I'm surprised you mention us not having recordings of the older times being why we thought people spoke eloquently. Even in old recorded audio and video, like old TV, it feels to me like people speak much more eloquently.
Go listen to some Teddy Roosevelt speeches, blown away by the clarity and fluency. Or the Cross of Gold audio snippets.
Go listen to some Teddy Roosevelt speeches, blown away by the clarity and fluency. Or the Cross of Gold audio snippets.