Deeds Done in Words: Presidential Rhetoric and the Genres of Governance

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University of Chicago Press, Jun 15, 1990 - Biography & Autobiography - 275 pages
"Deeds Done in Words is an impressive piece of work. It is the first attempt to identify and assess the principal genres of rhetoric, and to interpret the panoply of those genres in terms of the needs of, and the needs for, ritual in American politics."—Jeffrey Tulis, author of The Rhetorical Presidency

"Deeds Done in Words is a thoughtful survey of how a democracy uses language to transact its business. Based on an enlivened understanding of genre theory and on numerous pieces of original criticism, Campbell and Jamieson vividly show how central public discourse has become the lifeblood of the American polity."—Roderick Hart, author of The Sound of Leadership

"The rhetoric that issues from the White House is becoming an ever more salient part of what the presidency means and does. This acute inquiry provides a great many insights into the forms, meanings, and functions of presidential discourse. It is an enlightening contribution to our understanding of American politics."—Murray Edelman, author of Constructing the Political Spectacle

From inside the book

Contents

The Rhetorical Presidency
1
Inaugural Addresses
14
Speeches of Ascendant Vice Presidents
37
State of the Union Addresses
52
Veto Messages
76
War Rhetoric
101
Rhetoric to Forestall Impeachment
127
The Rhetoric of Impeachment
144
Pardoning Rhetoric
166
Farewell Addresses
191
Conclusion
213
Other Rhetorical Forms
220
Notes
223
Copyright

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About the author (1990)

Karlyn Kohrs Campbell is professor of communication studies at the University of Minnesota. Kathleen Hall Jamieson is the Elizabeth Ware Packard Professor of Communication at the Annenberg School for Communication and Walter and Leonore Annenberg Director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.