Rare audio of Charlie delivering the final speech from The Great Dictator at the third inaugural ball of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, January 19th, 1941

Halfway through the speech Charlie’s throat gets dry & begins to crack (probably from nerves) and he pauses and asks for water. In his autobiography, Charlie recalled that a glass could not be found, so water was brought to him in an envelope.¹

Charlie & Mickey Rooney, who also performed, talk to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt  at the inaugural gala which was held the evening before  the swearing-in ceremony  (which Charlie also attended).

¹ Contemporary newspaper articles (as well as the announcer in the clip) say that master of ceremonies, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., brought Charlie a "glass" of water.