Raymond V. Mariano President Franklin D. Roosevelt used his fireside chats to comfort and inform the nation. The power of his words and the force of his personality carried us through the darkest of times. President John F. Kennedy used inspirational speeches and a stirring presence to move Americans to reach for the stars. His call to serve others inspired a generation. President Ronald Reagan had a flare for the dramatic and an understanding of imagery that made him “the great communicator.” And Barack Obama had a personal charisma and confidence that allowed him to stand at a pulpit and sooth a congregation in pain by singing “Amazing Grace.”