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About the work

The Rhetorical Presidency (The Rhetorical Presidency) explores how American presidents have shaped public opinion and policy through the strategic use of rhetoric, media engagement, and symbolic leadership, reframing the office as a platform for persuasion. This work, by Jeffrey Tulis, illuminates the historical evolution of presidential communication and its implications for democratic governance, offering a rigorous analysis that remains highly relevant in contemporary politics. The 13-digit ISBN is [9780691022956].

Summary

Tulis interrogates the traditional view of the presidency as a neutral constitutional institution and argues that the office has progressively adopted a rhetorical mode that elevates symbolic action, audience address, and media spectacle. He maps how presidents from the early republic to modern times have used public rhetoric to mobilize support, manage crises, and legitimacy, often blurring the lines between political leadership and performance. The book combines historical case studies with theoretical insight to reveal how rhetoric shapes policy outcomes and constrains or enables executive power.

About the author

Jeffrey Tulis (author) is a distinguished political scientist known for his influential analysis of executive power, rhetoric, and democratic theory. A professor and scholar whose work has shaped debates on institutional design and presidential communication, Tulis combines historical scholarship with normative inquiry to assess how rhetorical practices affect governance and accountability. His research stands as a cornerstone in the study of how rhetorical strategies influence public opinion and policy in democratic systems.

In brief

The book reveals that presidential rhetoric is not merely embellishment but a fundamental instrument shaping governance, legitimacy, and power in American democracy.

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