The Barack Obama Inaugural Could Join Those of FDR, JFK, and Reagan Among Greats
By Robert Schlesinger, Thomas Jefferson Street blog
I've been writing, thinking, and speaking (in connection with the recently released paperback edition of White House Ghosts) a lot recently about great inaugural addresses and what they have in common. And I suspect—beyond the obvious reasons—that the stars may be lining up Tuesday for a historic address.
The most memorable inaugural addresses—and I am specifically thinking of FDR's first, JFK's, and Reagan's first—have three things in common: They are a meeting of man, message, and moment.
Man: FDR, JFK, and Reagan were each extraordinary speech-givers in their own right. Just as important, they all understood the importance of the "bully pulpit" and were deeply engaged in the crafting of not only their inaugurals but their speeches generally. Obama fits the bill on both counts.
Message: Aside from being well written, the speeches closely reflected the presidents (FDR's confident optimism, JFK's elegant youth, Reagan's pro-American, antigovernment message), giving them the power of authenticity. Moreover, they all reflected a sharp break from a recent past: FDR from the hapless Herbert Hoover and, more broadly, from his laissez-faire politics; JFK not only representing a new generation taking its place in leadership but also stirring the country from the sleepy complacence of the Eisenhower '50s; Reagan breaking from the Carter malaise and, more broadly, from the big-government politics of the New Deal.
Moment: A well-constructed, movingly delivered speech will be quickly forgotten if it does not resonate with the broader moment in which it is given. Context is critical, and the multiple problems facing the nation present Barack Obama with a perverse opportunity: The nation is primed for the kind of message the man is likely to deliver next week—tempered confidence in the country and a sharp break not simply from the policies of the Bush years but the hyperpartisanship that has colored the last couple of decades.
Man, moment, and message appear to be aligning.
- Read more by Robert Schlesinger.
- Read more from the Thomas Jefferson Street blog.
- Read more about the inauguration.
Tags: Inauguration | Barack Obama
Tools: 
Share
|
| Comments (2) | Print
Reader Comments
Congratulations Mr President
If my memory serves me right "All we have to fear is fear itself " is a qoute from FDR who was the author of the four freedoms and one of the greatest american orators in my lifetime....we have had a lot of good presidents but nobody can come close to FDR's style and power....and he does not come close to JFK or Ronald Reagan either......Steve.P.S..we will soon see whether he will tackle the energy problem in a responsible way and get congress off their seats and make our oil guys here produce, produce and produce or figure out a way to give them alittle more competition a term they hate....
All we have to fear is fear itself
When I worked for Raymond Moley, he told me the phrase was picked up by one of the speech writers from a newspaper advertisement by S. Klein, the discount department store at Union Square. Thought you might like to know this if Moley never spelled that out in his memoirs.
advertisement
