Click on this link to find the inaugural addresses for all the U.S. presidents. Choose one of the speeches and identify as many propaganda techniques as you can. How many of the seven tactics that McClintock discusses can you find? Write a brief analysis of your findings and share it in the comments below. Be sure to mention which speech you are analyzing by mentioning the year and the president who delivered the speech.
3 Comments
Dina Forer
1/6/2016 09:24:32 pm
I chose the inaugural speech of Theodore Roosevelt, said in 1905. Roosevelt uses several propaganda techniques in his inaugural speech. He uses the plain folk appeal by saying"to us as a people" and referring to the country as "we." By grouping himself in the same category as the common citizen, Roosevelt makes his audience feel that he wants what is in their best interest. He also uses glittering generalities, by using words such as "justice and generosity" and "courage,... hardihood, and endurance." These terms, which inspire the audience with a patriotic and idealistic feeling, do not promise any specific action and whose meanings are ambiguous and interpretive. In addition, Roosevelt uses the testimony of "Washington" and "Abraham Lincoln," causing the audience to support him based on his association with an established great man. By assuring the audience that we must uphold the legacy of these great men, Roosevelt is transferring their merits to himself and securing the audience's approval.
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Chana Sandberg
1/11/2016 05:43:31 pm
I chose the inaugural speech of George Bush in 1989. In his speech, Bush uses propaganda techniques to imbue in his audience the America ideal of freedom. Bush begins by stating that this same oath he had taken was taken by George Washington 200 years earlier. By Bush mentioning Washington, he transfers Washington’s credibility and integrity to himself, making him seem to the audience, like an honest and trustworthy person. Bush also uses the plain folks approach throughout his speech, when he uses the word “we” when referring to the nation. This automatically portrays Bush as a fellow citizen, part of the country and not a separate individual. The audience now sees him as someone they can relate to and someone that will understand them. In addition, Bush uses the bandwagon technique to strengthen his argument about freedom. Bush states, “Great nations of the world are moving toward democracy through the door to freedom.” He is persuading his audience that everyone is leaning towards freedom; everyone wants freedom, so this is what is most important. Lastly, Bush uses glittering generalities when he uses words like “prosperity” and “liberty”. He plants these ideas of “freedom” and “liberty” into the minds of the audience, but they are only vague words that do not explain anything. Bush uses these propaganda techniques to transmit to his citizens what is to come in his new presidency.
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Chana Kaplan
1/13/2016 12:43:10 am
I chose Ronald Regan second inaugural speech of 1984. Regan uses some propaganda techniques in the speech.
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