A group of Elon students will be paying close attention when George W. Bush delivers his inaugural address Jan. 20. Students enrolled in a three-week Winter Term political science course, titled “Media, Rhetoric and The Presidency,” wrote sample inaugural addresses as part of a project which examined the importance of inaugurals to new presidential administrations. Professor Laura Roselle says her students spent hours studying past Bush speeches, as well as previous inaugurals, before drafting their own. The speeches were turned in to Roselle Jan. 18.
“I wanted them to understand the different level on which a president speaks during the inauguration. Presidents work hard to craft a speech which will help unify the country, and at the same time, legitimize their policies,” Roselle says.
Students were asked to capture not just the substance of a potential Bush speech, but also the style. “I think most of them hit it right on the head; Bush really could say some of these things Saturday,” Roselle says.
Sophomore Chris Gaylor believes Bush will emphasize moral responsibility in his address. “We must give our children a spirit of moral courage because their character is our destiny,” Gaylor writes. “I will lead our nation toward a culture that values life. A hundred years from now, this must not be remembered as an age rich in possessions and poor in ideals.”
Unity is a theme which students believe Bush will stress. “Trust that I will work hard to improve the lives of all people of this land,” writes senior Carolyn Lampila. “I will heal this nation of the partisan bickering, name-calling and anger, and represent all citizens.” And sophomore Jane Williams believes Bush will conclude his speech with an allusion to his Texas roots. “I was once the leader of a lone star. Today I unify 50 equal stars for a bright future.”
Common themes from Bush throughout the campaign will have a prominent role in his inaugural address, students predict. Gaylor looks for Bush to reassure the nation’s senior citizens, speaking of them in a term he is fond of using. “We often speak of the Greatest Generation, those who grew up during the Great Depression and won the Second World War. As we unite together, we can never turn our backs on those who have made this country so great,” Gaylor writes.
Michael Jensen thinks Bush will meet issues such as tax relief head-on. “No hard working American should be giving more than a third of his check to the federal government,” writes Jensen.
-30-