How a U.S. president utilizes communication and develops his skills is often thought of as one of the most important parts of a presidency. Communication not only allows a president to ensure that his ideas are properly heard and interpreted, but it also allows him to gain valuable support from both the public and from other entities within the government. Without proper communication, a president such as Harry S. Truman is likely to find it difficult to accomplish his goals during his time in office. There are many types of communication that are often utilized when a president wishes to do so. Today, these range from giving speeches to using television and internet to spread ideas. However, when Truman took office in 1945 and became the first president to have a speech televised, the most popular ways to communicate were in-person and through newspapers and radio. Though, Truman did at times make use of the television, he more often utilized the same types of communication that his predecessors before him had used – preferring to speak to the public through the radio rather than through the television.
This might have been because television was still a new way to communicate, but it is also possible that Truman simply felt more comfortable communicating through the radio rather than through the television. Truman was not known for being the most charismatic and was further disadvantaged by the fact that he had poor eyesight, thick glasses, and had a Midwestern
At this time period of time, President Harry Truman needs to take into account that the Japanese are unlikely to surrender without some heavy persuasion. The Japanese have already attacked at Pearl Harbor, and there is no sign that they will stop anytime soon. Japan is attempting to create more allies to form a strong and dangerous coalition that will threaten the United States and its allies. Fortunately, scientists in the United States have been working on an atomic bomb and now would be the perfect opportunity to utilize it to end the Japanese empire. Rather than authorizing a ground invasion of Japan or negotiating the Japanese terms of surrender, President Truman should use the atomic bomb against Japan to cause a swift surrender of the Japanese empire for the purposes of maintaining global power and preserving the lives of as many American soldiers as possible.
On November 3rd, 1969, President Nixon gave “The Great Silent Majority” speech. He gave the speech on a video and broadcasted it to the whole United States. It was recorded in the White House which is in Washington, D.C. President Nixon was a great speaker who used many ways to persuade people to agree with him. President Nixon was trying to explain the stance he will have on the war in Vietnam and to calm the U.S. citizens down. There are three main ways of persuasion. President Nixon used all of them. They are ethos, pathos, and logos. There are many examples of when he uses them in his speech.
The Truman Show is centred on a man-made island called SeaHaven where a man named Truman Burbank has been televised without his knowledge since birth. The show is a 24 hour live tv show where every aspect of Truman’s life is shown. As Truman grows older he begins to notice unsual events that leads him to believe that there is something incongruent with what people are telling him and what he experiences in his day to day life. As Truman begins to test the boundaries he realizes that the town seems to revolve around him and his desire to escape comes to an all time high. Eventually Truman begins on a journey to escape his virtual reality. Despite the boundaries that the director throws at him he eventually escapes and will try to find his way in the real world. This movie made me sympathize for Truman being that he has no privacy and is oblivious to his lack of freedom. This movie shows how it is possible to create an “ideal” community and how New Urbanism can be created and maintained.
He was an anti-communist. He was caught using campaign funds all for himself. He held the, televised, Checkers Speech where he told the world how he spent his money. Another person who was interested in televised occasions was Eisenhower. He would pre-tape his speeches so he would look like a calm put together man. He would dumb down his responses so people would feel closer to him and relate. Not only that but when he would completely deflect his answers towards people in interviews and other televised occasions. Televisions brought politics into the home, so people could watch and discuss from the comfort of their
In August of 1945, the world’s first atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima in
One of FDR 's strong points was rhetoric. He used it as an effective means during his terms to communicate with the American people. Previously, rhetoric held little importance for presidents, but after FDR and the beginning of the modern presidency rhetoric was an important element of the job. As Greenstein says, 'FDR [provided] a benchmark for his successors (22). He also changed the context in which speeches were given. When past presidents, such as Lincoln, gave speeches, they were to commemorate things, such as graveyards and memorials. When FDR began his presidency, he changed that. His speeches were not just to commemorate things, they were to inform the public, as well as explain things to them. For example, when FDR
As stated in an article from Newsmakers, Ronald Reagan was known as “the Great Communicator” because he was able to clearly speak to the public due to his unusual experiences before presidency (Newsmakers). Every president of the United States has a unique story, but Reagan possessed many remarkable characteristics. Today, many people recognize Reagan as a former president, but few know about the struggles he faced and his success before presidency; his political party transition, handling economic fluctuation, and his attitude throughout his terms in office made him an unforgettable political figure.
