Table of Contents

1. The Problem of Presidential Rhetoric
2. The Linguistic Simplification of Presidential Rhetoric
3. The Anti-Intellectual Speechwriters
4. The Substantive Impoverishment of Presidential Rhetoric
5. Institutionalizing the Anti-Intellectual Presidency
6. Indicting the Anti-Intellectual Presidency
7. Reforming the Anti-Intellectual Presidency

Appendix I: The General Inquirer (GI)
Appendix II: Definitions of General Inquirer Categories Used
Appendix III: Annual Messages, 1790-2006
Appendix IV: Inaugural Addresses, 1789-2005
Appendix V: Presidential Speechwriters Interviewed
Appendix VI: The Flesch Readability Score

About the Author

Assistant Professor of Politics at Wesleyan University