THE RHETORICAL FAILURE OF JIMMY CARTER AS PRESIDENT: An Analysis of the impact Carter’s inaugural discourse had on his presidency Alexandra Eichner January 5th, 2009 Professor Eisenhower Communications 395 INTRODUCTION: Every occasion in which the President speaks directly to his people is an occasion to be remembered, as it is these moments that define the rhetoric of the presidency. It is difficult to articulate the power of presidential rhetoric, and the subsequent impact that discourse can have on effective presidential leadership. However, the title of Campbell and Jamieson’s book, “Presidents Creating the Presidency: Deeds Done in Words,” offers some meaningful insight into the power of presidential discourse. Accordingly, this paper will attempt to use the presidential inaugural address as a concrete example firstly, of how a president uses words to create his presidency, and secondly, of how instrumental those words can be in determining the success or failure of a president. More specifically, this paper will examine the rhetoric of President Jimmy Carter, and the effect his discourse ultimately had on his time in the White House.
The Art of Rhetorical Speaking The speech titled “A More Perfect Union” was delivered by Senator Barack Obama on March 18, 2008 near the historical site of the signing of the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Senator is a respectable, idolized and scrutinized individual both politically and socially. As the first black candidate in the running for presidency of the United States, the Senator’s campaign and affiliations were under major scrutiny. Therefore, Senator Obama called for a press conference to address any and all issues or uncertainty that followed him. First, the Senator’s speech attempts to address the nation on their concerns of his affiliation with Reverend Wright.
Leadership Transformational-charismatic Before the election, President Barack Obama attracted the attention of American's and foreigners alike with a seemingly charismatic nature. A charismatic leader has an uncanny ability to draw others to his side and move them to accomplish a cause bigger than themselves. A charismatic approach is transformational if it invokes a permanent change in the people who embrace the leader's vision. During his first term, President Obama wooed at least some to his vision by showing the potential to make a huge difference in both domestic and foreign affairs. Cross-Cultural-Global Leadership Under the Bush Administration, America's image lost much of its shine.
Since the first president, George Washington, took office on April 30, 1789, there have been forty-two different men chosen by the citizens of our country to lead and govern us as a nation (The White House). Though all of these men have had differences, one common ground they have all shared is their color, they have all been white. But, the 2008 presidential election forever changed our nation’s highest office, when for the first time in our country’s history, a man of color, African-American Barack Obama, was elected President of the United States. This historical induction has made the 2008 presidential election one of the most important in our nation’s history not only in terms of its racial significance, but also for many other implications it has had, and will have. This election has touched on multiple sociological issues ranging from gender, with vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, to the state and direction of our current economy (the “recession” crises), to other such sociological issues as religion, class, and even national security.
Tyler Fulmer JFK’s Inaugural Speech Essay Presidents that offer speeches like Barack Obama and John F. Kennedy, who both served the United States of America are hard to find. Their voices in the inaugural addresses that they both delivered are very influential. There are four factors to consider in comparing and contrasting the inaugural address of both presidents. These factors include historical standpoint, presentation, content, and as well as influence to the people and existing conditions. Basically, the inaugural speeches of Barack Obama and John F. Kennedy are given after reciting the oath of office as newly-elected leaders of the country.
Wright, who, being close to him, threatened Obama’s pursuit of the presidency. Focusing on the point to form a more perfect union in his campaign, Obama confronts the sustaining racial issue. He demonstrates his capability to be the president of America by using effective and persuasive rhetorical devices throughout the speech. The multiple tones Obama uses show his perspectives toward the racial issue and arouse the audience’s acknowledgement of the exigency and necessity of the issue. Directly revealing the main purpose of his speech in the opening sentence: “‘We the people, in order to form a perfect union [,]’” (Obama 647), Obama says straightforwardly to the audience the obligation to build this nation belongs not only to himself or the people owning more power, but also to the rest of American citizens, all the people who concern about their country.
There were many factors throughout the election which had an impact which I will explain below. The first factor which determined the outcome of the 2008 presidential election was the fact that Obama was backed by the elites and the wealthy, the most notable elite being Warren Buffet. These elites gave as much money as the laws enabled them to but they also gave Obama their names, a strong PR move which gave Obama the edge as people who looked up to the endorsers would then side with them. These two factors also argue that elitism outweighs pluralism in America, and that elitism was so strong, that it determined the outcome with supporters of for example Warren Buffet voting for who he endorsed. However, there is also reason to suggest that this is not the case, and that pluralism determined the outcome of the 2008 election.
Political Power of America 9/11/14 On November 19, 1863, the most famous speech ever given by President Abraham Lincoln was called the Gettysburg Address. This was known as a "monumental act." With this speech, Lincoln defined democracy as “government of the people, by the people, for the people”. That means that the government should be basically running by its citizens. That's why citizens run for offices, like representatives of state, and senators, and mayors, governors, and presidents.
The media has had a great impact on the recent presidential elections. It is the most important and influential factor when determining who to vote for. The media has both positive and negative effects, it can make somebody look like a heroic person who is ready to lead the country no matter what happens, and it can also someone look like a babbling moron who has no clue about anything. The two main types of media that affect the election are paid advertising and news reporting. Paid advertising is when a presidential candidate pays to broadcast his message to the American people.
Amidst excessive political television advertisements and larger-than-life billboard signs, Election Day brings forth the major topics of concerns of the American public. Voters ultimately end up choosing the candidate who they believe will have the solution to all of the nation’s problems. Not only do voters look for the “man with the plan” they also vote based upon the candidates’ prior political experience and success, as well the candidates’ view for the nation’s future. President Obama should be elected as president of the United States because he possesses quality leadership skills, political experience and success, has a clear vision for America’s future, has communicated a plan for solving the economic crises of the nation, and firmly