First introduced on the Red Skelton Show on CBS television, January 14, 1969. According to the introduction of the video at YouTube, it has twice been read in the Congressional Record of the United States.
You can view it here.
A slightly different version along with an mp3 file and the full text can be found at American Rhetoric.
Fireworks over Yukon Oklahoma on old U.S. 66. Photo © Jim Doty, Jr.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
From the Declaration of Independence, signed July 4, 1776. Written by Thomas Jefferson (1762-1826). 3rd US President (1801-09).
To see an engraving of the original and George Washington’s personal printed copy, go here.
to read the entire declaration, click the page 2 link at the right
Northern Lights, Alaska. Photo © Jim Doty, Jr.
The same process the creates the Northern Lights is also responsible for creating an odd assortment of sounds that earth “beams” out into space in the form of radio waves. The ionosphere prevents these sounds from reaching earth which is a good things, since they would drown out every radio station on the planet with a signal 10,000 times more powerful than the strongest military radio transmissions.
You can listen here at Space.com (you have to listen to one of those annoying mini-ads before the video plays).