UNION OF WORDS: A History of Presidential Eloquence

Leaders use words as tools to build a relationship with the populace, and often it is their words that are remembered and trusted rather than their actions. U.S. presidents have ample opportunity to address the public and, through these speeches, they can inspire confidence, ease the pain of war or disaster, and establish a national direction--often all in one delivery. As Wayne Fields points out in Union of Words: A History of Presidential Eloquence, studying what presidents say is an historical tool. Covering presidents from Washington to Clinton, Fields details the context of their speeches, as well as the various approaches that run a fine line between clarity and confusion. For instance, the subtle difference between Ronald Reagan's simplistic and folksy tone and Richard Nixon's unintended condescension was not lost on listeners.

Quoting from State of the Union addresses, inaugurations, acceptance and farewell speeches, and other less ceremonious occasions, Fields examines how presidents attempt to unite American society through their choice of words and themes, often reinventing themselves in the process. Using colorful language that rivals many of the speeches highlighted in the book, Union of Words fuses elements of political science, history, and sociology to draw an intimate connection between the bully pulpit and the people.