About

Celebrating 250 years of American independence and 200 years of learning at the University of Virginia.

To honor America’s 250th anniversary, the University of Virginia’s Lifetime Learning and the Office of the President invite you to join us for Speaking of America, a one-of-a-kind docuseries exploring America’s greatest speeches.

Mary Kate Cary, a former White House speechwriter for George H.W. Bush who has taught at the University of Virginia, takes us behind the scenes of the most fascinating speeches in American history.

We will learn about the speakers themselves, the historical context, and what made their words so memorable. We will examine the reaction to their words - sometimes in the minutes and hours that followed, sometimes generations later - and the ways they changed the course of our democracy.

Beginning March 19, Speaking of America will be released throughout the spring of 2026.

Every two to three weeks, Lifetime Learning will release the next few episodes. Lifetime Learning will also host two virtual webinars featuring Mary Kate Cary in conversation with historians and thought leaders to discuss the previously released speeches. Whether you’re a scholar, a professional, or simply curious about the power of words, we hope you’ll join us in reflecting on America’s greatest speeches. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding.

Course Dates
Session videos will be released starting on March 19, 2026. You can register for all or select individual sessions. Once registered, you will receive an email on the session release date with all watch details.

By registering for any session, you will be automatically registered for the live webinar capstone conversation at the end of that term.

Collection A
Session 1: Words that Sparked a Movement | Thursday, March 19, 2026
Session 2: Challenging the Age | Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Session 3: Leadership | Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Collection A, Capstone Conversation with Mary Kate Cary and Scholars | Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Collection B
Session 1: Women in America | Thursday, May 7, 2026
Session 2: Civil Rights | Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Session 3: World War II and the Cold War | Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Session 4: The American Adventure into Space | Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Grand Finale: The American Experiment | Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Collection B, Capstone Conversation with Mary Kate Cary and Scholars | Thursday, June 25, 2026