1963. We are about to celebrate the national holiday in honor of Dr. King on January 16th. I thought it timely to release Dr. King's on this day of remembrance and challenge to for us to recommit ourselves to the continuing fight for civil rights for all. The context for Dr. King's s...

In this podcast episode, we feature the inaugural speech by President Kennedy in 1961. As I record this podcast episode, President Obama has just given his last speech as president in Chicago where he reminded the audience that was where his public service began. In a week, President-Elect Trump will give his first speech as the next U.S. President. It seemed appropriate to go back to one of the m...

Greetings everyone. I am David Arendale, the host for Historic Voices: Global History and Culture. As we prepare to enter 2017 on this New Year's Eve, I thought it best to share a quick update report on the podcast and request feedback from you to help shape future episodes. An important part of independent podcasts like this one is developing a relationship between the podcast host and the listen...

As we prepare to enter 2017 on this New Year's Eve, I thought it best to share a quick update report on the podcast and request feedback from you to help shape future episodes. An important part of independent podcasts like this one is developing a relationship between the podcast host and the listeners. You have several ways to provide your feedback. Choose one you like. Send an email to me at da...

This is a transcript of a short radio speech by Sir Winston Churchill on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1941. The dramatic timing of the speech was that it was aired live just two weeks after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.  Perhaps words from Sir Winston Churchill can help us understand how we can pause to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and celebrate with the children even as mayhem is occurring aro...

In this podcast episode, we feature a rebroadcast of a radio speech by Sir Winston Churchill on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1941. The dramatic timing of the speech was that it was aired live just two weeks after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. As I record this podcast episode a few days before Christmas Eve, I am mindful of the recent terrorist attacks using cars, minivans, and trucks against civilians...

Bob Hope: The USO's One-Man Morale Machine By Ann Oldenburg.  Ann Oldenburg is a Washington area-based freelance writer and former Washington Post and USA Today writer. This story appeared in the Spring 2016 issue of On Patrol , the magazine of the USO. Thursday, Feb 4, 2016 —   Original version of the article can be found online at https://www.uso.org/stories/154-bob-hope-the-uso-s-one-man-morale...

In this podcast episode, we feature a rebroadcast of a USO Show led by Bob Hope for our U.S. soldiers on station in West Berlin in December 1948. The dramatic timing of this event was that West Berlin was under siege by the East German and Russian troops.  Food, medicine, and the basics for life were being stalled by the Soviet troops at the road crossing points into West Berlin.  This Cold War ev...

Attached is a document that lists the history podcasts that I subscribe through iTunes.  With more than a quarter-million podcasts available through the iTunes podcast directory alone, it can be difficult to navigate the choices. The document provides a short description of each with a direct URL for their website as well as a direct link for subscribing through the iTunes Podcast directory. As a...

The Nationa Constitution Center provides this copy of the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights , and the Amendments ratified by the states.  The NCC is an independent, non-partisan, nonprofit organization that was established in 1988 under the Constitution Heritage Act.  The Center's mission is to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution, the Constitution's history, and its relevance...

In this podcast episode, we feature a rebroadcast of a radio show that celebrated the 150th anniversary of the original Bill of Rights approved by Congress and ratified by the states. The dramatic timing of the show was that it was aired live on December 15, 1941, just one week after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. At the end of the radio show, President Roosevelt addressed the nation and stated why wa...

In this podcast episode, we feature a short speech by President Roosevelt regarding why war against Japan was needed to defend our freedoms as Americans as expressed through the Bill of Rights. The President delivered this short speech at the end of a one-hour radio program celebrating the 150th anniversary of the original Bill of Rights approved by Congress and ratified by the states. While many...

Welcome to the first episode in the podcast series, Historic Voices: Global History and Culture . Each podcast will feature voices of important people from the past. Some episodes will bring the voices of political leaders, common citizens who living during extraordinary times, and occasional entertainers who helped Americans live through difficult times. All the voices are authentic and come from...