Bill Clinton: Rhetorical Settings, Strategies, and Paradoxical Popular

Bill Clinton Rhetorical Settings, Strategies, and Paradoxical PopularityEveryone knows what he did with Monica Lewinsky. They watched him shake his find and lie to their face on national television. They heard his promise to be forthcoming with the truth, and head about how he patiently hair-split his way by dint of four hours of grand jury testimony. Why is he still here(predicate)? The answer lies in a combination of Clintons rhetorical dodging and extrinsic circumstances. Bill Clintons rhetoric is two-fold. His problem is unique in that he must communicate in two different forumsin a public context to the American people and in a legal context to the hearthstone and Senate. This presents some unique problems. Although the two argonnas ar different, they ar mixedwhat the President says publicly can be held against him legally, and what he says in court is presented to the public through the media. Clintons challenge is to modernize rhetoric that is optimum for the athleti c field it is delivered in, but compatible with the other arenas rhetoric as well. In both situations, Clinton is always in control of what he is saying neither reporters nor jurors can put him on the run, or catch him in a misunderstanding he cannot adequately explain, refute, or deny. Although the tone of his public and legal rhetoric sometimes conflict, they are effective nonetheless. We will begin by examining his public rhetoric. The purpose of Clintons public rhetoric is to win the support of the American people, relative to the Republicans and the autarkical Counsel. The support of the people will ensure the eventual cooperation of the House and Senatewho are directly responsible to the public for their jobs. Because Clinton is speaking to a broad and... ...tp//www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/resources/1998/clinton.jones/C-SPAN Website http//www.c-span.org/ function/executive/ probe/articles.htmC-SPAN President Clintons Testimony Text http//www.c-span.org/ betoken/executive/investi gation/video_text/C-SPAN Presidential Testimony http//www.c-span.org/guide/executive/investigation/0998.aspgj1C-SPAN 81 Questions to the President http//www.c-span.org/guide/executive/investigation/clinton112798.htmC-SPAN White House Trial Memorandum to the Senate http//www.c-span.org/guide/executive/investigation/whtrialmemorandum.htmGallup Poll Websitehttp//www.gallup.com/ crownwork/indicators/indmedia.asphttp//www.gallup.com/poll/trends/ptopinion.asphttp//www.gallup.com/poll/trends/ptrateecon.aspHouse of Representatives Directory http//clerkweb.house.gov/mbrcmtee/mbrcmtee.htm