Addressing the state of the union : the evolution and impact of the president's big speech / Donna R. Hoffman, Alison D. Howard.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hoffman, Donna R., 1969- author.

Howard, Alison D., 1970- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Presidents--United States--Messages.

Presidents.

Political oratory--United States.

Political oratory.

Speechwriting--United States.

Speechwriting.

United States--Politics and government.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (215 p.)

Place of Publication:

Boulder, Colorado : Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2006.

Summary:

The State of the Union is no ordinary speech on at least two accounts: it is a fundamental statement of how a president approaches current policy debates, and it is the one presidential address that US citizens are most likely to hear each year. Donna Hoffman and Alison Howard document the political significance and legislative impact or, often, lack of impact of this most visible of presidential communications. Exploring how and why the State of the Union address came to be a key tool in the exercise of presidential power, the authors outline the ways presidents use it to gain attention, to communicate with target audiences, and to make specific policy proposals. Their richly textured analysis offers a penetrating look at the complex relationship between contemporary presidential leadership and Congressional lawmaking.

Contents:

Title page; copyright page; Contents; Tables and Figures; Table 3.1 Summary of Legislative Requests, by Policy Area, in State of the Union Addresses, 1965-2002; Table 3.2 Presidential Requests for Congressional Action, by Policy Area, in State of the Union Addresses, 1965-2002; Table 3.3 Yearly Presidential Requests for Congressional Action, by Policy Area, in State of the Union Addresses, 1965-2002 (percentage); Table 3.4 Religious Content of State of the Union Addresses, 1965-2002; Figure 4.1 Credit Claiming in First-Term State of the Union Addresses

Figure 4.2 Credit Claiming in Second-Term State of the Union AddressesFigure 4.3 Credit Claiming in Lame-Duck State of the Union Addresses; Table 4.1 Presidential Requests for Congressional Action, by Number, in State of the Union Addresses; Table 5.1 Summary of Presidential Requests for Congressional Action in State of the Union Addresses; Table 5.2 Presidential Requests for Congressional Action, by Number and Success Rate, in State of the Union Addresses; Table 5.3 Postelection Success; Table 5.4 Second-Term Success; Table 5.5 Crisis Success

Table 5.6 Ranking of Presidential Success and Condition ofGovernmentAcknowledgments; ch1-Donning the Hat of Chief Legislator; Why Study State of the Union Addresses?; State of the Union Addresses as a Source of Data; Plan of the Book; Notes; ch2-The State of the Union Address Through Time; Origins of the Powers; Early Presidential Use of the Annual Message; The Era of the Written Message; A Return to the Oral Address; Cementing the Role of Chief Legislator; Embracing the Public; Conclusion: From a Duty to a Power; Notes; ch3-No Ordinary Speech

Reporting and Recommending: The Structure of the SUAThe Policymaking Rhetoric of the SUA; How the State of the Union Address Functions as Presidential Communication; Conclusion; Notes; ch4-The President as Chief Legislator in the State of the Union Address; Expanding the President's Legislative Powers; Becoming Chief Legislator in the Twentieth Century; The SUA and the President as Chief Legislator; Furthering Legislative Goals with the Policy Substance of the SUA; Types of State of the Union Addresses; Conclusion; Notes; ch5-Ask and Ye Shall Receive?; Legislative Success

Four Legislative Requests from State of the Union AddressesConclusion; Notes; ch6-Conclusion: Making Deeds Follow Words; Presidents and Their Words; Presidents and Their Deeds; Notes; Appendix: Criteria for Policy Areas; Bibliography; Index; About the Book

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 199-206) and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-62637-283-7