Rhetoric is an ancient aspect of oration. In fact there are three types of rhetoric that have been historically recognized. These types include the following "(a) deliberative-to persuade an audience (such as a legislature) to approve or disapprove a matter of public policy; (b) forensic-to achieve (as in a trial) condemnation or approval for a person's actions; (c) epideictic-"display rhetoric" used on ceremonial occasions (Oratory 2004)." For the purposes of this discussion we will concentrate on the first type of rhetoric-deliberative.

Using rhetoric to manipulate the political system is nothing new in American politics. However in more recent presidencies rhetoric has been used extensively to manipulate the political system. One such example is evident with Bill Clinton and the Monica Lewinsky fiasco. The former president used rhetoric to attempt to manipulate the political process and to avoid being impeached. Clinton went on national television and claimed that he did not have sexual relations with that woman. However, his attempts to persuade were futile and in the end he was impeached. He was then forced to go on television again, but he still did not admit to having sexual relationship instead he said that it was an inappropriate relationship. In the end the American public was presented with the evidence of this relationship and concluded that it was indeed sexual. In this case,

Indeed the history of rhetorical presidency is fascinating and demonstrates the evolution of rhetoric as it relates to presidents and the manner in which they communicate with the American public. The aforementioned dimensions of presidential rhetoric also show the impact of radio and eventually television on the way that presidents communicated with the public. Now that we have garnered a greater understanding of the history of the rhetorical presidency, let us discuss the use of rhetoric sway public opinion and manipulate the political system.

"although format changes and rhetorical changes have occurred in presidential rhetoric, the traditional/modern paradigm, seemingly so widely accepted, may warrant revision and reevaluation...there is no definitive evidence that suggests either that Theodore Roosevelt is the paramount father of the modern rhetorical presidency as suggested by Milkis (1998), Gamm and Smith (1998), or Kemell (1997) or that that individual is Woodrow Wilson (Tulis 1987). Although Roosevelt's speeches conform in almost every way to those before him and the style that had been established since the founding rhetorical style, Wilson cannot be credited solely with the massive changes that may have come simply as a necessary result of format change (Teten 2003, 333)."

The author goes on to report that Woodrow Wilson has often been credited for returning to the type of speech that the founders originally intended amongst the presidency, the legislative branch, and the American people (Teten 2003). However, historians are unclear as to whether Wilson or other presidents may be may be given credit for developing a new style and conduct as it relates to the presidency (Teten 2003). In any case it is evident that President Wilson and succeeding presidents returned to the word length and the public word usage levels that was present during the founding period and then also improved upon them (Teten 2003). The author also asserts that modern presidencies are similar to the rhetorical style of the founding presidents, as such they are not in congruence with the traditional rhetorical presidency (Teten 2003). On the other hand, it is difficult to know whether this may definitively designate the development of a "modern" rhetorical presidency or whether it is just characteristic of the rhetorical variation that is so common throughout presidential speech (Teten 2003).

History: Presidential Rhetoric Then and Now

Those that assert that Roosevelt was the father of the modern rhetorical presidency based there findings on the premise that he actually referred to the office of the president as the bully pulpit (Paulson 2002). In addition,

In addition to situating the astronauts' heroic statute in both distant and recent history, the president also turned his attention to America's youth. Recognizing that Christa McAuliffe's involvement had stimulated unusually wide interest in the shuttle program, particularly among students, Reagan addressed the "schoolchildren of America" directly. "I know it is hard to understand," he told them, "but sometime

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