Final answer:
Four historic rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court on freedom of speech and expression include Texas v. Johnson, Brandenburg v. Ohio, Buckley v. Valeo, and the Court's affirmance of the press's freedom of speech.
Step-by-step explanation:
One historic ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on freedom of speech and expression is Texas v. Johnson (1989), where the Court held that burning the American flag was protected political expression under the First Amendment. Another ruling is Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969), where the Court stated that only speech that constituted a direct call or plan to imminent lawless action could be suppressed, while mere advocacy of a hypothetical revolution was protected. The Court also affirmed in Buckley v. Valeo (1976) that government cannot limit how much money someone can spend on their own political campaign, as it would violate freedom of speech rights. Additionally, the Supreme Court generally upholds the ability of the press to exercise freedom of speech and express their choice of messages and images.