Taylor Swift Joins All Five Living Presidents to Recite Gettysburg Address
Just 271 words long, the Gettysburg Address is arguably the most famous speech in the history of America. And one of the most famous entertainers in the history of music, Taylor Swift, joins a long list of presidents and others to recite Lincoln’s memorable words in a short video.
This video concept began when documentarian Ken Burns, along with other partners, decided to further immortalize the Gettysburg Address by launching a national effort that encourages every American to record themselves reading or reciting the speech. It’s a movement called Learn the Address, and the collection of recordings on the site will only continue to grow.
Combined in a one minute and 46-second video, the project kicks off with a recitation that features all five living presidents, Swift, politicians and popular media personalities like Robin Roberts, Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates. Not only that, but it celebrates the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s address!
As Americans jump onboard to shoot themselves speaking Lincoln’s very words, this will lead up to Burns’s new documentary for PBS, ‘The Address’ — a 90-minute film airing in spring 2014, which gives history behind and context around Lincoln’s famous speech.
With the involved efforts of familiarly famous faces like Swift and the rich representation of five presidents, hopefully every American will wave their red, white and blue flags proudly and read through the words of this deeply cherished speech that begins with “Four score and seven years ago.”