Claiming that discourse has atrophied in a social climate that provides little space for reasoned discussion of vital issues, this paper explores the role the general education course in public speaking has played in the past and the role this course could play in the future in the restoration of public space. Divided into three focused sections, each section of the paper is further subdivided. Section I presents a historical survey of basic speech courses from l956-1985 to determine the current status of the "public" in public speaking. Section II presents a historical survey of public speaking textbooks (and how the public is reflected in them). Section III explores the value of including public life in speech education and considers how historical examples of speechmaking can help. The conclusion offers suggestions concerning ways the communication field can address the responsibility to mold pedagogical practice and stem the tide of the decline of public discourse. (NH)