After rising to the presidency in the beginning of the Twentieth century, Theodore Roosevelt became the first American president to devote his presidency to galvanizing public opinion. When Roosevelt took office, he did not have the benefit of being able to utilize his successors’ tools such as speechwriters utilized by Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge, or press secretaries utilized by Herbert Hoover. Instead, Roosevelt shaped his image and the public by creating and utilizing new methods of spin, such as “touring widely,
As Vice President, Harry S. Truman seldom saw President Roosevelt, therefore acquiring no updates on the progress of the atomic bomb or the developing predicament with Communist Russia. After Roosevelt’s unexpected death, these dilemmas as well as an array of wartime problems became Truman’s to resolve as the new president. When he came into office on April 2nd, 1945, World War II was nearing its end, leaving Europe in absolute chaos. Truman had to search for ways to aid the country in picking up the pieces from war. Thus, in a foreign and domestic sense, he inherited a country in total turmoil and disorientation. Americans at home still could not feel the devastation caused by the war, which ultimately contributed to the failure of
The most obvious way President Reagan delivers rhetoric to his audience is through his own ethos. Ronald Reagan wasn’t just your average president; he was a communicator. Reagan started his career as a sports announcer and continued on as an actor, which led to his later career in state and national politics. By the time President Reagan had delivered his address, the president had been in the spotlight his entire career and was looked up to worldwide. He had established an extrinsic ethos well before delivering this speech. By being the president of the free world, Reagan’s audience
Abraham Lincoln, Harry Truman, and John F Kennedy were all highly accomplished U.S presidents that used their power in different ways. The use of shared power in presidents was what connected them to the wants and needs of their country, and helped guide their decisions. Abraham Lincoln was in office as president during the Civil War and slavery. Lincoln chose to abuse his power, and act unconstitutionally and against the rights, wants, and needs of his country. Harry Truman was in office as president during World War 2.
This started off by just a newspaper . Early politicians saw the value and the importance of basing campaigns around this important media device. The newspapers back then were extremely bias due to the rich only being able to read and then publishers were apart of this upper class. Even then many of the readers could not vote due to not owning property. Another source of bias came from the fact that newspapers were openly partisan. The use of newspapers could also affect politicians in an very positive or negative way. With the relatively newfound use of this media format, politicians had to watch what they said or else if an newspaper or leaflet came upon the incriminating thing or items it could spread like wildfire. Another tool of the media that is accessible …. Some presidents found a key way to wrap up the media around them in support. This was how the “Rhetorical Presidency” was born. Since the very beginning, presidents have struggled to influence Congress to pass their agenda. George Washington, in a fit of frustration after delivering his policy proposals, vowed never to go back to Congress. Presidents sought to use the media to spread their plan if congress did not approve. They would bring it to the
Over seventy years ago, one may have thought that one of most courageous, hard-working, honest, and loyal men was sworn into office as the President of the United States. Harry S. Truman was considered “One Tough Son –of-a-Bitch” due to his expertise, not because of his ordinary, basic look or lack of college education. No matter how people perceived him, Truman had industrial-strength; he stood his ground on his beliefs. His life would take him one of the most elaborate rides one could experience. Truman’s formative years taught him endurance, his life in the war taught him courage, and presidency taught him resilience.
The introduction of mass media, especially electronic media, has had a huge impact on the role of the president. Both the press and the president now depend on one another for existence. Richard Nixon was the first president to effectively use television. By making public appearances on TV, talking about his policies, his economic plans and his personal beliefs, Nixon garnered the support of the American public (PBS). By personifying himself for the American public Nixon made himself the first president elected for his character rather than a party for its views, thus changing the face of politics forever. Eisenhower was the first to let the press into the White House and found himself arranging his workday around the press so that he could make important announcements in time for the evening news, thus informing the American people immediately about what was going on. Kennedy, above all, was able to use television to his advantage. He showed that charisma, and amiability was the most essential thing in a TV president. The American people watched Kennedy and for the first time felt that they personally knew and liked their president. This changed the media as it caused people to believe in and trust their president implicitly (Museum Archives). The presidential debate in 1992 furthered this idea. Bill Clinton and George Bush met with a group of average Americans who questioned them. After this, morning talk shows, and
President Ronald Reagan was nicknamed “The Great Communicator.” Personal thoughts are that Reagan was one of the great leaders of modern times. The former president was able to change the status quo of government policies and public opinion through effective communication. As a leader, Reagan was guided by qualities of passion and genuine concern for the people always speaking from the heart. It was Reagan’s sincere desire to serve the country through his leadership bringing about economic growth with needed adjustments to government spending. Reagan’s ability to speak with conviction and authority helped people to understand the need for change. Using communication skills is an aspect of leadership that can make a difference in whether individuals are motivated to follow or resist.