Speeches, Presidential

Presidential speeches are in their most basic form, verbal events that occur when the chief executive decides to communicate with the public. For most of American history, these speeches take the form of prepared addresses by a president and communicated to the people. Presidential speeches touch upon a wide variety of interrelated topics ranging from campaigning to governing to bolstering public support. When presidents campaign for either themselves or others, they are seeking the public to support themselves and members of their party for elected office.

Perhaps the most famous of all presidential speeches are the inaugural addresses. After taking the oath of office, each president gives a speech in which the president sets out a vision for America. These speeches are also instrumental in setting ...