Recording of the Voice of Woodrow Wilson

What it is

This is an audio recording of Woodrow Wilson giving a political address on democratic principles, from a speech delivered on August 7, 1912, when he accepted the Democratic nomination for President. The recording is preserved and catalogued on Wikimedia Commons.

Why it matters

Few recorded voices of early 20th-century political leaders survive, so this recording offers a rare chance to hear Wilson's own speaking style directly rather than only reading his words. It captures him during his first presidential campaign, before the events of World War I that would define his presidency. Hearing his oratory can help students think about how speeches were used to build political support.

Look closer

• How does hearing Wilson's actual voice change how you understand his words compared to reading them?
• What tone or style does he use to try to persuade listeners?
• Why might this kind of recording have been made and preserved in 1912?