Margaret Chase Smith: Model Public Servant

by Marlene B. Vallin

Overview

The selected speeches of Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine made throughout her 32 year career in the U.S. Congress are critically analyzed in this rhetorical study. The inquiry focuses on the factors of her political persona that garnered her the support of her constituents and the respect of her colleagues. The chapters are each titled with a segment of her political identity—an American, a Republican, and a women. Thus this work will be of interest to students and scholars of U.S. politics, communications, and women's studies. In addition, this popular political figure should be of interest to readers who want to learn more about the first female U.S. Senator.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313291630
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/10/1998
Series:	Great American Orators , #27
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

MARLENE BOYD VALLIN is Associate Professor of Speech Communication at Pennsylvania State University, Berks-Lehigh Valley College. She is the author of another volume in the Great American Orators series: Mark Twain: Protaganist for the Popular Culture (Greenwood, 1992).

Table of Contents

Series Foreword by Bernard K. Duffy and Halford R. Ryan
Foreword by Halford R. Ryan
Preface
Critical Analysis
Margaret Chase Smith: A Great American Orator
"I Speak as an American"
"I Speak as a United States Senator"
"I Speak as a Woman"
"I Speak as a Republican
Collected Speeches
"Declaration of Conscience I"
"Declaration of Conscience II"
"Nuclear Credibility" (September 21, 1961)
"Nuclear Credibility" (September 21, 1962)
"The Kennedy Twist"
"Nuclear Test Ban Treaty"
"Women's Progress"
"Women, the Key Individual of Our Democracy"
"Women and Leadership"
"No Place for a Woman"
"Answer to a Smear"
"Election Eve Radio Speech"
"Presidential Candidacy Announcement"
"Anti-ABM"
"Response to Professor Fullam's 'Are You Proud?' Speech"
"Celebrating for Fortieth Anniversary"
"I Speak As A Woman"
Chronology of Significant Speaking Events
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

A laudatory look at the oratorical skills of Smith, four-term Senator from Maine. The author argues that the study of Smith's oratory is important because of her involvement in political policy regarding WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, nuclear power, and domestic upheaval; because she was, for a time, the only woman in Senate dominated by men; and because she stands as a model of political integrity. A number of her speeches are analyzed in regard to her political outlook, her role as a woman, her reactions to Kennedy's foreign policy, and her campaign rhetoric. The text of 17 speeches analyzed and mentioned the book are later presented in full. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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