Modern Inaugural Addresses

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Modern Inaugural Addresses
A Critical Comparison of Carters, Reagans, H.W.
Bushs, Clintons, and W. Bushs Inaugural
Addresses.
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Modern Inaugural Addresses

• Carter, Reagan, Bush 41, Clinton, and Bush 43
• Addresses tend to avoid controversy and
  politically charged language.
• Share some common themes.
• Some specific types of statements are common.

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Types of Phrases Common in Modern Inaugurals

• Historical Reflective
• Nationalistic Platitude
• Then and Now
• Politely Critical
• Nationalistic Metaphor
• Ethos Borrowing

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Jimmy Carter

• Casual in comparison with the others.
• Quotes his high school teacher and the Bible.
• Uses at least nine references to spirituality or
  religion.
• Humble, recognizes own weaknesses.

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Reagans First Inaugural

• Spends majority of address discussing economic
  issues.
• Discusses more political issues more directly
  than any of the other seven Presidents.
• Makes strong statements about the economy, the
  size of the federal government, and military
  spending.

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Reagans Second Inaugural

• A directly related to previous speech
• Re-visits issues and problems brought up in
  previous address and discusses his actions on
  those issues.
• Is not as focused as previous speech, uses more
  of the standard types of phrases.
• More reflective, less direct, but still more on
  point than others.

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George H. W. Bush

• Begins with a prayer.
• Discusses some basic planned initiatives.
• Encourages Bi-Partisanship, addressing specific
  Democrats.
• Discusses the role of a President.

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William Jefferson Clinton

• Talks about renewal and rebirth. Encourages a
  new way of thinking.
• Uses Historical/Reflective statements more than
  the others.
• Encourages bi-partisanship
• Focuses more on global concerns and problems.

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Clintons Second Inaugural

• Stylistically very similar to first inaugural
• Discusses achievements of his first term.
• Brings up more policy goals for the second term.
• Reviews international concerns and issues, most
  are the same as previous address.

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George W. Bush

• Borrows introductory statement from Reagan.
• Most of introduction is composed of
  historical/reflective statements.
• Emphasizes national security, educational reform,
  personal responsibility.