The term oratory refers to the art of speaking in public with great skill and eloquence. It involves the ability to use language effectively and persuasively. It has been valued throughout history. The Roman statesman and philosopher Cicero was renowned for his oratory. British prime minister Winston Churchill was a superb orator who was able to inspire British citizens during the darkest days of World War II. In the U.S., civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is viewed as one of the nation's most gifted orators.