ABSTRACT
This chapter examines one manifestation—presidential speechmaking. Speeches are not pseudoevents if they are substantive, that is, if they provide the public with useful information regarding what the president actually intends to do. The chapter discusses however, that while presidents have been speaking more often, they have been addressing individuals at staged events, most often ceremonial and political events. Washington-based speeches were designed for a national audience, and only 7.9 percent of all speeches were directed at a national audience. So, while presidents up through Reagan were speaking more frequently, relatively few of their speaking engagements occurred before a national audience. In addition, early in the modern presidency, speeches were more likely to be designed for policy purposes. As public speaking has become more important in the modern presidency, the role of the president in the political system has also changed.
