The White House Speaks: Presidential Leadership as Persuasion

(Hardback)

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This work treats presidential leadership as persuasive communication. The major theories of presidential leadership found in the literature establish the central role of persuasion, and introduce the interpretive systems approach to political communication as a theoretical framework for the study of presidential leadership as persuasion. Case studies examine recent presidents' use of public persuasion to perform their leadership functions. Particular attention is devoted to coalitional constraints on presidential pardoning rhetoric, presidential leadership through the politics of division, the political significance of conflicting political narratives, the sermonic nature of much 20th-century presidential discourse, the difficulties inherent in persuading the public to make sacrifices, and the dangers of relying too heavily on public rhetoric. The concluding chapter considers the rhetoric that contributed to the demise of the Bush presidency, the election of Bill Clinton, and the challenges facing the Clinton presidency.

Reviews

.,.".this book demonstrates the strengths of reasoned rhetorical criticisms, original research, and solid chapter bibliographies. Smith and Smith have explicated the nexus of political rhetoric and rhetorical politics, so their book warrents the attention of students in those allied disciplines."-The Journal Of American History
....this book demonstrates the strengths of reasoned rhetorical criticisms, original research, and solid chapter bibliographies. Smith and Smith have explicated the nexus of political rhetoric and rhetorical politics, so their book warrents the attention of students in those allied disciplines.-The Journal Of American History
The book is worthy reading for all concerned with presidential talk and the contemporary state of our chief executive office.-Presidential Studies Quarterly
"The book is worthy reading for all concerned with presidential talk and the contemporary state of our chief executive office."-Presidential Studies Quarterly
...".this book demonstrates the strengths of reasoned rhetorical criticisms, original research, and solid chapter bibliographies. Smith and Smith have explicated the nexus of political rhetoric and rhetorical politics, so their book warrents the attention of students in those allied disciplines."-The Journal Of American History

Author Bio

CRAIG ALLEN SMITH is Professor of Communication at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. KATHY B. SMITH is Associate Professor of Politics at Wake Forest University.