Through Toastmasters I borrowed the book, Words That Shook the World. It includes two CD's, so I've been reading and listening. Unfortunately the speeches are mainly excerpts but still it is inspiring to read and listen. I recommend you look for it.
I had not appreciated how important Theodore Roosevelt is in the world of conservation in our country. Also, he was shot and still gave a speech. Now, that's dedication.
The bullet passed through Roosevelt's eyeglass case and the folded manuscript of the speech he was to give, and entered his chest, lodging less than an inch from his right lung. He borrowed a clean handkerchief, pushed it into the hole in his chest, held up the manuscript and ad-libbed a speech for an hour and a half.
Here is an excerpt from Theodore Roosevelt's campaign speech, October 14, 1912:
Friends, I shall ask you to be as quiet as possible. I don't know whether you fully understand that I've just been shot; but it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose. But fortunately I had my manuscript....
The bullet is in me now, so that I cannot make a very long speech, but I will try my best ....
I have altogether too many important things to think of to feel any concern over my own death; and now I cannot speak to you insincerely within five minutes of being shot. I am telling you the literal truth when I say that my concern is for many other things ...
It was just as when I was colonel of my regiment .... I cannot understand a man fit to be a colonel who can pay any heed to his personal safety when he is occupied as he ought to be with the absorbing desire to do his duty ...
Now, friends, I am not speaking for myself at all, I give you my word. I do not care a rap about being shot, not a rap ....
I have had a good many experiences in my time and this is one of them. What I care for is my country ...
Don't waste any sympathy on me. I have had an A-1 time in life and I am having it now ...
I am all right - I am a little sore. Anybody has a right to be sore with a bullet in him. You would find that if I was in battle now I would be leading my men just the same. Just the same way I am going to make this speech ....
I ask you to look at our declaration and hear and read our platform about social and industrial justice and then, friends, vote for the Progressive ticket without regard for me, without regard to my personality, for only by voting that platform can you be true to the cause of progress throughout this Union.