The cornerstone of the public presidency is the ability of the White House to influence, shape, and even manipulate public opinion. Ultimately, although much has been written about presidential leadership of opinion, we are still left with many questions pertaining to the success of presidential opinion leadership efforts throughout the modern presidency. What is still missing is a systematic, sequential approach to describe empirical trends in presidential leadership of public opinion in order to expand on important scholarly queries, to resolve empirical disputes in the literature, and to check the accuracy of conventional political wisdom on how, when, and under what conditions presidents lead public opinion. In The Provisional Pulpit, Brandon Rottinghaus develops a simple theory of presidential leadership, arguing that presidential messages are more likely to be received if there are fewer countervailing agents or messages to contradict the president’s message. He concludes, based upon the findings presented in this book, that the “bully pulpit” is largely provisional for modern presidents. The more the president can avoid the political echo chamber associated with partisan battles or communications, the better the chance the president has to lead public opinion. The Provisional Pulpit adds an important layer of understanding to the issue of how and under what conditions presidents lead public opinion. All modern presidents clearly attempt to lead public opinion; often, due to factors outside their control, they fail. This book is an exploration into how and when they succeed.

This book analyzes the image of the U.S. presidential administrations from 2001 to 2011 and their political image in foreign countries. The authors focus on the European perception of U.S. presidencies, specifically during the terms of George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Political image is decisive in electoral victory and, more often, is central in the conquest and maintenance of political power. Political image is also highly relevant because of the credibility of the United States on the international stage, resulting in gained confidence and the celebration of profitable alliances. This study of political image has a crucial interdisciplinary framework fordisciplines such as communication, political science, and international relations.

Although liturgical tradition in Reformed churches is a frequently probed subject, information in certain aspects of the field is limited. To alleviate this situation, Dr. Hageman places major emphasis in this book on some lesser known areas of Reformed worship. At the same time he touches on highlights of Reformed liturgical history, particularly the relative significance of sermon and sacrament. The importance of Zurich's contribution to Reformed tradition is comparatively unrecognized. As Dr. Hageman states, Know it or not, down to relatively recent times the Reformed churches have, practically speaking, acknowledged Zwingli as their liturgical master. This he attributes in part to the fact that when Calvin came to Geneva five years after Zwingli's death, he found the Zurich point of view too firmly entrenched there to be materially changed. Additional territory unfolds with an examination of the dark age of Reformed Protestantism - the period between the closing of the Westminster Assembly of Divines and the advent of Schleiermacher. An impartial observer surveying the liturgical life of late eighteenth century Reformed churches could have justifiably concluded that it was nearly finished. Pointing out that signs of recovery were already visible, the author notes that these churches were on the verge of a liturgical development that was to prove more productive than any in their history. Dr. Hageman concludes with a discussion of theories which should undergird and test any liturgical developments in Reformed churches. A primary factor here is the principle that pulpit and table are inseparable parts of a single whole. He emphasizes, however, that if the Reformed churches really understand their position, they have every reason for being liturgically fresh and creative. Their liturgy must seek to establish models, not rigid requirements. Concise yet comprehensive, this treatment of liturgical history is valuable for pastors and students of church history. Concerned laymen, including organists, choir directors, and choir members, will find it a useful aid in understanding worship patterns of Reformed churches.

Pulitzer Prize–winning author and presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin’s dynamic history of Theodore Roosevelt, William H. Taft and the first decade of the Progressive era, that tumultuous time when the nation was coming unseamed and reform was in the air. Winner of the Carnegie Medal. Doris Kearns Goodwin’s The Bully Pulpit is a dynamic history of the first decade of the Progressive era, that tumultuous time when the nation was coming unseamed and reform was in the air. The story is told through the intense friendship of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft—a close relationship that strengthens both men before it ruptures in 1912, when they engage in a brutal fight for the presidential nomination that divides their wives, their children, and their closest friends, while crippling the progressive wing of the Republican Party, causing Democrat Woodrow Wilson to be elected, and changing the country’s history. The Bully Pulpit is also the story of the muckraking press, which arouses the spirit of reform that helps Roosevelt push the government to shed its laissez-faire attitude toward robber barons, corrupt politicians, and corporate exploiters of our natural resources. The muckrakers are portrayed through the greatest group of journalists ever assembled at one magazine—Ida Tarbell, Ray Stannard Baker, Lincoln Steffens, and William Allen White—teamed under the mercurial genius of publisher S.S. McClure. Goodwin’s narrative is founded upon a wealth of primary materials. The correspondence of more than four hundred letters between Roosevelt and Taft begins in their early thirties and ends only months before Roosevelt’s death. Edith Roosevelt and Nellie Taft kept diaries. The muckrakers wrote hundreds of letters to one another, kept journals, and wrote their memoirs. The letters of Captain Archie Butt, who served as a personal aide to both Roosevelt and Taft, provide an intimate view of both men. The Bully Pulpit, like Goodwin’s brilliant chronicles of the Civil War and World War II, exquisitely demonstrates her distinctive ability to combine scholarly rigor with accessibility. It is a major work of history—an examination of leadership in a rare moment of activism and reform that brought the country closer to its founding ideals.

1882 Volumes 1 & 2 combined. Containing 23 Astronomico-Theological discourses, with a sketch of his life. Contents: the Star of Bethlehem; Raising the Devil; Judas Iscariot Vindicated; Virgo Paritura; the Temple; Saint James & Saint John - The Son.

It would be difficult to find a more interesting topic than the relationship between the news media and politics, especially given that Americans are now living in the "Twitter presidency" of Donald Trump. Academic research in the area of media and politics is rapidly breaking new ground to keep pace with prolific media developments and societal changes. This innovative, up-to-date text moves beyond rudimentary concepts and definitions to consider exciting research as well as practical applications that address monumental changes in media systems in the US and the world. This carefully crafted volume explores key questions posed by academics and practitioners alike, exposing students to rigorous scholarship as well as everyday challenges confronted by politicians, journalists, and media consumers. Each chapter opens with a "big question" about the impact of the news media, provides an overview of the more general topic, and then answers that question by appealing to the best, most-up-to-date research in the field. The volume as a whole is held together by an exploration of the rapidly changing media environment and the influence these changes have on individual political behavior and governments as a whole. New Directions in Media and Politics makes an ideal anchor for courses as it digs deeper into the questions that standard textbooks only hint at—and presents scholarly evidence to support the arguments made. New to the Second Edition Fully updated through the 2016 elections and the early Trump presidency with a special focus on the role of social media. Adds three new chapters: The Move to Mobile; Media and Public Policy; and Fake News. Adds Discussion Questions to the end of each chapter.