Purpose
The first two sections of the class covered what constitutes rhetoric and how politicians use rhetoric to respond to the unique needs and features of different rhetorical situations. For this assignment, you are to apply some of the concepts/theories we have covered to a rhetorical artifact of your choosing (e.g. speech, public statement, political advertisement, interview) related to a contemporary policy idea or proposal. The artifact you chose should not be one we have discussed in lecture.
Prompt
Your analysis should answer the following questions in an essay:
1. What was the political context of your chosen rhetorical artifact?
2. How does the rhetorical artifact utilize symbols to appeal to its audience’s values and/or emotions?
3. Evaluate the quality of the rhetoric.
A M E N D M E N T
T O
E S C R O W
Date:
April 12, 2021
TO:
RE:
SAIL NORTH HOLLYWOOD ESCROW, INC.
5540 Napoleon Avenue, Oak Park, CA 91377
I N S T R U C T I O N S
Escrow No.:
6530-JFJ
My previous instructions in the above numbered escrow are hereby amended and/or supplemented in the following particulars only:
1)
Buyer hereby acknowledges receipt of the following items:
(a)
(b)
2)
County of Ventura Resource Management Agency Building and Safety Division, Certificate of Occpancy.
Seller’s Affidavit of Non-Foreign Status.
All contingencies in this transaction have been satisfied or waived and are removed.
3)
New first Deed of Trust loan to file in favor of HSBC Bank USA, N.A., securing payment of Note in the amount of
$2,184,000.00, Loan Term: 30 year fixed rate of interest at 3.1260%, per annum, payable per loan documents deposited into
escrow by the lender. Buyer’s execution of loan documents will evidence Buyer’s understanding and approval of all terms and
conditions contained therein.
4)
Title to be vested in: Ankur Shah, a married man as his sole and separate property.
5)
Escrow is hereby authorized and instructed to complete the Buyer’s vested interest on any documents deposited into escrow
by the Buyer and Seller that require the same.
***** ALL OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS SHALL REMAIN THE SAME. *****
EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED STATES THAT EACH HAS READ THE FOREGOING INSTRUCTIONS,
UNDERSTANDS THEM AND ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF A COPY OF THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
BUYER:
SELLER:
Ankur Shah
Sagiv Mazel 18, LLC
By: Yossef Levi, Manager
I. The History of the Rhetorical Presidency (19th Century)
Founding Fathers didn’t want the president to be a popular leader who used rhetoric to
marshal public opinion to pressure Congress
•
Fear the tyranny of a monarchy because of experience with Great Britain
Wanted Congress to be a place of deliberation to discuss the technicalities of policy issues.
Established institutions, norms, and checks and balances
•
•
Electoral College
Presidential Selection Process based on reputation
Backdoor persuasion (presidential newspapers)
II. The Emergence of the Rhetorical Presidency
A. Franklin D. Roosevelt
•
The New Deal/Populism/Court Packing (unsuccessful)
•
Oratorical Style (alliteration, anaphora, metaphor)
•
Inaugural Addresses
•
International Addresses
•
Court Packing (unsuccessful)
•
Fireside Chats
B. Woodrow Wilson — 1st Truly rhetorical presidency/The Second Constitution
•
Progressive Era
•
Mass Public Appeals to Pressure Congress into Social Reforms
•
Presidential Campaign was driven by personality driven, presidential politics. Turned
campaigns into advertisements.
III. The Modern Presidency: All Rhetoric all the Time
•
President is now expected to take his case directly to the American people from the
“bully pullpit”
•
The White House is filled with Spinmeisters and Public Opinion gurus
•
Polarization has reached comical proportions.
Question: Compare President Biden’s style to governance with hat of former President Trump.
Which style to be more consistent with the Founding Fathers vision of the presidency? Which
seems to be more consistent with Tullis’ conception of the Rhetorical Presidency?
IV. Criticisms of the rhetorical presidency:
A. Susceptible to Demagoguery
•
Founders/Traditionalists are skeptical of “capital-D democracy”; believe elected officials
should represent the interests of their constituents rather than capitulate to popular demands.
•
There is a class politic embedded in this view…
B. Reduces space for deliberation among members of government/congress
•
Public appeals simplify complex issues; reduce incentives for nuanced deliberation over
technical concerns.
•
Emotional appeals target the character/motives of Congress members who disagree
with the president’s agenda; Reduce incentives for compromise.
V. The Study of Presidential Rhetoric
A. Developed out of and Along Side Public Address Studies (Rhetorical Studies)
B. Conceptualizes the president as the Chief Inventor and Broker of Symbols in American
Politics.