Page Speeches

The following is a comprehensive analysis of 38 of Arthur W. Page's speeches and writings — compiled, analyzed and indexed by Pamela Brubaker, assistant professor at BYU and former Ph.D. at Penn State's Bellisario College of Communications. The collection is available to researchers, practitioners and the general public.

Key topics and relevant Page Principles are noted. All of his writings are available in full text, including individual printable PDF files.

Download All 38 Speeches Download A Man of Vision, Valor and Values

1. Bell Telephone Systems Publicity Conference Talk
April, 1927

After three months with AT&T, Page speaks at a publicity conference where he discusses the opportunities publicizing the company’s public service will provide the 50-year-old company. The benefits of investing in AT&T are discussed.

2. What publicity and advertising can do to help operation
May, 1927

Page addresses the benefits of the publicity department. He talks about his experience preparing propaganda for World War I and outlines how to effectively conduct public relations and communicate a memorable company message.

3. Bell Telephone Systems GCC Special Talk
June, 1927

Page addresses the commercial department on the value of public relations and the need to constantly gauge public opinion.

4. Address - Bell Telephone Systems Traffic Conference
November, 1927

Page speaks about the duties and responsibilities of the public relations department at AT&T and how this department functions in cooperation with other departments.

5. Public Relations - Bell Telephone Systems GOC
May, 1928

Page highlights the company’s public relations’ challenges and stresses the importance of streamlining the company’s message.

6. Public Relations and Sales
June, 1928

Page reviews the company’s advertising program in detail. He highlights various advertisements and discusses the messages they are trying to convey.

7. Philosophy of the Business
October, 1928

Page addresses employees on how they should execute and live by the company’s business philosophy as outlined in what is often referred to as the Dallas speech. He addresses the importance of exercising self-government in an effort to avoid government regulation.

8. Coordination of Sales and Advertising Activities
January, 1929

Page emphasizes the sale’s organization’s role in establishing relations with the public. The relationship between the sales and the information department (e.g., advertising, and publicity) are addressed.

9. The Problem of Forecasting Public Opinion in the United States
April, 1929

Page provides a lengthy historical account of the United States’ legal and economic record that highlights how the government reacts when industry becomes too powerful. He addresses the functions of public relations that are fundamental to businesses and the need to continually gauge public opinion.

10. Bell Telephone Laboratories Address
June, 1929

Page addresses the challenges of monopolies and how Bell Systems must operate with the public in mind in order to avoid being regulated.

11. The Philosophy of Our Business
June, 1929

Page outlines the philosophy of Bell System’s business operations and how the company functions financially as a public service.

12. Public Relations - Bell Telephone Systems GOC
May, 1930

Page discusses the need to improve the company’s reputation and conduct research on the company’s advertising and public relations’ programs.

13. Bell Telephone Systems GCC Address
May, 1930

Page illuminates his audience on the success of various corporate advertising programs and discusses the results of corporate research the company is using to gauge the success of its publicity campaigns.

14. Public Relations - Bell Telephone Systems GOC
May, 1931

In this speech, Page provides an overview of how public relations currently operates within the company and details how it should operate. The impact of the company’s philosophy (Dallas speech) is discussed.

15. Bell Telephone Systems GCMSC Address
June, 1931

Amidst the challenges of the depression, Page admonishes the company to focus on selling and improving its reputation.

16. Social Aspects of Communication Development
January, 1932

In this speech Page gives an overview of how communication technologies have developed and how innovations such as the telephone have improved quality of life.

17. Talk on Public Relations
March, 1932

This lecture was delivered at the conclusion of a nine-week public relations course. Within this speech, Page discusses his vision of public relations utopia—to operate in the public interest in such a way, that politicians and the media receive backlash for openly criticizing the corporation.

18. Public Relations Today and the Outlook for the Future
December, 1933

Page gives an overview of public relations in the Bell System and the importance of following and communicating the company’s philosophy to employees and the public. The company’s conservative financial policy is discussed.

