About this Blog

During the semester, I shall post course material and students will comment on it. Students are also free to comment on any aspect of the presidency, either current or historical. There are only two major limitations: no coarse language, and no derogatory comments about people at the Claremont Colleges.

The course syllabus is at
http://www.claremontmckenna.edu/pages/faculty/JPitney/gov102-14.html

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Sunday, November 8, 2009

The President Whose Words Once Soared

This is an interesting article that discusses about the effects of Obama's speeches on decision making and public opinion. It questions whether Obama's speech making skills are beginning to lose their influential touch, and whether he will be able to have his expected impact in policy making as he continues to give multiple speeches a day and the intended audience begins to tune out. The article also mentions the large increase in the frequency of presidential speech making over time, referencing specific president's such as Truman and Reagan. Because of this change, individual speeches are less influential in general, which can be detrimental to a president like Obama who strives on his ability to communicate.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/weekinreview/08baker.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

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