What does this tell you about Washington's popularity as a public speaker?

Some of the most detailed imagery describes the days and hours before Washington's famous Atlanta Exposition address. The unusual level of detail suggests the importance of the event in Washington's life. For example:

"Atlanta was literally packed, at the time, with people from all parts of the country, and with representatives of foreign governments, as well as with military and civic organizations. The afternoon papers had forecasts of the next day's proceedings in flaring headlines. All this tended to add to my burden. I did not sleep much that night. The next morning, before day, I went carefully over what I planned to say. I also kneeled down and asked God's blessing upon my effort....

"Early in the morning a committee called to escort me to my place in the procession which was to march to the Exposition grounds... The procession was about three hours in reaching the Exposition grounds, and during all of this time the sun was shining down upon us disagreeably hot. When we reached the grounds, the heat, together with my nervous anxiety, made me feel as if I were about ready to collapse, and to feel that my address was not going to be a success. When I entered the audience-room, I found it packed with humanity from bottom to top, and there were thousands outside who could not get in" (82).