Dan F. Hahn

While the whole world watched: Rhetorical failures of anti‐war protest∗

Contrary to beliefs popular in some circles, those who protested against the Vietnam War were not instrumental in bringing it to an end. Public reaction to demonstrations was so negative that such actions may actually have prolonged the war by hardening attitudes of many Americans. The anti‐war protesters failed to sway public opinion because of a variety of rhetorical factors. Some of these were under the control of the protesters, while others were inherent in their intended audience.

The media and the presidency: Ten propositions

The relationships between the media and the presidency have been written about extensively, yet some conclusions have been misapplied and overvalued, while other potential conclusions have been overlooked or denied. The ten propositions presented here are intended to provide corrective hypotheses to presidential communication researchers.

Political myth: The image and the issue

Abstract For years academicians have stressed the importance of campaign issues while the American people have blithely gone their own way, voting on the basis of image. Now it is found that the people may have been right all along—issues appear to be transitory, confusing and largely irrelevant while images provide intelligent and discriminating indices upon which informed votes can be based.

Social Movement Theory: A Dead End.

In arguing that the development of a rhetorical theory for social movements is a lost cause, the authors examine two major questions: (1) how are movements different from other forms of collective behavior, and (2) do these differences create rhetorical differences? An analysis of the loading works in rhetoric on social movements leads to the conclusion that movements are not inherently different from other forms of collective behavior in their rhetorical activities, thus there is no need for a theory of the rhetoric of social movements.

Corrupt rhetoric: President ford and the Mayaguez affair

Examining President Fords public announcements concerning the capture and recapture of the Mayaguez in May of 1975, as compared to international law, American constitutional law, and the unstated communication rule that each should use words as commonly defined, the author concludes that President Ford lied about the Mayaguez. This misleading of the public was expanded by the administrations refusal to allow “solution by discourse” (diplomacy) a chance to work, yet talking as though they had, then making false claims of authority for taking the subsequent military action. The author concludes that all of these deceptions corrupted the discourse surrounding the Mayaguez affair, leading the public to applaud a policy it might otherwise have deplored.

One's reborn every minute: Carter's religious appeal in 1976

An analysis of Jimmy Carters handling of religion in the 1976 presidential campaign demonstrates that Carter was aware of the potential advantage of emphasizing his religion. In fact, once he became aware of the advantage, he escalated his references to his religion while also attempting to mollify those turned off by his religiosity. The author concludes that Carters decision to stress his religion was a conscious political decision and that that decision helped Carter win the presidency.

Anatomy of an enigma: Jimmy Carter's 1980 state of the union address

This essay identifies several “image”; problems faced by President Jimmy Carter during the period leading up to his 1980 State of the Union speech. It is contended that Carters address failed to overcome those problems, largely due to a series of rhetorical “errors”; contained in the speech.

Rhetorical biography: A methodology for the citizen‐critic

Much rhetorical biography has been found to provide only limited insights into the rhetoric of political candidates. Richer insights can be generated by utilizing the rhetorical biographical methodology proposed and described here, one which emphasizes the candidates personality orientation, views of leadership, personal and political ideology, epistemology and hierarchy value structure.

Archetype and signature in Johnson's 1965 state of the union

From an archetype‐signature perspective on public discourse, this essay explores the community‐building and community‐maintaining aspects of the presidency. President Johnsons first major speech following his 1964 electoral victory provides the case study.

Richard Nixon and presidential mythology

Richard Nixons rhetoric is analyzed according to four themes which have evolved in his public speaking. Together these themes comprise Nixons view of Presidential Mythology.