Original scientific paper

"THERE IS ALWAYS A BETTER TOMORROW": PROVERBIAL RHETORIC IN INAUGURAL ADDRESSES BY AMERICAN PRESIDENTS DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

Wolfgang Mieder ; Deparptment of German and Russian, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, U.S.A.

Abstract

As a special rhetorical genre, the fourteen inaugural addresses by the
ten American presidents of the second half of the 20th century
represent a unique body of speeches. They are meant to be both
timely and timeless, and they are crafted with much attention to
elegant literary style. Yet, both Bible and folk proverbs play a
major role in these messages by new presidents, who wish to
communicate their political programs in an accessible fashion.
Wanting their words to be remembered, presidents have also
attempted to structure their memorable phrases on common
proverbs, literally assuring that some utterances have become
sententious or even proverbial.

Keywords

political rhetoric; proverbs

Hrčak ID:

33379

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/33379

Publication date:

4.6.2001.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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