Pr. Obama: Master Speech Giver

Response to Question 3: Olivia’s Rhetoric Class Blog

It can be said that President Barack Obama has mastered the essentials of informative public speaking that Rudolph Verderber discusses. President Obama has what it takes, according to Verderber, to produce successful informative speeches; he has content expertise, he has something to say, and he has speaking expertise, he know how to say it. In his speech at his presidential inauguration January 21st of 2009, though not solely information (as mentioned in the question), Pr. Obama addressed citizens of all nations, and most specifically his fellow American citizens of whom the majority are filled with hope and anticipation at the prospect of a newly improved America under the leadership of a strong and realistically hopeful believer.
Much was expected of Pr. Obama’s speech, as is of his term as President of the USA. Following Bercovitch’s theory of the American Jeremiad, Obama was the prophet telling his audience how special they are, listing how they have failed as a nation and outlining how to rise back up (Class notes 01/22). Planning this speech has been a long process of which the steps follow Verderber’s speech plan in chapter six. Obama has been building on his credibility, his expertise and his trustworthiness since his days as a student and has captivated the interest of the American people since his days as a senator in Illinois. In this inauguration speech, Obama presents accurate information in talking about the economic crisis, the wars, the loss of jobs, the high cost of health care and the failure of the education system and shows that he knows this is happening and he plans on doing something about it and representing the American people to the best of his ability. He is very obviously not “winging it” as Verderber suggests not doing.
In delivering this information, Obama transmits a tone of hope with a taste of seriousness. He addresses his audience for a period of approximately nineteen minutes during which he maintains their interest with his captivating intensity, his loud voice, his emphasis on certain words or phrases and his choice of words. As many have commented, Obama was not as emotive in this speech as expected or as noted in previous speeches, but his devotion and belief in his words were still clear. This was noted when the audience applauded after a number of his statements like the one towards the beginning, “But know this America: they [challenges] will be met.”
Pr. Obama addresses issues pertinent to the American public and to the rest of the world. He does not discuss issues he has not talked about during his election campaign or during his transition into the White House. He engages them by referencing the admirable Americans who fought for the country and the freedom of its people and affirming that it is time to remake America on the basis of freedom and equality for all. Obama certainly touches us all with his speech and proves he is an excellent speech planner and deliverer, at least according to Verderber’s definition of a successful public speech.