William Gavin, a speechwriter for ex-President Richard Nixon, remarked that there isn’t really any point to inaugural address. Of course they help inspire the people, but what do they inspire them to think about? “The national desire to be inspired, to be uplifted, to be made to feel deeply, to be swept away every four years, is the mark of citizens who have forgotten that the major goal of political rhetoric should be to argue clearly, to make distinctions, not to blur them, as most eloquence does.” Gavin’s idea proposes that inaugural speeches can also make people forget about the political goals set for the president. “I think the greatest benefit our new president could make is to announce at his inaugural that he will not make State of the Union addresses before Congress (not to mention the assembled Supreme Court!) in the annual ritual of marathon, usually mindless, slogan-filled, applause-line speechifying, but instead send a written message.” Gavin hopes that Obama could meaningfully inspire the audience, and leave a long lasting impression to make people know and be aware that all political goals will be achieved.
I hope Obama will have a plan for improving the economy. Although he talks about raising taxes as a necessity for helping the economy, I hope they aren’t raised too much. People, these days, need money to eat.
I hope Obama will have a plan for improving the economy. Although he talks about raising taxes as a necessity for helping the economy, I hope they aren’t raised too much. People, these days, need money to eat.
