Who Broke the "Bully Pulpit?"

Lee Ellis

Remember when US Presidents could change the direction of the nation by using what pundits called the "Bully Pulpit"? A President could use whatever communication facilities he had available to reach out to the entire nation. His speeches could be heard over every radio station, headlined in every newspaper, and, after television came along, over all the TV networks. The networks always arranged to have the President's speech heard simultaneously at the same hour in prime time. Thus, the nation took seriously what their national leader had to say and most would act on it, whether major corporations, small businesses or just groups of citizens gathered together to hear what they needed to do to help or protect their nation.

Many pundits still say that the "Bully Pulpit" should be used by President Bush and they criticize him for not doing this. But ---wait a minute ---what has happened to this pulpit? Does it really exist any more?

I think that it is almost broken beyond repair. Can any American President really use it ever again? I don't think so. Why?

To use this great ability, whether for energy, security, or anything that is important to this nation's people, a President must be able to reach all Americans at the same time through the media. Also the people must want to regard any message to them, from any American President, seriously enough to want to listen to it or read about it. We should put aside everything to hear that which might affect the very core of our existence. What our nation's leader says can affect our very lives and safety.

This "Bully Pulpit" used to work, but doesn't now for two reasons:

1. The TV media no longer will carry a Presidential speech in prime time unless it is a planned State of the Union address. There has been a weakening of the presidency by media, Congress and, perhaps, the lowering of educational standards

2. We, as a people, have been trained over the past few decades to not honor or respect any authority figure. Thus, we are losing our ability to coalesce. We have become a fissiparous nation.

Delving into these two problems:

The media has weakened the presidency by categorizing everything said as mere political statements. It furthers this weakening process by always seeking out someone from the opposition party to teach us why everything uttered by the President is not true and might well be detrimental to the future of this country.

This so-called "balance" used to be granted only for candidates during elections; now it is wrongly used to counteract actual leadership. In newscasts, reporters no longer tell us only what a president actually said; instead, they tell us what they think a president meant by what he said! No wonder the fissure in the old Bully Pulpit has been widening over the years. The new Bully Pulpit is owned and governed by the media, not a President.

Then, look at what has happened to our American culture as the standards of behavior and education have been constantly lowered.

The friendly and protective policeman on the beat or at the corner no longer exists. For his own safety, he (or she) almost always must be in a patrol car with a partner. Teachers complain now about receiving very little respect from most students. Discipline is the main problem. Few students really listen to their teachers in order to absorb some educational principles. Test scores show that too many have not learned history, civics, geography, English grammar, and math. Going out into the business world is hard for many because there is no knowledge of business ethics or how to succeed in life. Students, though, have learned much about sex, driving a car, and socialistic principles. Pastors of many main-line churches preach to fewer people, mostly gray-haired. Some clergy members report that some of those attending are there only as an expected duty rather than to take home any facts that can be utilized for the betterment of mankind.

No wonder the nation is divided in half. Our famous America's melting pot has grown cold, old and is solidifying rapidly. Balkanization is occurring. True patriotism is lacking in many as enemy nations and al Qaeda take advantage of this and use our media to dilute our resolve to win any war.

Mahatma Mohandas K. Gandhi (who died in 1948) had taught that the seven blunders of the world were: "politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; commerce without morality; science without humanity; and worship without sacrifice."

Might we add to this a U.S. Presidency without a "Bully Pulpit"?

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Lee Ellis is a retired journalist and narrator, formerly with both CBS and Gannett (USA Weekend). He was also a combat veteran of WWII, having fought in the South Pacific invasions. He had the pleasure of interviewing Ronald Reagan as an actor and then later working to help him become Governor of California. At the age of 80, he is keeping busy writing and doing free lance narrations for radio and television. He is an active member of Rotary and the VFW.

indiolee@dc.rr.com