Lexington Books
Pages: 446
Trim: 6⅜ x 9¼
978-0-7391-9903-9 • Hardback • October 2015 • $170.00 • (£131.00)
978-0-7391-9904-6 • eBook • October 2015 • $161.50 • (£125.00)
Tammy R. Vigil is assistant professor of communication studies at Boston University.
Introduction: The Importance of Presidential Campaigns and Nominating Conventions
Chapter One: Identification and the Race for the White House
Chapter Two: Setting the Tone: Convention Keynote Addresses
Chapter Three: Relying on Others: Special Surrogates Speak
Chapter Four: Running Mate Challenges: Vice Presidential Nominees’ Acceptance Speeches
Chapter Five: When Wives Speak: Addresses by Nominees’ Spouses
Chapter Six: The Main Event: Presidential Nomination Acceptance Addresses
Conclusion: The Ties that Bind: Lessons from Convention Speeches
Connecting with Constituents demonstrates the continuing importance of speeches at national political conventions for creating a sense of shared identity between candidates and the people. The useful comprehensive discussion of contemporary keynotes, surrogate speeches, candidate acceptance speeches, and speeches by candidates’ wives illuminates important trends in contemporary politics, especially the very different visions of the electorate expressed in recent Republican and Democratic conventions.
— Robert C. Rowland, The University of Kansas
Vigil’s book underscores the importance of identifying with voters via the nominating convention. It is a comprehensive analysis of the many genres of convention rhetoric and the role that each speech plays in creating a bond between the nominee and the electorate. This fascinating work is sure to benefit the student of politics, rhetoric, and public address.
— John M. Jones, Pepperdine University
This book contributes key insights into already excellent work on the rhetoric of national convention addresses. Specifically by looking at the words of not only presidential candidates, but also wives, vice presidential candidates, and surrogates, this project pushes the boundaries of our understanding of how discourse functions in nominating conventions to craft our perceptions of candidates. It is a meaningful and valuable contribution.
— Heather Ashley Hayes, Whitman College