Books by Halford R. Ryan

Harry Truman is famous for his plain speaking, and his presidential rhetoric is evaluated in this reference in terms of his most important speeches relating to the Cold War, the Korean War, and themes that helped him win a remarkable election victory in 1948. This in-depth analysis of his major presidential speeches, collection of his most important addresses, chronology of speeches during his presidency, and bibliography will give students, scholars, and professionals in communications and mass media, political science, and American history new insights into this interesting president and important period in American history.Professor Ryan examines Presidents Truman's speeches and addresses from 1945 to 1953, closely showing how his Truman Doctrine speech and Inaugural Address sounded the leit motifs of Manichaean, SuperNation rhetoric that innervated the Cold War. His rhetoric on the Korean War burdened his presidency because it held to an early military definition of the war. His exchanges with General Douglas MacArthur were oblique rather than frontal attacks, which presented further problems. His whistle-stop election campaign against Thomas E. Dewey and his valedictory address are used also to assess his rhetorical themes and expression and their effectiveness. The chronology and bibliography are framed also to help researchers dealing with materials in a presidential library.

The book also contains a bibliography of works by and about Henry Ward Beecher, texts of his important speeches and sermons, and a Chronology of Sermons and Speeches that is keyed to Beecher's various publications.

Ryan examines the mechanics of a typical Roosevelt speech, considering such factors as intonation, rhythm, and choice of metaphor, as well as Roosevelt's incomparable body language--these are the best parts of the book.

This first systematic critique on the rhetoric of 21 presidents shows how political constraints shaped rhetoric and how oratory shaped politics.