State Historical Society of Iowa

"Save America" Speech, 1920

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Courtesy of Library of Congress, Butler, Nicholas Murray, Columbia University, 1920

Description

This 1920 speech was given by Nicholas Murray Butler, president of Columbia University in support of the Republican Party. Given during a post-World War I era that historians would later label The First Red Scare, Butler paints the 1920 election as a choice between not just two parties, but two different Americas, one that "shall remain upon its foundations of ordered liberty and free opportunity" and "a social democracy." The Republican Party, he argued, would unify the nation, protect it from "the political philosophy of Lenin and Trotsky," and secure its social and economic order

Transcript of Nicholas Murray Butler's Speech

Source Dependent Questions

  • According to Butler, why was it especially important that the Republican Party win the upcoming presidential election? What was at stake?
  • Use passages from the speech to explain how Butler characterized and contrasted the Republican Party and Democratic Party.
  • Considering the context surrounding the election, which line of this speech do you think would be most powerful in convincing listeners to vote for the Republican Party? Explain the thinking behind your selection.
  • Use textual evidence from both sources to compare Butler's message about his party's political opponents to "King Andrew the First.

Citation Information

Audio: Butler, Nicholas Murray, Columbia University, 1920. Courtesy of Library of Congress
Document: Butler, Nicholas Murray, Columbia University, 1920. Courtesy of Library of Congress Courtesy of Library of Congress

State Historical Society of Iowa

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