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Above the Fray? The Use of Party System References in Presidential Rhetoric
Author(s) -
COLEMAN JOHN J.,
MANNA PAUL
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
presidential studies quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.337
H-Index - 5
eISSN - 1741-5705
pISSN - 0360-4918
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-5705.2007.02604.x
Subject(s) - presidency , presidential system , politics , political science , rhetoric , rhetorical question , independence (probability theory) , public administration , political communication , government (linguistics) , divided government , relation (database) , law , political economy , sociology , philosophy , linguistics , statistics , mathematics , database , computer science
Examining communication items from four presidents, we find that presidents link themselves to the party system rhetorically. Employment of party references is tested against recurrent features of the office and shifts in the political environment, including presidential approval, partisan independence, presidential successes and defeats in Congress, and the presence of divided government. Presidents strategically employ party system references with regard to audience and calendar. We find greater support for the rhetorical president as politician rather than as statesman above the fray, and we consider our findings in relation to the concept of political time. These findings suggest rethinking accounts of the contemporary presidency that presume that presidents determinedly place themselves “above politics” and “beyond party” when crafting their communications imagery.