Ben Rhodes, a former speechwriter for President Barack Obama, has released a new book titled "All We Say" to examine American identity.

Rhodes uses the project to spark a broader conversation regarding what defines the U.S. and where the nation is headed. By analyzing historical rhetoric, he seeks to identify the core values that shape the American experience.

In the text, Rhodes highlights 15 [1] of the most defining speeches in the history of the United States. He uses these specific addresses to trace the evolution of the national identity, a process that involves balancing contradictory ideals and aspirations.

The author has discussed the themes of the book in recent interviews with The Guardian and MSNBC. These conversations focused on the necessity of understanding the past to navigate the current political climate. Rhodes said the goal is to understand the shared language and narratives that have historically unified the country.

The project was also featured in a discussion on the Pod Save America YouTube channel. In that forum, the conversation centered on the tension between the idealized version of the U.S. and the hard truths of its actual history. Rhodes said that examining these speeches allows for a more honest assessment of the American project.

By selecting a limited number of pivotal addresses, Rhodes aims to distill the complexities of the U.S. into a digestible framework. This approach allows him to contrast the rhetoric of different eras to show how the definition of freedom and equality has shifted over time. The book serves as a guide for those attempting to reconcile the country's founding promises, and its modern reality.

“Ben Rhodes examines America through its 15 most defining speeches.”

The release of "All We Say" reflects a growing effort by former government officials to use historical analysis to address current political polarization. By framing American identity through a curated list of speeches, Rhodes is attempting to establish a common rhetorical baseline for national discourse during a period of significant cultural division.