The President and the People: Affection, Authority, and Trust in the American Republic

[Moderator] Jeff Vanderslice, Vice President, Policy Partnerships and Government Affairs, R Street Institute

Clark Judge, Former Presidential Speechwriter and Advisor

Craig Shirley, Presidential Advisor and Presidential Historian

Emily E. Sydnor, Associate Professor, Syracuse University Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship

Hans Nichols, Political Reporter and co-author of Axios Hill Leaders, Axios

Overview

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, we invite you to join us for a virtual conversation on the ways in which presidents have sought to connect with the public through language and listening. Presidential speechwriters and public opinion serve as intermediaries between executive power and democratic consent, shaping how leaders articulate national purpose while interpreting what the public believes, fears, and hopes.

Our panelists will examine the craft of speechwriting and the State of the Union Address alongside the rise of modern polling while considering the enduring tensions between persuasion and responsiveness, authenticity and strategy, and leadership and trust.

In an era of polarization and declining confidence in institutions, we will look at what it means for presidents to speak with the people, not just to them.