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The Evolution of the Modern Rhetorical Presidency: A Critical Response
Author(s) -
MURPHY CHAD
Publication year - 2008
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.1741-5705.2008.02641.x
Subject(s) - presidency , rhetorical question , rhetoric , presidential system , political science , style (visual arts) , administration (probate law) , law , linguistics , literature , philosophy , art , politics
In his 2003 article on the evolution of presidential rhetoric, Teten finds three distinct time periods in the rhetorical presidency. Teten asserts that the modern rhetorical presidency is characterized by greater use of group words and shorter addresses and began with Woodrow Wilson. By expanding his analysis to all State of the Union addresses rather than a sample, I repeat the analysis of group word usage and show that the enduring change in rhetorical styles occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration rather than Wilson's. This shift may be attributed to the advent of radio and other forms of mass media rather than the personal style of one particular president.