Examines Mario Cuomo's keynote address at the 1984 Democratic National Convention as a case study in rhetorical interaction. Argues that the keynote setting presented both generic and immediate constraints, which Cuomo resolved through a rhetorical strategy rooted in metaphor as an argumentative technique. (MM)

Discusses the ritual Speech on the Address in terms of its function to preserve stability in the English government. Suggests it was not strictly a genre or subgenre. (MS)

Considers Washington's first inaugural in light of the historical and functional contingencies that generated it. Describes personal, situational, and rhetorical influences on Washington. (MS)

Analyzes President Johnson's casting of political policy into evocative symbols, the invention and operation of those rhetorical forms, the resulting conflict over the symbolization of the Vietnam War, and the theoretical and ethical implications of those rhetorical choices. (PD)

A test of the effects of a variation in the order of presentation of oral statements. (CH)

Presents evidence of a correspondence between the political perspective a speaker advocates and the types of rhetorical strategies the speaker employs. The rhetoric of radicals, liberals, and conservatives indicates that the political ideas these three groups of speakers share are reflected in consistent stylistic and argumentative strategies.…

Offers theoretical distinctions among the terms sacred, myth, ideology, and political myth. Analyzes representative speeches and debates on imperialism in the United States and Great Britain and contends that the distinction between the two rhetorical typologies concurrently existing in each nation account for the dominance of imperialist rhetoric…

Suggests that a career in communication necessitates a strong personal commitment because communication professionals deal in human choices. Illustrates language-choice interaction by examining the rhetoric of those who have confronted difficult choices, including Ben Franklin, Abe Lincoln, Stephen Douglas, and Ms. Waterbury. (MH)

Manipulated speaker sex and "sick" jokes/no-jokes in printed speeches are evaluated by college students. "Sick" jokes generally resulted in negative evaluations of both speech and speaker; "sick" jokes may be enjoyed in certain social situations but should probably be left out of formal speeches. (PD)

Data indicate that speakers with relatively high ethos (college professors) can raise their ratings on wittiness/funniness and sense of humor--without damaging their credibility--by making fun of their professional fields, provided they do not at the same time humorously disparage the values of the audience. (PD)

An Historical Analysis of black speeches which indicates the failure of rhetorical appeals to values to effectively persuade an audience. (DD)

Tested the persuasiveness of three extended concluding metaphors: sex, death, and sex-death. (Speech topic for high school students was the anti-legalization of marihuana.) Results indicated that attitudes changed more toward the position advocated in the speech when it contained a concluding sex metaphor than when it did not. (PD)

This study (1) demonstrates the negative impact of profanity in a public speech and (2) sheds light on the conceptualization of the term "rating error." Implications for classroom teaching are discussed. (PD)

Discusses Barbara Jordan's keynote address at the 1976 Democratic National Convention which succeeded in pleasing the immediate audience of partisans while not offending the general audience. The success is attributed to Jordan's ability to appeal to two seemingly contradictory sets of values. (JMF)