
The Presidential Rhetoric of Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, and Calvin Coolidge
The Centennial of the Modern American Presidency
Ben Voth(Author)
Lexington Books (Publisher)
Published on 4. December 2023
Book
Hardback
274 pages
978-1-6669-1795-6 (ISBN)
Description
In this book, Ben Voth argues that the centennial of the modern presidency embodied in the rhetoric of presidents Wilson, Harding and Coolidge provides an opportunity to re-examine our conventional understanding of U.S. presidents and presidential rankings. In particular, this book focuses on Wilson, Harding, and Coolidge's rhetoric surrounding women's suffrage and the political treatment of Black Americans. Voth demonstrates that ideological considerations elevated Wilson too high in presidential rankings and sabotaged Harding to an unwarranted ethical floor. Scholars of communication, rhetoric, and American history will find this book of particular interest.
Reviews / Votes
This work crucially expands knowledge on how the construction of the presidency can be understood as a rhetorical enterprise. The communication of Presidents Wilson, Harding, and Coolidge is examined on its own terms, but Voth's investigation contributes so much more. The words of each president are shown to both affect and be affected by the situational factors that required presidential navigation. Especially compelling is how Voth's work makes the book current. The book interrogates how presidents are assessed with an eye towards issues like gender, race, and class. Additionally, this monograph challenges many assumptions that have been made in presidential assessments and invites the reader to consider context and the rhetorical contributions of Wilson, Harding, and Coolidge that may have been overlooked historically. This sense of relevant and urgent discovery pervades the entire work and compels the reader to reconsider both the leaders and the times that made them. It is a vital text that deserves consideration from scholars from multiple fields and from broader publics concerned with understanding the intersection of man and moment that rhetorically defined these presidencies. -- Bond Benton, Montclair State UniversityMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
3 b/w illustrations; 13 b/w photos; 5 tables
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
600 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-6669-1795-6 (9781666917956)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Ben Voth
The Presidential Rhetoric of Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, and Calvin Coolidge
The Centennial of the Modern American Presidency
E-Book
12/2023
1st Edition
Lexington Books
€94.99
Available for download

Ben Voth
The Presidential Rhetoric of Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, and Calvin Coolidge
The Centennial of the Modern American Presidency
E-Book
12/2023
1st Edition
Lexington Books
€94.99
Available for download
Person
Ben Voth is professor of rhetoric and director of debate and speech at Southern Methodist University in the Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences.
Content
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Understanding Presidential Rhetoric
Chapter 1: The Modern American President-Tulis' Argument
Chapter 2: A Rhetorical Biography of Woodrow Wilson
Chapter 3: The Presidential Rhetoric of Woodrow Wilson 1912-1916-The First Term
Chapter 4: The Presidential Rhetoric of Woodrow Wilson 1916-1920- The Second Term
Chapter 5: A Rhetorical Biography of Warren Harding
Chapter 6: The Presidential Rhetoric of Warren Harding 1920-1923
Chapter 7: A Rhetorical Biography of Calvin Coolidge
Chapter 8: Coolidge's Vice-Presidential Rhetoric to Presidential Rhetoric 1920-1924
Chapter 9: The Presidential Rhetoric of Calvin Coolidge 1925-1929
Chapter 10: The Rhetorical Composites of Wilson, Harding and Coolidge 1912-1929
Chapter 11: The Implications for Presidential Rhetorical Studies in the 21st Century
Chapter 12: Blue Privilege and the Presidential Rhetoric of Wilson, Harding and Coolidge
Bibliography
About the Author
Introduction: Understanding Presidential Rhetoric
Chapter 1: The Modern American President-Tulis' Argument
Chapter 2: A Rhetorical Biography of Woodrow Wilson
Chapter 3: The Presidential Rhetoric of Woodrow Wilson 1912-1916-The First Term
Chapter 4: The Presidential Rhetoric of Woodrow Wilson 1916-1920- The Second Term
Chapter 5: A Rhetorical Biography of Warren Harding
Chapter 6: The Presidential Rhetoric of Warren Harding 1920-1923
Chapter 7: A Rhetorical Biography of Calvin Coolidge
Chapter 8: Coolidge's Vice-Presidential Rhetoric to Presidential Rhetoric 1920-1924
Chapter 9: The Presidential Rhetoric of Calvin Coolidge 1925-1929
Chapter 10: The Rhetorical Composites of Wilson, Harding and Coolidge 1912-1929
Chapter 11: The Implications for Presidential Rhetorical Studies in the 21st Century
Chapter 12: Blue Privilege and the Presidential Rhetoric of Wilson, Harding and Coolidge
Bibliography
About the Author