The American Dream as a subject in speeches

Jimmy Carter's Inaugural Address and Ronald Reagan's Acceptance Speech: A comparison

Christine So-Young Um

• Publisher: GRIN Verlag
• Year: 2008
• eBook ISBN: 9783640177394
• Edition: 0
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Politics
• Index: Politics & International Relations

Seminar paper from the year 2005 in the subject Politics - Region: USA, grade: 1, 7, University of Duisburg-Essen (Politische Theorie), course: Politische Rhetorik, language: English, abstract: The American Dream has always been a central subject in political speeches.Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan were not the only presidents who referred toit in their speeches. Quite possibly every presidential candidate and presidentrelated to it when they accepted their nominations and when they outlined theirpolitical programmes at their inaugurations. Ever since it has become part ofthe tradition of political rhetoric in the United States, one can say how centrallyimportant the American Dream (still) is and what great influence it has on theAmerican people.So what exactly is the American Dream? Peter Freese calls the attempt ofdefining it "subjective and imcomplete", especially because he is of the opinionthat the vision and beliefs transferred in the American Dream change with thetimes. However, he quotes Hartmut Keil by using his definition of the AmericanDream with a lot of its beliefs and convictions that are substantial parts of it: "Individual success, advancement, materialism, personal success, neighborliness, naturalness, individuality, freedom, equality, equal opportunity, search for identity, national purpose, American consciousness, democraticdream, dream of paradise (…), moving force, liberation of humanity, world'ssalvation"; but he comes to the conclusion that there is not the possibility of aprecise definition in case one does not want to list nearly every aspect of"American society".Still, the fundamental values and virtues that build the basis and are the corefunction of the American Dream, are the main part of American politicalrhetoric. The metaphor of the American Dream has always been used by beingglorified by politians in their speeches, and mostly with the promise of fulfilmentsoon after the elections in case it was a nomination speech. Therefore the American Dream seems to have a realistic side, it is not only a vision or autopia when presidential candidates and presidents talk about its fulfilment.Since the promise of fulfilment is made ever since this subject has played amajor role in political speeches, it is a dream which can and – referring to thepoliticians' promises – will come true.