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Research Guides

Senator Henry M. Jackson, 1912-1983: Speeches & Writings

The portal provides a general overview of key archival, printed, and visual resources in UW Libraries Special Collections that document Senator Jackson's long and distinguished career in public service.

Speeches & Writings

Senator Henry M. Jackson speaking at an unidentified event with his wife, Helen Hardin, in the background, possibly in Washington, D.C., July 1974

Senator Henry M. Jackson with his wife, Helen Hardin, possibly in Washington, D.C., July 1974

Over the course of his career, Henry M. Jackson delivered speeches to diverse audiences within Washington state and around the nation, as well as before Congress and in numerous international venues. Speech writing was handled with the utmost care, with input from knowledgeable staff members as well as outside experts. A finished speech reflected the Senator's desire to consolidate his argument -- however complex -- into precisely what needed to be said. Once the central thrust of Jackson's message had been established, it would be supplemented by a call to action.

For all of the careful attention that went into the writing of speeches, Jackson himself was not a rousing orator, and as a result he was generally most effective meeting with a smaller, more intimate audience, where he could more easily establish a sense of connection with individuals. Though at times criticized for his lack of charisma, he often turned this critique to his advantage by joking about it in the opening remarks of a speech.

Jackson's success in meeting with and speaking to smaller audiences and groups of constituents served him well in Washington State, where he was re-elected for five consecutive terms in the U.S. House and six in the Senate. But his reputed lack of charisma may have impeded his efforts to connect with a larger, national audience during his two unsuccessful bids to win the Democratic presidential nomination, first in 1972 and again in 1976.

Documentation in the Henry M. Jackson Papers

Evidence of Jackson's extensive record of speech writing and speech making can be found in Speeches and Writings sections throughout his papers. Photographic and Graphic Materials, Moving Images, and Sound Recordings series are also rich in resources that document Jackson's speeches and the manner and style of his delivery before a variety of audiences.

Foreign Affairs

The Middle East

  • "Reassessing the Middle East," American Israel Public Affairs Committee; Washington, D.C. (April 14, 1975). 3560-005: Senate Papers, 1965-1983 (Box 245, Folder 18)
  • "A New Marshall Plan for the Middle East," American Jewish Congress Dinner; Los Angeles, CA (November 11, 1978). 3560-005: Senate Papers, 1965-1983 (Box 246, Folder 10)
  • "Iran and the Middle East: Past and Present," George Washington University; Washington, D.C. (February 25, 1979). 3560-005: Senate Papers, 1965-1983 (Box 246, Folder 21)

China

  • "New Directions in the Pacific Area," Rotary Club of Seattle; Seattle, WA (November 5, 1969). 3560-005: Senate Papers, 1965-1983 (Box 233, Folder 52)
  • "On Return from the People's Republic of China," Washington, D.C. (July 8, 1974). 3560-006: Foreign Policy and Defense Papers, 1941-1983 (Box 10, Folder 157)
  • "China, Trade, and Most Favored Nation (MFN)," U.S. Senate (January 22, 1980). 3560-006: Foreign Policy and Defense Papers, 1941-1983 (Box 13, Folder 62)
  • "The United States, China, and the 1980s," W.U. International Studies School; Seattle, WA (February 9, 1980). 3560-005: Senate Papers, 1965-1983 (Box 246, Folder 59)

Central America

  • "Labor and U.S. Central American Policy," Hofstra University School of Law, Labor Law Conference; Hempstead, NY (April 29, 1983). 3560-005: Senate Papers, 1965-1983 (Box 247, Folder 85)
  • "Toward a Long-Term Policy for Central America," U.S. Senate (May 12, 1983). 3560-006: Foreign Policy and Defense Papers, 1941-1983 (Box 14, Folder 53)

Vietnam

  • "The Challenge of Vietnam," American Legion; Portland, OR (August 21, 1965). 3560-004: Senate Papers, 1964-1972 (Box 231, Folder 4)
  • "A Key to Victory in Vietnam--Our Determination to Succeed," (1970). 3560-004: Senate Papers, 1964-1972 (Box 234, Folder 62)
  • "United States Policies in Vietnam," (1972). 3560-004: Senate Papers, 1964-1972 (Box 236, Folder 70)
  • "Vietnam Peace Initiatives," (January 27, 1972). 3560-006: Foreign Policy and Defense Papers, 1941-1983 (Box 9, Folder 53)

Soviet Union

  • <"Technology Transfer to the Soviet Union," Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; Washington, D.C. (April 30, 1980). 3560-005: Senate Papers, 1965-1983 (Box 247, Folder 1)
  • "The Soviet Union in the Middle East," English Speaking Union, Spokane Chapter; Spokane, WA (September 27, 1970). Senate Papers, 1964-1972 (Box 235, Folder 10)
  • "The Strategic Balance and Bolder Soviet Union," Omaha, NE (May 1, 1972). 3560-006: Foreign Policy and Defense Papers, 1941-1983 (Box 9, Folder 81)

