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Contemporary American Public Discourse

A Collection of Speeches and Critical Essays, Third Edition

Halford Ross Ryan

$30.95 list, 384 pages

10-digit ISBN: 0-88133-629-7

13-digit ISBN: 978-0-88133-629-0

© 1992

“The speeches included are significant American political addresses that provide a comprehensive variety of types of speeches. The essays represent a number of standard critical methodologies crucial for the study of rhetorical criticism. Professors and students are indeed fortunate to have an anthology of critical essays that include such classics as Halford Ross Ryan, Kurt W. Ritter, and David Ling’s work. It is encouraging to see a text that exemplifies the character of the true rhetorical scholar and critic who is grounded in the history of rhetoric as opposed to individuals with some creative ability to choose a speech that accommodates a predetermined or assigned methodology. This is the best text I have seen for the study of rhetorical criticism as well as American public address.”  — Barbara J. Valenzuela, Thiel College

“My students were uniform in their praise of the book.”  — Jerry Butler, University of Arkansas, Little Rock

“An excellent collection. Students should find situational analyses provided by Ryan, Gashe, and others particularly helpful.”  — Thomas Fernandez, University of Texas, Tyler

“I love the book. It possesses the depth and breadth I look for in a supplemental reader.”  — Kevin T. Jones, Bradley University

“Ryan picked great people and great essays.”  — Rick Pucci, Penn State University

“The communication profession is well served by this excellent edition of rhetorical artifacts. Ryan’s editorial comments aid the student to see and understand rhetorical processes.”  — Carl Kell, Western Kentucky University

Table of Contents

1. A Moral Necessity for Birth Control (Margaret Sanger)

2. On His Ninetieth Birthday (Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.)

3. First Inaugural Address (Franklin D. Roosevelt)

4. Roosevelt’s First Inaugural: A Study of Technique (Halford Ross Ryan)

5. War Address (Franklin D. Roosevelt)

6. Every Man a King (Huey P. Long)

7. The Analysis of Demagogic Discourse: Huey Long’s “Every Man a King” Address (Paul C. Gaske)

8. A Third Party (Charles E. Coughlin)

9. The Struggle for Human Rights (Eleanor Roosevelt)

10. Far Eastern Policy (Harry S Truman)

11. Harry S Truman: A Misdirected Defense for MacArthur’s Dismissal (Halford Ross Ryan)

12. Don’t Scuttle the Pacific (Douglas MacArthur)

13. President Harry S Truman and General Douglas MacArthur: A Study of Rhetorical Confrontation (Bernard K. Duffy)

14. My Side of the Story (Richard M. Nixon)

15. A Value Analysis of Richard Nixon’s 1952 Campaign-Fund Speech (Henry E. McGuckin, Jr.)

16. The War in Vietnam (Richard M. Nixon)

17. Vietnam (Frank Church)

18. Cambodia (Richard M. Nixon)

19. The Serious Situation in Little Rock (Dwight D. Eisenhower)

20. Speech to Greater Houston Ministerial Association (John F. Kennedy)

21. Senator John F. Kennedy Encounters the Religious Question: “I Am Not the Catholic Candidate for President” (David Henry)

22. Inaugural Address (John F. Kennedy)

23. Arms Quarantine of Cuba (John F. Kennedy)

24. The Presidency and Speeches on International Crises: Repeating the Rhetorical Past (Theodore Otto Windt, Jr.)

25. I Have a Dream (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

26. Gulf of Tonkin (Lyndon B. Johnson)

27. The Right to Vote (Lyndon B. Johnson)

28. LBJ’s Voting Rights Address: Adjusting Civil Rights to the Congress and the Congress to Civil Rights (Halford Ross Ryan)

29. To Mississippi Youth (Malcolm X)

30. Eulogy on Sir Winston Churchill (Adlai E. Stevenson)

31. Television Statement to the People of Massachusetts (Edward M. Kennedy)

32. A Pentadic Analysis of Senator Edward Kennedy’s Address to the People of Massachusetts, July 25, 1969 (David A. Ling)

33. Television News Coverage (Spiro T. Agnew)

34. For the Equal Rights Amendment (Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm)

35. Democratic Convention Keynote Address (Barbara C. Jordan)

36. Barbara Jordan’s Keynote Address: The Juxtaposition of Contradictory Values (Wayne N. Thompson)

37. The Panama Canal Treaties (Jimmy Carter)

38. Keynote Address (Mario Cuomo)

39. The Rhetorical Dynamics of Mario Cuomo’s 1984 Keynote Address: Situation, Speaker, Metaphor (David Henry)

40. The Rainbow Coalition (Jesse Jackson)

41. A Time for Choosing (Ronald Reagan)

42. Ronald Reagan and “The Speech”: The Rhetoric of Public Relations Politics (Kurt W. Ritter)

43. Lebanon and Grenada (Ronald Reagan)

44. Apologia on Iranian Arms Sales (Ronald Reagan)

45. Tufts University Commencement Speech (Gloria Steinem)

46. Keynote Address (Ann Richards)

47. Inaugural Address (George Bush)

48. The Brady Bill (Sarah Brady)

49. Choices and Change (Barbara Bush)