Date of Completion
12-12-2013
Embargo Period
12-12-2018
Keywords
Presidency, Presidential Rhetoric, Discourse, American Political Thought, Political Culture, Civil Religion, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon
Major Advisor
Jeffrey Dudas
Associate Advisor
Cyrus Zirakzadeh
Associate Advisor
Vincent Moscardelli
Field of Study
Political science
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Open Access
Campus Access
Abstract
This project explores the role of presidential discourse in shaping American politics during a pivotal moment of national introspection. Focusing on President Ford, I illuminate the role of presidential discourse in calming the tumultuous political climate following Watergate and show how Ford strengthened the relationship between the American public and their political institutions. The project concludes that President Ford accomplished this by initiating a new covenant with the American people. Although focused on Ford, the dissertation offers valuable insights regarding how scholars assess and interpret presidential discourse and rhetorical leadership. The project also has important implications for understanding how modern presidential speech functions within political culture.
Recommended Citation
Reger, Alexander E., "Discursive Leadership and the Imaginative Vision: The Presidency of Gerald R. Ford" (2013). Doctoral Dissertations. 268.
https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/dissertations/268