Modern Inaugural Addresses

A Critical Comparison of

Carter’s, Reagan’s, H.W. Bush’s,

Clinton’s, and W. Bush’s Inaugural

Addresses.

Modern Inaugural Addresses

• Carter, Reagan, Bush 41’, Clinton, and Bush 43’

• Addresses tend to avoid controversy and politically charged language.

• Share some common themes.• Some specific types of statements

are common.

Types of Phrases Common in Modern Inaugurals

•Historical Reflective

•Nationalistic Platitude

•Then and Now

•Politely Critical

•Nationalistic Metaphor

•Ethos Borrowing

Jimmy Carter

•Casual in comparison with the others.

•Quotes his high school teacher and the Bible.

•Uses at least nine references to spirituality or religion.

•Humble, recognizes own weaknesses.

Reagan’s First Inaugural

•Spends majority of address discussing economic issues.

•Discusses more political issues more directly than any of the other seven Presidents.

•Makes strong statements about the economy, the size of the federal government, and military spending.

Reagan’s Second Inaugural

•A directly related to previous speech

•Re-visits issues and problems brought up in previous address and discusses his actions on those issues.

•Is not as focused as previous speech, uses more of the standard types of phrases.

•More reflective, less direct, but still more on point than others.

George H. W. Bush

•Begins with a prayer.

•Discusses some basic planned initiatives.

•Encourages Bi-Partisanship, addressing specific Democrats.

•Discusses the role of a President.

William Jefferson Clinton

•Talks about ‘renewal’ and ‘rebirth.’ Encourages a new way of thinking.

•Uses Historical/Reflective statements more than the others.

•Encourages bi-partisanship

•Focuses more on global concerns and problems.

Clinton’s Second Inaugural

•Stylistically very similar to first inaugural

•Discusses achievements of his first term.

•Brings up more policy goals for the second term.

•Reviews international concerns and issues, most are the same as previous address.

George W. Bush •Borrows introductory statement from Reagan.

•Most of introduction is composed of historical/reflective statements.

•Emphasizes national security, educational reform, personal responsibility.