National Security

  • "The Race for Ballistic Missiles," (February 1, 1956). 3560-006: Foreign Policy and Defense Papers, 1941-1983 (Box 3, Folder 29)
  • "Ballistic Seapower-Fourth Dimension of Warfare," U.S. Senate (May 27, 1957). 3560-006: Foreign Policy and Defense Papers, 1941-1983 (Box 3, Folder 45)
  • "The Will to Stay the Course," World Affairs Council; Seattle, WA (November 23, 1965). 3560-004: Senate Papers, 1964-1972 (Box 231, Folder 25)
  • "Organizing for National Security," U.S. Government Operations Committee, National Policy Machinery Subcommittee (final statement), (November 15, 1961). 3560-003: Senate Papers, 1952-1963 (Box 234, folder 6)
  • "The Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty," U.S. Senate (September 13, 1963). 3560-006: Foreign Policy and Defense Papers, 1941-1983 (Box 5, Folders 41-42)
  • "U.S. Senate and the Interim SALT Agreement," U.S. Senate (August 11, 1972). 3560-006: Foreign Policy and Defense Papers, 1941-1983 (Box 9, Folder 126)
  • "Détente and SALT," Overseas Press Club Awards Dinner; New York, NY (April 22, 1974). 3560-005: Senate Papers, 1965-1983 (Box 244, Folders 43-44)
  • "Does America Have a Peace Strategy?" Plymouth Congregational Church; Seattle, WA (June 4, 1982). 3560-005: Senate Papers, 1965-1983 (Box 247, Folder 67)
  • "Fact, Fiction and National Security," (1972). 3560-005: Senate Papers, 1965-1983 (Box 235, Folder 50b)

Environment

  • "The National Environmental Policy Act--Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow," Symposium on Coal Ports and Environmental Considerations (June 5, 1982). 3560-005: Senate Papers, 1965-1983 (Box 354, Folder 66)
  • "The Challenge of the Land and the Environment," Washington Legislature; Olympia, WA (March 7, 1969). 3560-005: Senate Papers, 1965-1983 (Box 233, Folder 13)
  • "The Emerging Law of Environment," Seattle-King County Bar Association; Seattle, WA (April 8, 1969). 3560-005: Senate Papers, 1965-1983 (Box 233, Folder 22)
  • "A National Policy for the Environment," National Audubon Society; Saint Louis, MO (April 26, 1969). 3560-005: Senate Papers, 1965-1983 (Box 233, Box 45)
  • "The Environmental Crisis: Issues and Answers," National Conference on Higher Education, Chicago, IL (March 2, 1970). 3560-005: Senate Papers, 1965-1983 (Box 234, Folder 42)
  • "Environmental Quality and Political Responsibility," Linfield College, McMinnville, OR (May 22, 1972). 3560-005: Senate Papers, 1965-1983 (Box 236, Folder 50a)

Human Rights

  • "The Jackson Amendment on Freedom of Emigration," U.S. Senate (March 29, 1973). 3560-006: Foreign Policy and Defense Papers, 1941-1983 (Box 10, Folder 11)
  • "Détente and Human Rights," Pacem in Terris Conference (October 11, 1973). 3560-005: Senate Papers, 1965-1983 (Box 244, Folder 23)
  • "The Jackson Amendment and Freer Emigration," National Conference on Soviet Jewry; Washington, D.C. (April 10, 1978). 3560-005: Senate Paper, 1965-1983 (Box 245, Folder 57)
  • "Internationally Recognized Human Rights," U.S. Senate (February 11, 1977). 3560-006: Foreign Policy and Defense Papers, 1941-1983 (Box 12, Folder 106)
  • "Terrorism as a Weapon in International Politics," Jerusalem Conference on International Terrorism; Jerusalem, Israel (July 2, 1979). 3560-006: Foreign Policy and Defense Papers, 1941-1983 (Box 13, Folder 27)

Democratic Party

  • "Leadership for the Sixties," Democratic Party National Committee; Boston, MA (November 1, 1960). 3560-005: Senate Papers, 1952-1963 (Box 233, Folder 27)
  • "New Directions for Our Party," Cook County Democratic Dinner; Chicago, IL (May 22, 1980). 3560-005: Senate Papers, 1965-1983 (Box 247, Folder 3)
  • "The Strength of the Democratic Party," National Young Democrats; Washington, D.C. (March 27, 1957). 3560-006: Foreign Policy and National Defense Papers, 1941-1983 (Box 3, Folder 41)

Sources