The case for combat : how presidents persuade Americans to go to war

Resource Information

The work The case for combat : how presidents persuade Americans to go to war represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Sydney Jones Library, University of Liverpool. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

The case for combat : how presidents persuade Americans to go to war

Title remainder

how presidents persuade Americans to go to war

Statement of responsibility

Edward J. Lordan

Creator

• Lordan, Edward J

Subject

• Mass media -- Political aspects -- United States -- History
• Political oratory -- United States -- History
• Politics and war -- United States -- History
• Presidents -- United States -- History
• Presidents -- United States -- Language | History
• Rhetoric -- Political aspects -- United States -- History
• United States -- History, Military
• Communication in politics -- United States -- History

Language

eng

Summary

• From James Madison to George W. Bush, many American presidents have faced the challenge of convincing Americans to support their decisions to go to war. What rhetorical techniques have they employed to make their case for combat? Which messages have been most effective--and which approaches have been most ethical?
• In the United States, the decision to use military force typically is made by the president, even though it is actually the Congress that has the authority to commit the nation to war. It is also customary for the president to inform the American people when that decision has been made--and to attempt to convince the citizens to support their government in the decision to go to war
• The book traces the development of the rthetoric used by presidents to convince Americans to go to war, from the earliest days of the nation to the latest conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The author begins by examining the governmental issues related to the war decision, and then evaluates presidential speeches over the course of ten American conflicts to determine how effective--and ethical-presidents were in communicating with various publics. Taking neither a pronor anti-war stance, this text focuses entirely on the period leading up to the announcement of a formal conflict. --Book Jacket

Cataloging source

MiAaPQ

Dewey number

973.09/9

Index

index present

LC call number

JK511

LC item number

.L65 2010

Literary form

non fiction

Nature of contents

• dictionaries
• bibliography