Teddy Roosevelt (US President 1901-09) famously coined the term "bully pulpit"- referring to the White House, the presidency, as a great platform or a great place to advocate and to persuade. (At that time, the word "bully" as an adjective meant excellent, superb, or great.) When TR said this, it was literally true: an audience had to be near the platform, within actual hearing distance of the spoken voice: since then, the bully pulpit has been extended by new inventions - loudspeakers (1919), radio (1920s), television (1950s), internet and worldwide satellite systems (1990s.) Today, national leaders have instant, direct access to millions of people -- many illiterate, and most without any training analyzing sophisticated persuasion techniques -- an imbalance and concentration of power relatively new in human history.

What's wrong with
having a bully pulpit?

Nothing, perhaps, as long as everyone realizes it. But, every person starts out as a child -- with no knowledge or awareness of techniques that are often known or assumed by a well informed adult.

Presidents are very busy. So they do need skilled aides (advisors, experts, speech writers), modern techniques (tv, teleprompters). Yet, such help greatly builds up the image of being an authority, of being trustworthy, and "on your side."

From the White House, the State House, and City Hall often the only news is "good news." But, such a one-sided view of a leader or a policy may not be best for a free democracy which always has many other views.

To counter-balance concentrated power in a bully pulpit, a free democracy needs:

Education within the schools and within the family.Find out more http://faculty.govst.edu/pa

Legislation to ensure full disclosures, accountability by all branches of government; laws to protect the freedom of critics, and minority views.

Understanding of the role of a "free press" in a democracy is to function as a critic, as a watch dog not a lap dog.

The Bully Pulpit

What all citizens in a democracy should know about the persuasion power of a President:

• Presidents have speechwriters (ghostwriters) who write their speeches.

• Presidents often use teleprompters (one-way glass, invisible to onlookers) to give the illusion they are speaking effortlessly and intelligently without notes (not simply reading the lines written by others).

•Presidents have a huge staff and budget for public relations including not only for the White House, but also for every subdivision within the Executive Branch.
For example, try: whitehouse.gov | usa.gov | fedword.gov | defenselink.mil | dvidshub.net

• Presidents often identify their own plans and their own Administration with the nation. Thus, any criticism, dissent, or disagreement with the President -- or the current Administration's policy -- is often attacked as being unpatriotic, as being disloyal to the country.

• Presidents are in control of the interviews, the Q & A sessions, and of granting access to the press.

The White House Press Corps is a very small group of approved reporters, with limited access time. Reporters who ask tough questions are unlikely to be called often; friendly reporters often ask easy questions which allow the Prez to talk about policies favored. Presidents often use the press simply as "message multipliers" -- to repeat the PR versions from the White House writers.

Be disillusioned, but not discouraged.
Lose your illusions, but not your courage.
--- Hugh Rank, Persuasion Analysis