The New York reception: but a preview of what was to come. By special invitation on Jan. 7, 1852. Kossuth addressed the House of Representatives, the second non-US citizen to do so (after the Marquis De Lafayette.)

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Whitehouse cca 1850

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Pres. Fillmore

As President Fillmore's guest at the White House, his subsequent tour of the US proved triumphant and well reported in the press. Received with enthusiasm by local officials, as well as by the Hungarian-American communities. His fame lived long after his departure that year and past his death (1884. Torino, Italy). Theodore Roosevelt (1889) to a Hungarian-American meeting: "if you bring into American life the spirit ofthe heroes of Hungary, you have done your share. There is nothing this country needs more than that there shall be put before its men and its future men - its boys and girls, too - the story of such lives as that of Kossuth". To preserve the Kossuth name, a number of New World municipalities named streets after him, erected statues, plaques etc. Many of these remain, but largely unknown by citizens of today. A recent survey shows that some symbols of the Kossuth legacy can still be found in the New World.

From the time he landed on Staten Island NY (Dec. 5, 1851.) until his departure via New York City (July 1852.), he was on an almost continuous speaking tour, delivering some 150 speeches: some short, many detailed and exhaustive. In these, he expressed admiration for the American Revolution and the establishment of a democratic government. He stayed out of the main controversy of the period - slavery - but constantly expounded human rights.Kossuth had hopes of reviving the Hungarian revolution, banking on developing European conflicts as catalysts. For this he pleaded support:moral, political and financial. Concerning the latter, he issued : banknotes (i.e. debt securities),

For excerpts from his most memorable speeches in North America click here

For an anthology of many of Kossuth's American speeches click here

For a recent perspective of Kossuth's trip and interaction with Hungarian-Americans click here

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