19. The Telephone—A Coming Industry
November, 1934

This speech provides a history of the Bell System and details the great strides that have been made in the communications industry since the inception of the telephone.

20. Public Relations Today and the Outlook for the Future
December, 1936

Page provides a historical perspective on the company’s business ventures and reviews how the company has successfully faced challenges created by the depression, the war, and other company ventures. He encourages the company to begin thinking about meeting social needs and causing social change.

21. Public Relations Today and the Outlook for the Future
December, 1937

Page reassures his audience that the company’s good reputation and honest business dealings provide reason for the company to welcome a recent investigation by the FCC. At the time of the speech the findings of the investigation were pending.

22. Fundamentals of a Public Relations Program for Business
September, 1938

Page outlines the essentials of a corporate public relations program and offers advice on the best way to put one together.

23. Notes on a Public Relations Talk
October, 1938

Page acknowledges that at the time of this speech public relations was becoming more widely recognized and regarded as a corporate practice. The public’s perception of the company, as identified in research, is reviewed.

24. Public Relations Today and the Outlook for the Future - Dec 1938
December, 1938

Page clarifies and expands on the speech he delivered at the Seventh International Management Congress on the Fundamentals of a Public Relations Program for Business and makes it more specific and applicable to an internal audience.

25. Industrial Statesmanship
October, 1939

Page gives an overview of the functions of public relations and its role in influencing public opinion.

26. Engineering Societies of Western Pennsylvania
February, 1941

Page addresses the Engineering Societies of Western Pennsylvania on the incentives of freedom and how it increases opportunity and stimulates progress.

27. New England Telephone and Telegraph Talk
March, 1942

This speech discusses the impact of the Bell System’s contributions to World War II and offers advice on what the company can do to build public trust and positively influence public opinion while its performance is being impacted by the war.

28. Service to Army Camps
June, 1942

Page discusses the frustrations of those soldiers who waited in long lines to use the telephone at army camps during the war [World War II]. Research and strategies for changing attitudes and perceptions of the company are discussed.

29. Some Remarks on Public Relations
December, 1942

The responsibilities of public relations and the need to facilitate beneficial relationships between big business and the public are discussed.

30. Bell System Prospects
July, 1943

Page discusses the impact material shortages caused by World War II has had on the company. He talks about increasing the value of service to the public, having good wages and working conditions for employees, and giving dividends to the stockholders during the post-war period.

31. Looking Forward in Public Relations
December, 1943

Page talks to life insurance presidents about the pitfalls of government regulations and the impact it can have on industry. Government regulations do not ensure a successful business.

32. The Measure of the Kind of Folks We Are
February, 1944

An informal talk given before a group of Supervisory Employees of the New York Telephone Company.

33. Telephone Pioneers of America Talk
October, 1944

Page recaps circumstances surrounding the depression and the war. He highlights the value of good customer service during his nearly 21-year journey in the Bell System.

34. What We Think About Held Orders
February, 1946

Page admonishes those at AT&T to do everything they can to get service to all who need it post-World War II. He emphasizes the importance of truthfully disclosing and explaining what the company is doing and why there are delays in service.

35. Montreal Chambre de Commerce Talk
February, 1946

Page talks to the Montreal Chambre de Commerce and explains the challenges big businesses face in the court of public opinion.

36. Continental Oil Company
March, 1951

Page addresses Continental Oil Company on the value of public opinion and the role of public relations in securing favorable attitudes about the company.

37. Trusteeship in Business
May, 1951

Page speaks at a ceremony celebrating AT&T’s one-millionth stockholder. Companies operate on the trust and confidence the public puts in them. AT&T has a responsibility to operate as trustees of the investment people have made in the company.

38. Bell Systems Executive Conference Talk
November, 1955

At an internal public relations conference Page explains top management’s role in bolstering the company’s reputation and outlines five rules executives should adopt in these efforts.