Dictators, Democrats, Diplomats: Lend Me Your Earpieces'

Barack Obama has made a strong commitment to the United Nations. But will his speech on Thursday live up to those of past presidents?

BY COLUM LYNCH | SEPTEMBER 22, 2010

On Thursday, Barack Obama will take to the U.N. General Assembly podium to deliver his second address to the world's leaders, making him the 12th U.S. president to use that platform as a means to set out America's role in the world. U.S. presidential statements, while usually filled with tedious platitudes and lofty proposals that never materialize, occasionally rise above the mundane. From John F. Kennedy's Cold War spats with the Soviets to George W. Bush's challenge to Saddam Hussein, speeches have helped give a broader perspective on U.S. foreign-policy goals while illustrating the periodic back and forth of Washington's political pendulum.
In Thursday's speech, Obama is expected to underscore America's break with the policies of his predecessor, highlighting his decisions to end combat operations in Iraq and reopen the Middle East peace process. How will Obama measure up against his predecessors? Here's a list of the most momentous American presidential U.N. speeches.
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http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/09/22/dictators_democrats_diplomats_lend_me_your_earpieces