Primary sourceSpeech12 March 1912
Recording of the voice of Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt · 12 March 1912
A 1912 audio recording of Roosevelt delivering part of his speech 'The Right of the People to Rule' at Carnegie Hall.
A rare recording of Roosevelt's actual voice, delivering part of a 1912 campaign speech.
About this source
What it is
This is a sound recording of Theodore Roosevelt speaking, excerpted from a speech called "The Right of the People to Rule," given at Carnegie Hall on March 12, 1912.
Why it matters
Few audio recordings survive of political leaders from this period, so this is a rare chance to hear Roosevelt's actual voice and speaking style, not just read his words. The speech came during his 1912 campaign, when he argued for greater popular control over government, reflecting his broader push for democratic reform late in his political career.
Look closer
- How does hearing Roosevelt's voice change your impression of him compared to reading his words on a page?
- What tone or emotion can you detect in his delivery?
- Why might this recording have been made and preserved at the time?
This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Theodore Roosevelt on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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