8 Public Speaking Lessons from 57 Inaugural Speeches: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

To date, there have been 44 United States presidents and 57 inaugural addresses. On January 21, 2013 , Barack Obama will deliver the 58th. And while each speech holds tremendous historical value, very few can be considered rhetorical masterpieces. So what makes a great inaugural speech? What do they say about the president and our country? And what constitutes a success or a failure?